Important Innovations

China is Top Exhibitor at Frankfurt Auto Show Source:  FAW's Hungqi S9 Trending Technology on Display China has a very high profile at the world's largest auto show, The 2019 Frankfurt International Auto Show, now underway in Germany. 79 Chinese automakers are exhibiting their latest concept cars and new vehicles, making them the top exhibitor at Frankfurt.  Some of their new technology is fascinating, leading edge and trending. The Hungqi S9 This concept vehicle has the wings of butterflies, converted into butterfly doors.  It's a super sports car with maximum speeds of 400 km/h and a V8T hybrid engine system with a maximum of 1400 horsepower. Hungqi is part of the FAW Group, China's leading automaker.  It also unveiled an electric SUV concept, the E115.  This is the first time in 60 years that Hungqi has participated in an international auto show. The Wey Forward with R&D Center In Germany Source:  Wey-S And, then there is

Futuristic Off-Road and Autonomous Buggy/SUV Source:  Audi Unveiled at Frankfurt Motor Show Audi unveiled a revolutionary vehicle concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show today.  It's the Audi AI: Trail Quattro Concept.  The vehicle combines off-road capabilities with autonomous driving technology.  Plus, it's all electric. E-Vehicle The vehicle has a fully electric powertrain with four electric motors and a large, lithium-ion battery.  An e-motor is installed on each wheel and drives them directly.  The Audi AI has a battery range of 250 to 310 miles on a charge. Autonomous, Electric Buggy Essentially, the Audi AI: Trail Quattro is a futuristic buggy style SUV with four doors and a lot of style.  On highways, it's capable of Level 4 autonomous driving, which is the second highest international level.  Off-road, it can provide autonomous driving at the Level 3 range.  It's also capable of going through 1.6 feet of water.  It's one of the most exciting and i

Connectivity and Style - Fashion Titan Yves Saint Laurent Partners with Google Source:  Yves Saint Laurent Smart Shoulder Strap Powered by Google Project Jacquard It's called the Cit-E Backpack and it features a smart shoulder strap that's powered by Google.  Specifically, by Google's Project Jacquard, that transforms ordinary objects like clothing and backpacks into interactive surfaces.  It weaves touch and gestures into any textile to enable connectivity.  The smart backpack is manufactured by Yves Saint Laurent in a partnership with Google.  YSL is a fashion titan and the price is pricey at $878. Smart Strap, Smart Phone There's a tiny module containing a battery and hardware made by Google that fits into a hollowed-out space in the backpack's compartment.  The module works with the wearer's cellphone and allows the left shoulder strap to control the phone.  There's a special cell phone pocket inside the backpack. Backpack with Co

MIT's Roboats Source:  MIT Roboat Test World's First Bridge Composed of Autonomous Boats This is the world's first bridge composed of autonomous boats that disconnect and reassemble into various configurations.  It's the invention of engineers and other scientists at MIT and the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions.  The city of Amsterdam has big plans for them in their canals to reduce busy traffic on congested city streets. Amsterdam Deployment Amsterdam wants the roboats to cruise its 165 canals to transport people and goods, collect trash and self-assemble into popup platforms like bridges and stages as needed. The roboats are equipped with sensors, thrusters, GPS modules, cameras, microcontrollers and other hardware.  They are far less expensive and far more versatile than traditional bridges. New Algorithm Upgrade The roboats have just been upgraded with a new control algorithm that enables them to be "shapeshifting", auto

Hot, Foldable, Smart Phone:  Samsung's Galaxy Fold Sells Out in South Korea & Coming to US and Europe Samsung launched its Galaxy Fold smartphone on Friday in South Korea and it proved to be a sell-out as soon as it went on sale.  The foldable smartphone that folds out into a tablet sold out in one day.  Another round of pre-ordering will start in South Korea on September 18th and it will be launched in the US in upcoming weeks. A First This is Samsung's first, foldable smartphone.  It includes 5G mobile connectivity.  It's priced at $2,000.  It will be going on sale in Germany, France and the UK within two weeks.  The US launch follows after that.  The device has been greatly anticipated.  An April launch was delayed by screen defects in samples. Phone and Tablet The Galaxy Fold opens into a tablet with a 7.3 inch screen that can display up to three apps simultaneously, if you like to multi-task like I do.  This is part of Samsung's commi

Genetics Bear Down on DNA of Loch Ness Monster Source:   Loch Ness The Monster May Be a Giant Eel The famed Loch Ness Monster has been the stuff of fiction and news reports from observers for 16 centuries.  The mystery of Nessie dates back to 565 AD when St. Columbia reportedly had an encounter with a monster on the River Ness.  It turns out that the monster may be fact and not fiction.  Scientists from New Zealand have done extensive analysis of DNA in Loch Ness's waters.  Their conclusion is the Loch Ness Monster may be a giant eel. New Science My favorite detective Sherlock Holmes would love this. An animated version of  the Loch Ness Monster was featured in an episode of the Private Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.  Now 21st  century science is nailing it. It looks like the Loch Ness Monster exists but it may be a huge eel that is keeping the legacy going. The New Zealand scientists believe that the lake's eels hail from the Bahamas and migrate to the Loch Ness wat

Breakthrough Innovation from Saudi Arabia Artificial Skin that Feels A team at KAUST, the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, has developed a new, magnetic skin that could enable new, wearable consumer technology and assistive devices for the elderly and disabled.  The skin is imperceptible, biocompatible and very innovative.  The new tech ushers in a new generation of touch sensors with low-cost technology applications. No Batteries or Wires Needed What is remarkable is the skin doesn't require embedded electronics....no wires, batteries or antennas.  The material is ultra flexible.  It's powered by an elastomer matrix mixed with magnetic powder. Tailor-Magnetized for Specific Uses The skin is tailor-magnetized for specific applications.  The uses include tracking eye movements to detect disease and robotic arms and prosthetics with haptic perception.  The key innovator is KAUST PhD. candidate Ahmed Alfadhel who started by investigatin