Important Innovations

Important Innovation Collection Audiobooks Just Published Latest Innovations in Robotics and Renewable Energy This week ACX published two more of our innovation news audiobooks:  "Important Innovations Collection:  Robotics" and "Important Innovations Collection:  Energy".  They join "Important Innovations Collection:  Travel" that was first published. Unique News Summaries on Breaking Global Innovations The co-authors and narrator are US national television journalists Ed Kane and Maryanne Kane. The audiobooks are unique and highly valuable news accounts, written by Ed and Maryanne, of the latest global breakthroughs in innovation. Sample Links and Free Codes for Important Innovations Collection:  Energy For easy access for a free sample listen, in the US  https://www.audible.com/pd/B07XTP1N8Z/?source_code=AU In the UK,  https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B07XLNX35Y/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H6-BK-ACX0-164309&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0

Four Second AI Diagnosis of Heart Disease Source:  AI stock image Faster and As Good As Doctors Scientists at the University College London have invented an AI program that can read a cardiac MRI scan in fractions of the time it takes doctors and the artificial intelligence system has equal accuracy.  The AI program reaches a diagnosis in just four seconds.  The doctors take an average of thirteen minutes to analyze the patient's heart function.  The results are equally accurate. When Seconds Mean Saving a Life Fractions of seconds of time for cardiac patients can be life saving.  This new AI program is significant and it's being deployed in robotic machines at the University College London in a series of trials.  This may be a great example of artificial intelligence and robotics greatly aiding medical specialists in more quickly analyzing and treating dangerous cardiac emergencies and saving lives. UK Analysis In the UK alone, 150,000 cardiac MRI

New Autonomous Roofers in Town Source:   University of Michigan Autonomous Roofers University of Michigan engineers and roboticists have invented a drone that can put a new roof on your house and do it autonomously.  The drone nails shingle to a rooftop and decides in flight where to target the nails.  The aerial vehicle is autonomous, positions the nail gun on a nailing point, places the nail and then moves on to the next point without any human intervention.  It's a cutting edge example of drones being capable of what can be dangerous construction work for humans. Octocopter The drone is a DJI S1000 octocopter equipped with a standard nail gun.  The drone uses a system of cameras and markers to cover test roofs with asphalt shingles.  The roofs have a range of slopes. Machine Vs. Human Right now, the University of Michigan team says the drone is less effective than a human roofer.  But they think the system will be improved by a power tethered system.

Toyota Showcasing Autonomous Technology & Much More Source:  Toyota Miraitowa and Someity - The 2020 Tokyo Olympics Mascots Tokyo 2020 Olympics for Athletes and Latest Technology For the Tokyo 2020 Olympics a big crowd pleaser will be the technology deployed.  The official game mascots are two adorable robots - Miraitowa and Someity, just unveiled at Toyota headquarters in Japan  The humanoid "meeters and greeters" are programmed to show facial expressions as they greet athletes and fans . New Automated Helpers Toyota and Panasonic are teaming up to develop automated helpers for the games.  Besides the official mascots, there will be field support robots to help officials at throwing events by retrieving javelins and hammers from competitions.  Robots with cameras will broadcast live action and give fans a sense of virtual reality emersion in the Games. Fans will be able to interact with the athletes remotely with a new telepresence technology.  And, Toyota wil

New Shape-Changing, Swimming Tiny Robot Source:  Dartmouth College Promises Targeted Drug Delivery in the Body to Fight Cancer Engineers at Dartmouth College and the City University of Hong Kong have invented a tiny, shape-changing, swimming microrobot that can instantly stop and go inside the human body.  Researchers believe this tiny, soft robot can deliver drugs much more accurately in the human body.  It is light- controlled, swims, changes shape and can instantly stop and go on command.  It is cutting edge medicine and robotics. Targeted Medical Therapies to Defeat Cancer The researchers combined cardiac tissue engineering, a 3D printed wing and a light-sensitive gel to produce the soft robot.  Near infra-red light causes it to change shape and stop and go in fluid like the bloodstream.  It is specifically designed to target and destroy cancer cells by accurately delivering medication. Tiny Whale-like Tail The robot is remotely controlled.   It's driven by a tail

Latest Innovations in Robotics Important Innovations Collection - Robotics by Edward Kane Starting this morning at 8AM PST, Amazon & Kindle are offering a promotion on the e-Book version of "Important Innovations Collection - Robotics" at a discounted price of $.99.  The book is a fun, easy to read resource on the latest breakthroughs in robotics.  It has a five-star rating.  The promotion ends on February 28 at 8AM PST. Ed's Amazon Author Page is amazon.com/author/ekane   For more details, go to Important Innovations Collection: Kindle e-Book on Robotics : Important Innovations Collection - Robotics Kindle - Amazon Promotion Starting Sunday, February 23, my e-Book Important Innovations C...

Antbot Navigates by Following the Sun and Counting Its Steps Source:  Aix Marseille University Aix Marseilles University This is robotics inspired by the navigation system of a desert dwelling ant developed by scientists at Aix Marseilles University.  Antbot determines its location, motion and direction based on the light of the sun in the sky, how many steps it has taken and by watching objects that it has passed by. There is an optical movement sensor in the tiny robot that visually measures how far the bot has gone.  This bot doesn't require GPS to navigate.  It  is one special, robotic machine. Imitating Nature Thus far, Antbot can explore 46 feet and return to within 0.4 inches of its base.  Very impressive.  The research team thinks it would be very useful for search and rescue when no GPS is available.  And interestingly, they believe it will be very useful in the development of driverless car technology.

Tiny, Elastic Microrobots to Deliver Targeted Drug Therapies Source:  EPFL Breakthrough Robotic Innovation from Switzerland Scientists at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) and ETH Zurich have developed very smart, highly flexible microrobots.  They can change shape depending on their surroundings . For Targeted Drug Therapy Delivery The tiny robots are modeled on microorganisms like bacteria that change shape as their surrounding conditions change.  They are fully biocompatible.  The bots optimize their movements in order to get to hard to reach places in the human body.  They're thought to have the potential to revolutionize targeted drug delivery. Nanocomposites and Nanoparticles The bots are made of hydrogel nanocomposites.  They contain magnetic nanoparticles allowing them to be controlled by an electromagnetic field.  They are so tiny and flexible they're able to swim through narrow blood vessels, arrive at the target and deliver drug thera

Multi-tasking Health Care Robot from Samsung Source: Samsung's New Health Care Robot Assistant For Patients New Robot with Functionality and Friendliness  Samsung, the Japanese giant electronics company, just unveiled a robot to assist patients in need of health care monitoring and other patient needs.  It's being hailed as friendly with great functionality for patients and their families.  It can monitor biometrics like blood pressure and heart rates, prompt the patient to take their medicine and even serve as a companion when the patient needs someone to   communicate with. To learn about this great new and developing piece of robotic innovation, go to my journalist colleague Ed Kane's blog at Important Innovations Collection: Samsung Robot for Your Health : Bot Care-Giving from Samsung Source:  Samsung's Healthcare Bot Innovative Robotics Samsung has just unveiled may be the wo...  and to see his news stories on innovation, go to  amazon.com/author/

The Hyundai Elevate Source:  Hyundai Wheels and Robotic Legs Hyundai has had The Elevate under development for three years.  It can activate robotic legs to walk 3 mph over rough terrain.  The car can climb a 5 foot wall and jump over a 5 foot gap.  Hyundai says it could be very useful in emergency and disaster situations. Beyond Wheels This unusual looking vehicle is part of Hyundai's project " beyond the range of wheels".  The Elevate can drive to the scene of a disaster and climb over the debris.  It's a brand new form of mobility innovation.  It was just unveiled today at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

German Engineering Precision Source:  Franka Emika Robotics The Panda Germany based robotics firm Franka Emika has built a breakthrough robotic arm specifically geared for small business. It's called The Panda, is easy to program and is priced at $11,000.  It's been cited by Time as one of the top inventions of 2018. Lightweight Robotic System The Panda can move in 7 axes. The company says it was designed to mimic human agility and a sense of touch.  It can be programmed to perform specific tasks and is interconnected and adaptive. Panda can build circuit boards, conduct scientific experiments and pre-test equipment. Two Pandas can work together and build a third Panda. Next Generation It's expected that a redesigned version will be developed for use at home as a helping hand, for instance, to chop vegetables or to assist elderly residents.  For more news stories on robotic and other innovation, go to  amazon.com/author/ekane for free library use.

SNOO Smart Sleeper SNOO Smart Cradle Sensors, Robotics and Microphones Concealed It's called the SNOO and was designed by a Swiss innovator.  Its sensors immediately pick up your baby's cry and automatically rocks the baby back to sleep.  It customizes the best white noise and rocking motions for the child.  The manufacturers claim it's able to add an hour or more to your baby's sleep every night.  For parents of newborns that means an hour or more for them too. Sleep Sack Another important feature.  It has a special sleep sack that attaches to the bed to swaddle the baby and importantly has the baby sleeping on their back, which is the safest position.  Swiss designer Yves Behar calls his innovation "technology with a deep sense of humanity" as it performs an important function for parents and babies. Minimalist Design The minimalist design conceals the sensors, robotics and microphones.  All the white, the SNOO encloses the baby in soft, was

DOGO - The Warrior Robot They are fighter robots, designed for the Israeli military in battle zones. They carry Glock Pistols that are remotely controlled by humans.  It's robotics at the cutting edge of war.  And the potential of this is what worries innovators like Elon Musk - the eventual rise of killer robots. DOGO on Patrol DOGO looks like a PacBot, like Roomba the vacuum cleaner. But it's a lot more tech than that. It climbs stairs, fits into a soldier's backpack and rolls out in pairs.  It also carries a lethal weapon on its side. A human is the remote operator.  DOGO can't fire the weapon on its own. Remotely Controlled Firings DOGO crawls into place and then unfurls its 9mm Glock 26 compact pistol.  The robot is remotely controlled by a human with a handset that displays live video and allows the human to remotely fire the weapon.  This keeps the soldier off the direct line of fire - lifesaving robotic technology.  Police and first responders are also

Bot Crime Fighters on Duty  Dubai's Robocop on Duty In China, robocops patrol railroad stations.  In South Korea, 85 bots were deployed for the 2018 Winter Olympics.  In the US, they're on duty at some large malls.  And, in Dubai, the world's "first fully operational Robocop" patrols malls, the airport and streets, fighting crime.  We're living in the age of robocops. Dubai's Robotic Crime Fight The emirate's goal is to make Dubai a top 5, smart-secure global capital.  Robocop is the start of a big robotic and AI deployment by Dubai police.  Robocop is life sized.  It has face recognition technology and can ID wanted criminals 100 feet away.  It can also collect evidence and patrol busy, crowded areas.  It's part of the government's plan to replace human crime fighters with robots.  By 2030, they plan to have robots comprise 25% of the police force.  They also plan on having an all-robot, no human police station. Report a Crime to th

Robots Rowing Rowing Down the River with Row-Bot  Researchers from the Laboratory of Hydrodynamics at France's Ecole Polytechnique in Paris have used a crew of robots to determine how rowing teams could row more efficiently.  Rowing teams row in time and in sync with each other. That's thought to create the fastest possible glide to the finish line.  The robot team has put that into question. Different Strokes The robot team can up with different strokes.  8 robots rowed a racing shell.  When they rowed in tandem it resulted in significant acceleration and deceleration.  Between team strokes the deceleration was 20%.  Out of sync rowing resulted in much better times.  There's 5% less friction on the boat's hull and the speed variance is just 2% as opposed to 12% with in-sync rowing. Human Weight Factor The robotic research uncovered another factor.  The force of the human rowers' weight pushing forward also propelled and accelerated the boat when th