Important Innovations

  DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF                      By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane AN ELECTRIC MUSCLE CAR: NEW DODGE CHARGER DAYTONA                                                                       Source:  Dodge Dodge just debuted its new, all-electric Charger Daytona, an iconic, classic muscle car It is due to go into production and go on sale in 2024 The EV will be built on parent company Stellantis' powertrain that supports both electric and hybrid-electric vehicles Multiple trims will be offered with 455 hp, 590 hp, 670 hp and 800 hp The Dodge Charger Daytona Banshee model will have an 800 volt system and pump out 800 hp The EV has a separate electric motor for each axle It contains some unique technologies, like its manual eRupt transmission and a growling Fratzonic Exhaust Noisemaker system to make it loud and clear that this is an electric muscle car.        CREATING ENERGY FROM SEA CURRENTS                                                                    

  Ryse Aero Technologies RECON 1st to Fly at CES                                                                      Source:  Ryse Aero Tech Superlight Personal eVTOL  The world's top electronics show, CES 2023, will be hosting the first, daily, on-site, manned flights by eVTOL, specifically Ryse Aero Technologies' RECON.  RECON is an ultra-light, electric, vertical takeoff and landing personal flying machine, that the company says anyone can fly.  The Las Vegas, CES 2023 flights are a milestone for the eVTOL industry and its journey toward the commercialization of personal flying electric vehicles. AUV RECON is an AUV, meaning an aerial utility vehicle that takes off and lands vertically and is totally electric powered. The Mason, Ohio-based startup company says it was created with the consumer in mind for personal flights and also for farmers.  In fact, it's been nicknamed the "flying farm car" because of farmers' interest in using it to fly over and survey

  Stratolaunch's Roc Carries a Hypersonic Vehicle to 23,000 Feet                                                  Source:  Stratolaunch Major Moves Toward Hypersonic Commercial Flying at Mach 6 The world's largest airplane, California-based Stratolaunch's Roc, with a wingspan longer than a football field, just aced a major test flight while carrying a hypersonic prototype plane.  The success is important on a number of levels.  It moves Stratolaunch, whose mission is to launch small, autonomous, rocket powered hypersonic vehicles from altitudes of 35,000 feet, closer to test flying its Talon A hypersonic vehicle.  And it moves the world closer to hypersonic flying at speeds of Mach 6 and more.  This will eventually include commercial passenger planes traveling at six times the speed of sound or 4,570 mph.  That would enable passengers to fly long distance air travel at warp speeds. Aviation Technologies Deployed Roc is a highly sophisticated payload release system specifica

  Alice is Successfully Test Flown                                             Source: Eviation Green, Zero Carbon Emissions Flying Alice, an all-electric 9-passenger, commuter plane, has successfully completed its first test flight.  The zero-carbon emissions aircraft, being developed by Washington state based Eviation, is targeted to service commuter and cargo routes between 150 and 250 miles. The e-plane has a flying range of 288 miles on a charge.  Alice is not just an electric plane prototype.  There are already significant sales orders for it, including from regional air carrier Cape Air, which operates out of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and national package carrier DHL. Alice is on track to become the 1st, all new, all electric commercial air carrier when it gets full FAA approval to fly passengers. Tech Specs During the 8-minute test flight, Alice reached an altitude of 3500 feet and hit speeds of 171 mph. The electric aircraft is powered and propelled by 2, electric motors that sp

  Mad Bat eVTOL                                        Source:  Razvan Sabie Highly Advanced Aviation Technology Mad Bat is one of the world's most unusual and unique electric flying machines.  The Mad Bat eVTOL is an all-electric, vertical takeoff and landing design prototype created by famous Rumanian aviation designer Razvan Sabie.  Sabie, a few years ago, unveiled his omnidirectional, potentially supersonic and incredibly agile UFO-like flying machine, the ADIFO flying disc. It received global press coverage. He has now created an eVTOL that incorporates and builds on many of the ADIFO capabilities in order to deliver exceptionally fast and easy transitions from vertical to horizontal flight.  Sabie also says this new design creation is scalable across aircraft genre from small drones, personal flying machines, multi-passenger air taxis and even a unique approach to flying cars. In fact, Sabie says you'll be able to drive your car into it and fly around, which is a new take

Growing Demand for Service Robots Accelerating Use of Robots in Hospitality Industry Labor shortages and rapidly rising costs are accelerating the use of robots in the hospitality industry.  It's an important megatrend in Hong Kong and Japan and a phenomenon that's sweeping worldwide.  A big and growing player is Hong Kong-based Rice Robots. It's cute, stocky cuboid robots serve as bellhops at Hong Kong hotels, deliver snacks to office workers in Japan and deliver coffee and drinks to customers at the Hong Kong Cyberport Innovation Hub. For customers of the Hub's Cafe, the drinks come stored in the cute, compact robot's head.  Customers use a pin sent to their cellphone to access their order.  In the age of Covid, the Rice robots are providing clean and efficient service without an extra layer of human contact, potentially spreading Covid.  That's a key reason that demand for robotic service is accelerating. New Armies of Service Robots There are growing numbers

  Flying Taxi Has 30 Tilting Jet Fans To Fly                                             Source:  Lilium Radical New Aviation Technology At the recent Farmborough Air Show in the UK, Munich-based eVTOL startup Lilium unveiled its 6 passenger and 1 pilot new eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle).  The electric flying machine has 30 tilting jet fans to lift off, fly and land. It is revolutionary aviation technology that Lilium hopes to have European certification to fly commercially by 2025.  Lilium is collaborating with a global leader in aircraft systems and cabin design, Diehl Aviation to finalize the vehicle. Timeframe and Tech Specs Lilium is significantly accelerating the testing and development of the eVTOL.  The company has faced some criticism for slippage in its time frames.  5th generation eVTOL demonstrators are currently undergoing testing at Lilium facilities in Spain. The company is also working on next-generation battery technology systems to expand range

  New Zero Emissions Mode of Transportation                                                             Source: Biliti & Other Tuk Tuks Roots Date Back to Rickshaws Los Angeles-based startup Biliti just unveiled what's being called the world's first, hydrogen powered Tuk Tuk or trike.  Tuk Tuks are common means of passenger transportation in Thailand and India.  The three-wheeled vehicles serve as taxies.  Their heritage dates back to Japan's rickshaws.  The new, hydrogen fuel cell powered Tuk Tuk is called FastMile.  The company says it has a 130-mile range on a charge and can be refueled in just 3 minutes.  Biliti is a fast growth electric mobility company founded in 2021 and known for its compact electric delivery Tuk Tuks.  The company is currently significantly expanding its operations.  It is setting up the world's largest 3-wheeler manufacturing facility in India with a production capacity of 240,000 EVs a year and the creation of 3,000 new jobs. New, Green M

  New Zero Emissions Mode of Transportation                                       Source: Biliti & Other Tuk Tuks Roots Date Back to Rickshaws Los Angeles-based startup Biliti just unveiled what's being called the world's first, hydrogen powered Tuk Tuk or trike.  Tuk Tuks are common means of passenger transportation in Thailand and India.  The three-wheeled vehicles serve as taxies.  Their heritage dates back to Japan's rickshaws.  The new, hydrogen fuel cell powered Tuk Tuk is called FastMile.  The company says it has a 130-mile range on a charge and can be refueled in just 3 minutes.  Biliti is a fast growth electric mobility company founded in 2021 and known for its compact electric delivery Tuk Tuks.  The company is currently significantly expanding its operations.  It is setting up the world's largest 3-wheeler manufacturing facility in India with a production capacity of 240,000 EVs a year and the creation of 3,000 new jobs. New, Green Mode of Transportation

  Solar Powered Falcon Soar                                                  Source:  Falcon Solar Highly Innovative Aircraft Concept Falcon Soar is one of the world's most innovative, new concept planes.  Designed by Lazlo Nemeth, the award-winning founder of Lasky Design in Budapest, Hungary, the solar powered aircraft greatly resembles a falcon. In fact, the designer says the design was inspired by the bodies of birds of prey.  Birds are incredibly energy efficient and agile.  Falcon Soar, with solar panels embedded across the top of the plane and its wings, is designed to emulate the flight and the efficiency of soaring falcons.  As a solar power aircraft, there are no emissions and no damage to the environment. Ridding the Skies of Plane Greenhouse Gas Emissions Falcon Soar is designed to be a passenger plane that is highly efficient and sustainable.  The concept plane is a takeoff point for using solar energy to power flying and to start ridding the skies of toxic greenhouse

 A pple and Porsche Are in Discussions on Joint Projects - What About the iCar?                                         Source:  Various iCar Concepts The Combo Could be a Seismic Automotive Partership  The global automotive industry is abuzz about ongoing discussions between two giant brands - Apple and Porsche on "joint projects". The big question is will Porsche serve as the manufacturer for Apple's upcoming iCar.  If so, that would be a partnership of seismic proportions between computer-iPhone giant Apple and luxury car icon Porsche with its legendary automotive design, engineering and technological expertise.  Porsche is currently 100% owned by VW but VW wants to give it its independence through an IPO possibly this summer. Any Clues? There are clues that the discussions are serious.  Porsche CEO Oliver Blume has acknowledged that his executives have and are holding discussions with Apple executives on joint projects.   Some experts believe that the iCar project bet

  Spot the RoboDog on Duty to Monitor & Protect Pompei's Ancient Ruins                                                                                                     Source:  Pompei New Tech Guarding Ancient History This is a fascinating case of highly advanced robotic, AI, drone and laser technologies being deployed to guard and protect ancient, historical ruins dating back more than 2,000 years.  Famous robot dog Spot, created by US based Boston Robotics and now owned by Hyundai, is deployed by Italy's Archeological Park of Pompei to roam around the ruins to inspect and monitor the condition of the famous archeological structures. Robotic Patrols for Data Collection Spot is a quadruped robot with great dexterity and AI intelligence.  He is able to travel on different and difficult types of terrain as well as to maneuver and squeeze in and out of difficult locations.  At Pompei, Spot is monitoring and gathering data on the ruins for comparative studies and possible in