Archive for the ‘transportation’ category: Page 522
Dec 15, 2016
Autonomous Wings Could be the Future of Aviation
Posted by Shane Hinshaw in categories: robotics/AI, transportation
Scientists at NASA are designing airplane wings that can change shape mid-flight. Much like a bird’s feathers, the wings would move autonomously giving the pilot an incredible amount of control in the air.
Dec 14, 2016
Uber draws ire of California DMV for testing self-driving cars in S.F. without permit
Posted by Dan Kummer in categories: robotics/AI, transportation
Ooops.
SACRAMENTO, Dec. 14 (UPI) — The California Department of Motor Vehicles issued a warning of sorts to rideshare company Uber on Wednesday, apparently for wading too far into the waters of testing self-driving vehicles in San Francisco.
Dec 13, 2016
Nano-Nouvelle Trial Delivers Nanotech Breakthrough
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: mobile phones, nanotechnology, transportation
A successful production trial by Australian battery technology innovator Nano-Nouvelle has proved its pioneering nanotechnology supports industrial-scale manufacture, with output rates 100 times faster.
The Sunshine Coast-based company is developing world-leading nanotechnology that can boost the energy storage capacity of lithium ion batteries by as much as 50 per cent. Lithium ion batteries are used in devices ranging from mobile phones and notebooks to and electric vehicles and home energy storage systems.
As well as proving its technology, Nano-Nouvelle has worked with companies worldwide to ensure its battery-boosting breakthrough is usable with today’s production lines.
Dec 11, 2016
The future just arrived, first state legalizes driverless cars (5 Photos)
Posted by Bryan Gatton in categories: law, robotics/AI, transportation
Michigan just made it into the history books today after Governor Rick Snyder signed 4 bills into law, all governing the legality of the autonomous car, making Michigan the first state to officially sign off on driverless cars on the roads.
Many states have allowed testing of driverless vehicles, but Michigan just officially put them on the road for consumers.
Dec 8, 2016
Ambitious Student Project Aims At Renewable Hydrogen For Fuel Cell EVs
Posted by Klaus Baldauf in categories: energy, transportation
Award-winning students from Washington State University are developing a low cost, innovative hydrogen fuel station for fuel cell electric vehicles.
Dec 6, 2016
Pilotless planes may be landing at airports by 2020
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: robotics/AI, transportation
In 3 years; can you imagine that?!
Not a week goes by without an update regarding headway made by one automobile manufacturer or another testing out their self-driving prototypes. Some have even started testing the vehicles on site, exciting all who want to embrace a future where self driving vehicles are a common site.
That future is not too far off, but imagine a future where airplanes fly without pilots.
Continue reading “Pilotless planes may be landing at airports by 2020” »
Dec 6, 2016
Ukrainian Scientist Creates Battery That Can Power Smartphones for 12 Years
Posted by Shane Hinshaw in categories: chemistry, mobile phones, transportation
Ukrainian scientist Vladislav Kiselev claims that he has developed a type of battery that can power gadgets like smartphones and even cars for up to 12 years, without having to be recharged.
Kiselev, a senior researcher at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry in Kiev, and professor at Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences, unveiled his intriguing battery prototype during the 2016 edition of Sikorsky Challenge, a prestigious international competition for research projects. The matchbox-like device looks fairly unimpressive, but the Ukrainian scientist claims that it has been continuously powering electrical devices for a year and four months without a single recharge, and will continue to do so for the next 11 years. That’s because his “battery” produces energy instead of simply storing it.
Dec 6, 2016
Hawaii among top states in U.S. for hydrogen fuel cell projects
Posted by Klaus Baldauf in categories: nuclear energy, transportation
The report highlighted key programs and policies in the state including the state Legislature authorizing $1.25 million in bonds to design the refueling infrastructure for the Department of Transportation airport shuttle bus project.
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that uses hydrogen and oxygen from the air to produce electricity, with water and heat as its by-products. Hydrogen can come from fossil fuels such as natural gas or propane or renewable fuels including gas from an anaerobic digester or landfill. Hydrogen can also be produced by water electrolysis, which can be powered by electricity from renewables such as solar or wind or from nuclear energy and the grid.
Other top states for hydrogen and fuel cells include California, Connecticut and New York.
Continue reading “Hawaii among top states in U.S. for hydrogen fuel cell projects” »
Dec 5, 2016
European VCs are going to make flying cars a reality
Posted by Klaus Baldauf in categories: futurism, transportation
Planting a flag in Europe for the development of the kind of “deep technology” companies that have long been the bread and butter of Silicon Valley, the European venture firm Atomico has invested 10 million euros in the vertical take-off and landing plane developer, Lilium Aviation.
The roughly $10.7 million Series A investment announced at TechCrunch Disrupt London is meant to help Lilium develop into a manufacturer of a commuter alternative to helicopters and traditional planes.
Since the 1950s and 1960s, flying cars have ranked right up there with jetpacks as an example of the fulfillment of our expectations for future travel (I still think the Uber and Lyft app is pretty magical).
Continue reading “European VCs are going to make flying cars a reality” »