Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity
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Category: transportation – Page 40

Autonomous and AI-enabled systems increasingly rely on optical and radio frequency sensors and significant computer power. They face growing vulnerabilities from directed-energy laser and microwave weapons.

By David C. Stoudt

In May the U.S. secretary of the Air Force flew in an F-16 that engaged in a mock dogfight over the California desert while controlled by artificial intelligence. Carmakers from San Francisco to Boston are jousting to deliver driverless cars. In Norway a crewless cargo ship carries fertilizer from port to port. On the land, sea and in the air, we face the coming of such autonomous platforms—some envisioned to benefit humanity, and others meant for destruction—available to everyone, to governments, businesses and criminals.

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After a strong start to 2024, Hyundai expects the momentum to continue with some of the most affordable and efficient EVs on the US market. In an exclusive interview with Electrek, Hyundai Motor America CEO Randy Parker said the company is “humble and hungry” as it remains committed to EVs in the US.

Despite rivals pulling back, Hyundai is doubling down on its EV commitment as it looks to separate itself from the competition.

Its early dedication is already paying off. Hyundai is outpacing the US electric vehicle market with a wide-ranging lineup of award-winning EVs, including the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and Kona Electric.

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NY-based startup and EV infrastructure specialist Gravity has launched a new line of universal EV charger “trees” it hopes will bring convenient charging sessions curbside on city streets. The deployment will start modestly, but Gravity is targeting a street charging network that is” more expansive than Tesla’s current Supercharger network.”

Gravity Inc. is a startup focused on sustainable fleets and the infrastructure required to operate them efficiently. In 2021, Gravity began rolling out a fleet of all-electric Mustang Mach-E yellow cabs around New York City while partnering with building owners and parking operators to implement electric vehicle charging infrastructure to support individual drivers and large EV fleets.

At that time, Gravity was already teasing plans to open the “only true fast-charging site in Manhattan” to support the taxis and local EV owners. In October 2023, Gravity released a full suite of 500kW EV chargers, some of the fastest we’ve seen.

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ChargePoint’s (NYSE: CHPT) new Megawatt Charging System for commercial electric trucks is capable of dispensing enough energy to power around 1,000 homes.

Hossein Kazemi, ChargePoint’s CTO for hardware, said, “Megawatt charging solves one-half of the electrification equation for trucking. The companies developing electric trucks can now leverage this infrastructure to test and enable their vehicles until they meet – or even exceed – the distances covered by internal combustion trucks.”

The Megawatt Charging System cable and connector will be available on ChargePoint’s Power Link 2000 stations, part of its modular Express Plus DC fast charging platform.

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Segway has taken to the Consumer Electronics Expo (CES) in Las Vegas to unveil a pair of new electric two-wheelers. The first is an electric bicycle called the Xafari, while the latter is a borderline electric motorcycle known as the Xyber.

Both bikes are ostensibly categorized as electric bicycles in the US, fitting within the legal definition of the category. The Xafari even feels like it fits nicely under the e-bike classification, though the Xyber seems to carry a bit more Sur Ron vibes than Schwinn vibes, if you get the idea.

Any way you slice them, both bikes mark a major push deeper into the industry for Segway as the company continues to expand in the micromobility category.

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Sharp-7 employs an 8MP automotive-grade sensor, ensuring consistent, high-quality imaging across various temperatures in automotive environments.

Aiding in advancing future automotive safety systems, Sheba Microsystems has launched a novel autofocus camera.

Sharp-7 pioneers autofocus in automotive cameras, ensuring high-quality imaging despite temperature fluctuations, crucial for ADAS.

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A “flying car” took to the air in Tokyo for the first time on Friday during an international event showcasing cutting-edge technology.

About 500 spectators applauded as the vehicle hovered around 10 meters off the ground in a parking lot outside the Tokyo Big Sight convention center in the capital’s Koto Ward for SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024.

Flying vehicles are expected to become part of the next generation of human transportation and will be effective in dealing with traffic congestion and delivering supplies to disaster areas, the Tokyo metropolitan government and other organizers said.

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Country folk tend to like the independence offered by their cars, so how do you get them to use public transit? The Monocab system may be the answer, as it utilizes individual on-demand pods that travel on existing abandoned railways.

It’s a bit of a vicious circle. Many people in rural areas prefer using their cars for getting to and from urban centers whenever they want, as opposed to waiting for the few buses or trains. This lack of interest in public transit results in even fewer buses and trains being offered, leading to even less uptake by the locals.

As a result, in countries such as Germany, many rural commuter railways are now largely unused. What’s more, because not everyone wants to wait for public transit or make a long drive, an increasing number of people are choosing to live in cities instead of the countryside.

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