Important Innovations

FAA Gives 1st Approval for Drone Package Deliveries to Google Source:  Google Drone Google Drone Package Deliveries to Start in Virginia in a Few Months Package deliveries by drones in the United States has been approved for Google by the FAA.  Google is cleared to start drone delivery service in Virginia.  Operations are expected to get airborne in a few months.  Google calls it Project Wing.  The drones are expected to cut costs and time for package deliveries.   For more on this news development, go to Important Innovations Collection: Drone Deliveries to Your Door : Google Wins First FAA Approval to Deliver Packages by Drones Source:  Google Drone Starts in Virginia Google is now on its way to de...

Researchers from UK and Spain Identify Eco-friendly Solid for Cooling Source:  University of Cambridge Air Conditioners  Replaces Polluting Gases Scientists at the University of Cambridge UK and Universität Politecnica de Catalunya in Spain have come up with a breakthrough in refrigeration/cooling technology.  Plastic crystals of neopentylglycol (NPG) that when put under pressure is competitive with conventional coolants.  The conventional coolants in refrigerators and air-conditioners are toxic and when released into the air are pollutants. Our Appliances: A Global Energy and Environmental Issue Refrigerators and air-conditioners use 20% of the energy produced globally.  The vast majority of these appliances use hydrocarbons and hydrofluro-carbons in the cooling system that are toxic, flammable and when released into the air add to global warming. Materials Science To solve this cooling problem, materials scientists have sought an alternative solid refrigerant.  UK and S

EpiWear Tech on Your Wrist Source:  Rice University Epiwear Watch to Halt Severe Allergic Reactions Innovation from Rice University Engineers The Rice University Engineering team calls this emergency medicine at hand at all times in case of a severe allergic reaction.  It's an innovative, wearable epinephrine delivery device for your wrist that the developers say works much quicker than the traditional EpiPen, that's halts allergic reactions with its epinephrine shot. Small, Foldable Watch This is a small, foldable, watch-like device with a spring activated injector that will deliver a .3 millimeter dose of epinephrine into the body when needed.  It's designed as a less obtrusive and more conventional alternative to the traditional EpiPen. Function and Style The Rice team is streamlining this prototype design to make it easier for people to keep what is life-saving medicine close at hand.  This device was personally inspired by one of the researchers who has pe

New, Soft Robot that's Fast and Precise Source:  Harvard's SEAS Made Using Kirigami - Japanese Paper Craft Researchers at the Harvard John Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) have made a soft robot using Kirigami.  That's a Japanese paper craft that relies on cuts to change the material's properties.  As the robot stretches, the surface pops into a 3-dimensional surface.  It's able to grip the ground like a snake.  Their new soft robot is precise and fast. Harvard researchers call it Crawler. Potential for Robotic Smart Skins and Responsive Surfaces The robot's kirigami's shell pops up in a discontinuous manner.  The researchers say this kind of design control can be used to create smart skins and responsive surfaces with on-demand changes in texture and shape.  In essence, they control the pop-up and how the skin performs by the cuts and the curvature.  It's another in the rapidly accelerating advancements and innovations

First HD Movie of Molecular Activity Source:  DOE - Molecules Reacting to Light US Dept. of Energy High Speed Electron Camera Breakthrough The US Department of Energy/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory has created the world's 1st HD movie of molecules reacting to exposure to light.  They used a powerful, high speed electron camera.  The scientists say this technology will deepen their understanding of the fundamental chemical reactions that are the foundations of life.  For a great news blog on this by journalist Ed Kane, go to Important Innovations Collection: 1st Molecular Movie in HD : High Speed Electron Cameras Source:  DOE US Department of Energy's Breakthrough For the first time, researchers at the US Depar…                                                 The findings were just reported in the journal Nature Chemistry  Nature Chemistry, 2019; DOI: 10.1038/s41557-019-0252-7

DARPA's Blackjack Satellite Program Source:  DARPA  - Artist concept of  Blackjack New Race to Space The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA, is moving forward on an important project called Blackjack to launch large networks of small, inexpensive satellites into Low Earth Orbit to strengthen US defensive capabilities. The small satellites are more difficult targets to hit for enemy forces. It's an ambitious program that is showing a lot of promise.  For a news blog on it, go to Important Innovations Collection: DARPA's Blackjack Satellite Program : US Pentagon Concept:  Large Networks of Small, Cheap Satellites Source:  Artist Concept of DARPA's Small Sat System Blackjack Up ...

One of Most Striking Vehicles at NY International Auto Show Source:  Kia HabaNiroAdd caption Butterfly Folding Doors The vehicle is called the HabaNiro.  It's an electric crossover concept created by Kia.  The South Korean automaker says the futuristic car is the automotive equivalent of a Swiss Army knife , versatile and for just about everyone. The Everyone, Everything Vehicle Kia says they've designed this for city dwellers, off-roaders, drivers concerned about the environment and driving enthusiasts. It can even serve as a self-driving vehicle.  They call it the "Everything Car Electric Vehicle" with the design, engineering and technology people want to move around in, in the near future. Compact SUV with Unusual Doors HabaNiro is a 4-seater, high riding hatchback, compact SUV.  What really stands out are the double, butterfly door openings.  Also, the fighter pilot-like steering wheel and the instrument panel that spans across the front dashboard.

VW's New Concept Dune Buggy VW's All Electric, Off-Road ID Buggy VW just unveiled its concept dune buggy at the New York International Auto Show.  It's all electric, all-terrain, with no doors, side windows and top.  It accelerates up to 99 mph.  For a great news blog with details, go to Important Innovations Collection: VW Concept Dune Buggy : Volkswagon ID Buggy Source:  VW Electric Vehicle in the Sand VW's ID Buggy concept is one of the most fun new vehicles on displa...

SK's New Commitment to Renewables Source: South Korea Coal-Generating Power Plant Accelerating with Renewable Energy South Korea is accelerating its shift to cleaner, greener energy.  It has set long term renewable energy targets. The government of South Korea wants to reach a goal of 35% renewable sources of energy by 2040.  That is about four times the amount of renewables they are using right now. South Korea Energy Mix South Korea is currently utilizing 8% of renewable energy sources as part of its energy mix.  They are highly reliant on coal generating plants and nuclear power for their electricity.  They hope to have renewable energy sources up to 20% by 2030 and increase that significantly by 2040.  The great news here is how many nations are setting schedules and agendas to make more renewable sources a significant part of the energy mix.

Your Indoor Garden - Fruits & Vegies Hydroponic 24/7/365 Source:  IGWorks New Hydroponic Tech - iHarvest This is very new technology that's patent pending.  It's called iHarvest and it's an in-house hydroponic system that can sustain up to 30 plants.  It's a vertical indoor garden that requires very little space, no pesticides and claims to deliver fresh fruit and vegies year-round.  To learn more from my fellow journalist Ed Kane's news blog, go to Important Innovations Collection: Vertical, Indoor Gardening : iHarvest Grows More with Less Indoors, Year-round Source:  IGWorks How Does Your Garden Grow? This is patent-pending hydroponics tec...

Wind Power to Power Heating Source:  China Wind Farm World Leader in Wind Power China is waging a multifaceted flight against carbon dioxide pollution.  It's pushing hard to cut carbon emissions from coal burning generating plants.  China is already the world leader in wind power generation with the largest installed capacity and rapid growth in new wind facilities. It's now promoting wind powered heating systems. Wind Powered Heat China just announced it will forward and promote using energy generated by the wind to help power heating systems.  Many regions in China experience bitterly cold winters and coal powered generating facilities spewing carbon emissions are big contributors to China's pollution problems.  China's top steelmaking city Tangshan just issued a smog alert as waves of smog are enveloping the city. Huge Wind Potential Experts say because of China's long coastline and land mass, it has about 2.4 gigawatts of exploitable wind power

Huge, Industrial-Scale Wave Power Project Just Announced in Italy Source:  Wave Power Stock Image Renewable Energy from the Force of Waves Eni, the Italian oil and gas energy company, along with the power grid group Terna, shipbuilder Fincantieri and state lending agency CDP just announced their plans to launch a huge wave energy power project.  They call it industrial scale.  It's composed of wave power stations and they say the application is immediate.  For more on this breaking news, go to Important Innovations Collection: Italian Wave Power Renewable Energy : Industrial-Scale Renewable Energy Project off Italy Source:  Waves off coast of Italy New Wave Power Stations Italian oil and gas ...

Tracks Up to 12 Miles Source:  KAUST Potential for Personal Security, Health, Drones, Self-Driving Cars A tiny, low cost radar developed by an international team of scientists offers better navigation.  Developers in Saudi Arabia and Finland say it could serve as an avoidance system for unmanned drones and self-driving cars.  It could also be used as part of navigation systems for the visually impaired. They add it has potential for personal security and health care applications. KAUST and VTT The new radar device was created by researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia and VTT Technical Research Center in Finland.  The device weights less than 150g and is powered by a 5V battery.  The team says it provides detailed information on the size, distance and speed of moving objects.  The tracking range is up to 12 miles.  Current radar are large and bulky. They tend to lose key detail information  This innovation doesn't. It