Important Innovations

  Volocopter of Germany, eVTOL Flying Taxis. in Singapore                                             Source:  Volocopter Takeoff by 2023 Germany's Volocopter will start flying taxi service in Singapore by 2023.  The first flights will carry a pilot and one passenger.  When cleared for autonomous operations, the Volocopters will carry two passengers.  This is a world first and the beginning of an exciting era of flying urban mobility with Singapore leading the way. Singapore At the Forefront Singapore is at the forefront of putting flying taxis into service thanks to its more supportive regulatory environment for deploying new technologies as compared with other nations.  The Volocopter is nimble and small enough to travel into densely populated cities and take-off from small spaces.  It's an eVTOL or electric, vertical takeoff and landing vehicle. Technology Innovation Volocopter says it is working with Singapore battery developers, material scientists and with authorities to

  Hydrogen to Power Cars, T rucks, Boats and Trains                                                  Source:  Hyundai Hyundai's New HTwo Hydrogen Powertrain Hyundai recently unveiled some key components of its strategy for the future, including hydrogen powered vehicles.   Hyundai has unveiled its new hydrogen fuel cell powertrain HTwo.  It stands for hydrogen's molecular structure H2.  HTwo will be the hydrogen powertrain for Hyundai's next generation fuel cell vehicles.  And Hyundai wants cars, boats, trains and future large scale vessels to be powered by HTwo.  Hyundai's ultimate goal is to seriously fight climate change as hydrogen is emissions free.  The South Korean company is currently prioritizing increased energy density and affordability of its hydrogen powered vehicles. Flying Hydrogen Taxis Hyundai is also focusing on urban air mobility vehicles or flying taxis.  It is aiming to power flying taxis with its HTwo powertrain, which would make them green, clean

Tech Communicating Using Body Language, Sounds & Lights Source:  Volvo 360c Incorporating Origins of Human Communications  Volvo's vision of the future of autonomous driving is based on the origins of human communications, going back 10,000 years.  The Sweden based company is developing technology to enable autonomous cars to communicate with each other, other drivers and pedestrians.  The techniques include body language, basic sounds and light pulses.  Volvo said today that it believes the long term solution to avoiding accidents and safer driving is autonomous, self-driving vehicles. Volvo 360c Autonomous Car Concept The Volvo 360c is Volvo's proprietary, autonomous concept car, leading the autonomous way.  The vehicle communicates with other vehicles, bikes and pedestrians on the road.  It uses external lights, sounds and even subtle "body language" movements to communicate what the vehicle is about to do.  Volvo researchers aim to give self-driving cars a for

  Eagle Robots Down on the Farm                                             Source:  UK Farm Robot                                        Source:  Xihelm's Eagle Robot Next Generation Farming In the UK, farmers are turning to robots to help on the farm.  The robotic farming trend is accelerating because of labor shortages caused by COVID and Brexit.  One interesting startup is London based Xihelm, founded by former Google executive James Kent.  He says his Eagle robot will eventually cut the number of workers needed for harvest by 50% to 70%. Commercial Use of Robots on the Farm Xihelm and other startups are competing to bring farm robots into commercial use.  Experts say that could happen within several years.  What needs to be accomplished first is to perfect the artificial intelligence the robots use to pick ripe crops and the technology and engineering to harvest it without damaging it.  Future of Farming The robots have the potential of profoundly revolutionizing farming.  The

Apple is Developing an Electric & Possibly Autonomous Car                                                  Source:  Apple Project Titan - Apple Electric Cars Apple hopes to produce an electric car powered by it own next-generation battery by 2024 or 2025.  Apple has been working on developing an electric car since 2014.  The development project is called "Project Titan".  And, there is a key ingredient:  Apple's own, inexpensive, long range breakthrough battery.  Tonight, Reuters is reporting that Apple is moving ahead with an electric, mass market, passenger vehicle.  Apple is not commenting at this time. From Smart Phones to Electric Car Manufacturer?   How would Apple start manufacturing electric cars?  Experts note that Apple makes hundreds of million of smart phones and electronics and pulls in parts from around the world to produce global consumer technology products.  Apple has the experience and smarts to do the same with e-cars. Also, Apple could partner with

 Journalist Edward Kane's  Latest Books on Innovation                                                       Source:  Amazon Available on Amazon & Kindle Journalist Edward Kane's latest book "USA: THE INNOVATION SUPERSTAR" is now available on Amazon and Kindle.  It showcases the top new innovations just invented in the US for the 2020's.  For  a preview, go to  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08R269FRV&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_uDo4FbGAH2N70 Ed's two previous books "EUROPE: THE GLOBAL INNOVATION LEADER" and "ASIA: THE INNOVATION POWERHOUSE" are perfect companion books.  They chronicle big innovation breakthroughs in Europe and Asia.  To preview Europe, go to  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08MSDR7JZ&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_9Fo4FbP0NZN9T   The three books provide a fascinating look at the most exciting innovations from the US, Europe and Asia.   To preview

  Reusable, Affordable, Flying, Launch & Release Drones                                 Source:  DARPA's Gremlins Program For the US Military and Multi-Purpose Missions DARPA, the US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency, has a fascinating, highly advanced drone program underway to launch and catch airborne drones.  DARPA calls it the Gremlins program and it just completed the first flight test of its X-61A drone vehicle that is designed for airborne launch, free flight, swarming and then retrieval in the air, for re-use thereafter.  Drones Within Inches of Retrieval What DARPA is striving for is the aerial recovery of multiple drones that are low cost and reusable, unmanned aerial systems or  GAV (Gremlin Aerial Vehicles). The test drones each flew two hours autonomously and successfully tested for all formation flying positions and for safety.  But, within "inches", they failed to lockup in flight for the catch by a retrieval system on a C-130 H