Important Innovations Collection

Disaster Bots Source:  Squishy Robotics For Search and Rescue Missions Round, squishy robots capable of being dropped 600 feet and surviving have been developed by engineers at UC Berkeley and Squishy Robotics, a startup company founded by UC Berkeley Engineering Professor Dr. Alice Agogino.  The robots are designed for use in disaster areas to collect information on the ground. Space Bots These "tensegrity" robots were originally designed to explore Saturn's moon Titan.  They would be dropped from a spacecraft onto Titan. The UC Berkeley team realized they could be used in disaster areas on earth by equipping them with sensors able to detect conditions like dangerous gases. The robots relay that information to first responders. Rapid Deployment The sensor robots can be rapidly deployed, are mobile and, according to Dr. Agogino can work as co-robots with their human partners at disaster scenes. For more robot news, check out "List of Top New Robots"

Army of Microrobots Wipe Out Dental Plaque Source: UPENN's Microrobot Teeth Cleaners New Innovation from the University of Pennsylvania A team of engineers, dentists and biologists at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a crew of microscopic, robotic cleaners for your teeth.  The new technology combines two robotic systems:  one for the surface of the teeth and the other for inside, tough to get to places between the teeth and inside the teeth such as for root canals. Both robotic systems rely on iron-oxide nanoparticles. CARs The UPENN researchers call their system CARs, or Catalytic Antimicrobial Robots.  The microbots can be steered magnetically to breakdown biofilm and accumulated material like plaque on teeth. This is a robotic biofilm removal system that has a wide range of applications.  The team continues to work on their technology.  They believe other applications include keeping water pipes and catheters clean as well as reducing tooth decay, endodo

Shape-Shifting in Flight Source:  NASA New Way of Fabricating NASA and MIT engineers have created a radically new kind of airplane wing.  It's composed of hundreds of identical, tiny pieces.  The wing can change shape to control the flight.  The wing is created by a new way of fabricating aircraft wings and could enable radical new designs. Optimal Wing Parameters for Flight The wing has been tested in a NASA wind tunnel.  Every aspect of the flight, such as takeoff, landing, cruising, maneuvering, has its own set of optimal wing parameters.  The system automatically adjusts wing configuration and shape in response to changing aerodynamic load conditions. Shape-Shifting Flexibility and Efficiency The NASA-MIT team says this will result in greater flexibility in future aircraft design and manufacturing. They add the new fabrication process could also work for bridge construction and blades for wind turbines.  The team says the process is very cost effective.  For my t

Tiny, Semi-Autonomous, Cheap Source:  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute New Invention:  Trash Collector for Space Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are developing tiny OSCaR CubeSats for trash collection in space.  The small satellites are designed to spot, capture, trap and deorbit space debris.  The capture is performed by nets onboard.  The European Space Agency estimates 129 million pieces of space debris orbiting at such high speeds even small pieces can do damage. Inexpensive and Effective The team at Rensselaer is developing OSCaR as an affordable means to eliminate the debris.  OSCaR stands for Obsolete Spacecraft Capture and Removal. The system consists of three linked CubeSat modules, each with distinct functions. In Orbit OSCaRs would be launched into orbit.  They'll use radar, thermal and optical imaging systems to locate space debris and deploy their nets to capture it.  Each OSCaR can carry four pieces of debris.  After finished their tras

15,600 Year Old Discovery You Can Step Back Nearly 16,000 Years This is a footprint from some one walking or running 15,600 years ago.  It was just discovered by scientists in southern Chile.  The site is Osorno, Chile. And the scientists are from Universidad.Austra de Chile.   It's a fascinating discovery from scientists pushing global innovation and learning from the past.  It's the oldest footprint ever discovered.  The footprint documents that humanity was walking and running 16,000 years ago.

My Innovation Books on Kindle and Amazon Free Borrowing in Kindle Lending Library I wanted to make you aware that I've enabled free borrowing of my books on the latest, top, global innovations in the Kindle Lending Library.  You can also read book samples on my Amazon Author Page  amazon.com/author/ekane   This is a collection of eight books....the four above and the four listed below If you enjoy the book, I would greatly appreciate a good review.

NASA Documents Seismological Activity on Mars Source:  NASA InSight Interplanetary First NASA's robotic probe InSight has detected and measured what NASA scientists believe is an earthquake, or what they term, a Marsquake, on Mars.  InSight carried an instrument called a seismometer that can pick up tiny vibrations.  The robot placed the instrument on the Martian ground.  It picked up what they believe is the sound of a tremor on the surface of Mars. Robotic Insight This is the first time a likely seismological tremor has been documented on another planet.  The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California reported it this week.  InSight will be operating on Mars for another 18 months.  For my book on the latest in robotics "List of Top New Robots", go to  amazon.com/author/ekane  for a free borrow on Kindle or sample read  ASIN: B07K4QX385

AI Identifies PTSD Based on Snippets of Speec h Source:  US Army Medical Tech Breakthrough from NYU School of Medicine Researchers at the New York University School of Medicine have invented a new, objective AI system to identify patients with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  This disease is notoriously difficult and time consuming to diagnose.  Doctors have relied on one-on-one conversations with patients and self-referrals. Speech Tech Identifier The NYU team used recorded interviews with 53 veterans with PTSD and 78 without the disorder.  The recordings were processed by software into "short spurts of talk".  An algorithm analyzed the spurts for factors associated with PTSD like unclear speech and a lifeless, metallic tone.  The system identified the disorder with 89% accuracy. New, Accurate Test Progress to develop an objective test like the NYU one has been elusive until now.  The NYU system is a specialty designed computer program enabled by artific

Google Wins First FAA Approval to Deliver Packages by Drones Source:  Google Drone Starts in Virginia Google is now on its way to deliver packages to your door by drones.  Google just won the FAA's first approval for package deliveries by drones.  Drone delivery is approved to start in Virginia.  The operator is Google spinoff Drone Delivery Business.  The FAA has approved the drone company as a small airline.  This ushers in the beginning of package delivery in the US by drones.  Google is expected to deploy drone deliveries within a few months, Google Project Wing The Google drone delivery service works this way.  The drone delivers the package by tether and drops it on your doorstep as it hovers above.  The system is expected to slash delivery times and costs.  Not everyone is in favor.  A recent survey found that 50% of Americans aren't comfortable with drones delivering packages in their neighborhoods and to their homes. Crowded Skies There is also a lot of

High Speed Electron Cameras Source:  DOE US Department of Energy's Breakthrough For the first time, researchers at the US Department of Energy/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have filmed ring-shaped molecules breaking open in response to being exposed to light.  They're calling it the first High Definition movie of such molecular activity.  A powerful, high speed electron camera did the filming. Spectacular Documentation and Highly Significant This electron camera's capabilities promise to help researchers deepen scientific understanding of life's fundamental chemical reactions.  For instance, how Vitamin D is produced in the body and other similar chemical reactions.  According to the scientists, the technology enables the best possible studies of fundamental processes on ultra fast and ultra small scales.  It's a technological advance enabling a deeper understanding of life.  For my book on the latest in medical innovations, check out "List o

US Pentagon Concept:  Large Networks of Small, Cheap Satellites Source:  Artist Concept of DARPA's Small Sat System Blackjack Up for Grabs:  Who's Going to Built It? There is a new race to space.  The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA is beginning the process to decide who will win the lucrative contract to build the US' new generation of satellites derived from commercial satellite technology.  The system is called Blackjack and it consists of large networks of small, inexpensive satellites.  Right now, in competition for the prize are the USAF's Space and Missile System Center (SMC) and the Pentagon's new group the Space Development Agency (SDA). Low Earth Orbit These are Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations for the US military.  The satellites will be fanned out into large networks and large numbers that will make it more difficult for a potential enemy, such as Russia or China, to knock them out. Until now,

Volkswagon ID Buggy Source:  VW Electric Vehicle in the Sand VW's ID Buggy concept is one of the most fun new vehicles on display at the New York International Auto Show that's now underway.  Designers say the inspiration came from dune buggies of the 1960's. All Electric The ID Buggy is an electric vehicle that has an open top. The cabin interior is simple, designed for off-roading and the ability to cope with water, dirt and sand. A lithium-ion battery powers the 201 horsepower electric engine.  VW says the vehicle needs only 7.2 seconds to accelerate to 62 mph. VW designers have limited the top speed to 99 mph.  The vehicle has a maximum range of 155 miles. VW hasn't announced any plans yet to put it into production.  For a book on new travel concepts for land, sea and air, go to  amazon.com/author/ekane to check out "How to Travel in the Future" Vol. 1 ASIN: B07JCQ4J78 and Vol. 2  ASIN: B07MY8C3HG   If you like, you can do a free sample.read.

iHarvest Grows More with Less Indoors, Year-round Source:  IGWorks How Does Your Garden Grow? This is patent-pending hydroponics technology with a lot of green promise.  It's called the iHarvest vertical garden.  It's an indoor, hydroponic garden that is fully automated.  The inventor is IG Works (Indoor Garden Works).  The company is a start-up.  The hydroponic system includes a trellis support and full spectrum LED lights.  It's designed to look attractive in the home while providing fresh fruit and vegetables year-round. Green, Clean and Easy The system can grow 30 fruits and vegetable plants simultaneously.  The company says it needs only 2&1/2 feet of floor space.  They add it grows the plants three times faster and 30% larger than traditional outdoor gardens do. Indoor Garden at Your Disposal iHarvest uses no pesticides.  The company claims it uses 95% less water and 60% less fertilizers than outdoor gardens require.  It is fully automated, easy to m

Industrial-Scale Renewable Energy Project off Italy Source:  Waves off coast of Italy New Wave Power Stations Italian oil and gas group Eni is joining in a wave energy project with shipbuilder Fincantieri and power grid group Terna to develop wave power stations off the coast of Italy.  Also part of the consortium is Italy's state lender CDP.  They announced their plans this weekend. News They plan on converting a pilot project on inertial sea energy to an industrial scale project of wave power stations.  They say this is for immediate application. Other Projects Other wave energy projects underway in Italy include a consortium led by the Italian company UmbraGroup that has European Union research funding to develop an advanced power take-off system for wave energy applications.  The project runs through late 2020 and includes the University of Edinburgh, NTNU and a number of engineering companies. Global Potential Oceans are a huge renewable energy resource.  Th

Very Smart Motor Source:  Delft University of Technology Innovation from the Netherlands' TU Delft This is the first system in the world that can help a bicycle stay upright.  It was designed by researchers at Delft University of Technology and bike manufacturer Koninklijke Gazelle in the Netherlands.  They've designed a smart steering system that may reduce the number of accidents when cyclists loose balance and control of their bikes. Smart Motor, Smart Sensor The bike has a sensor that tracks the bike's movements and determines if it's in danger of tipping.  If the system determines that a fall is about to happen, the electric motor in the steering tube activates and turns the handlebars to balance the bike and prevent a fall. Tipping Point The researchers say their bike smart steering system is a prototype.  They want to do more research on it before making it available to consumers.  Specifically, they want to maximize the comfort level for cyclists w

Lincoln's Electric Iteration on a SUV Theme Source:  Lincoln Corsair Corsair The New York International Auto Show just opened today.  One of the hottest new vehicles is Lincoln's Corsair, an electric vehicle in the lucrative SUV segment.  Lincoln says the vehicle demonstrates its "dramatic transformation" over the past few years.  You can take a look in the picture above. For Lincoln it's a smaller SUV but the company says it's bigger on design and features. 2 Models The Corsair SUV comes with Lincoln's co-pilot 360 driver assist package.  There are 2 models that are available:  a 2.0 liter engine with 245 horsepower and a 2.3 liter engine version with 285 horsepower. Also Hot There are a number of new SUV's being rolled out in NYC.  They include the Subaru Outback that now has a 360 degree, augmented interactive display.  Another unveiling comes from Toyota and its fourth generation Highlander.  More than 1000 vehicle models are being i

Kindle Lending Library:  My Innovation Books ASIN: B07K4QX385 "How to Use Robots" by Edward Kane I just enabled my book "How to Use Robots" as a free  borrow in the Kindle Lending Library. The book is a great resource on the world's latest and greatest robotics, written in a crisp news summary fashion.  It details top, new medical, service, humanoid, industrial, companion, AI enabled robots and drones. More Books Enabled I've also enabled free borrows on five more of my latest innovation books: "How to Use AI and AR"  ASIN: B07KBBQ44J  "How to Improve the Environment"  ASIN: B07MNJL5J1  "List of Top New Medical Innovations"  ASIN: B07Q8WK98N  "How to Travel in the Future"  ASIN: 1728734509  "How to Travel in the Future", Vol. 2  ASIN: B07MY8C3HG You can also access free sample reads of these and my other books at  amazon.com/author/ekane

Autonomous Wings to Withstand the Wind Source:  Purdue University Inspired by Insects Roboticists at Purdue University have developed a new drone that will be particularly important for search and rescue missions.  The inspiration is from insect wings and flight patterns.  The drone has foldable wings that are autonomous and can make in-flight adjustments. Against the Wind The foldable wing design allows the drones to change its center of gravity during flight.  That enables it to maintain balance even in heavy wind conditions. Until now, most drones on the market have fixed wings that hinder their performance when winds pick up. More Serviceable Drones The ability to shift the center of balance allows the drone to carry heavy, asymmetrical payloads. It can also fold its wings to fly through narrow passages.  This new technology is patented, more energy efficient, works in high wind conditions and carries a heavier payload.

Affordable Alternative to Blood Tests Source:  American Chemical Society - Test before (left), Results (right) US-China Research Collaboration A biosensor bandage that collects and analyzes, in conjunction with a smart phone, sweat could be an inexpensive alternative to traditional blood tests.  It was developed by a team of US and Chinese scientists and is designed to monitor health and detect diseases. Wearable Device The smart health monitor is wearable.  It's composed of a polymer film coated with a super-hydrophobic silica suspension. It's flexible and contains mini-wells.  The wells contain dyes that react to sweat in the event of changes in glucose, calcium, chloride and pH. Smart Bandage The smart biosensor bandage adheres to the skin. Sweat that reaches the micropores trigger the dyes to change color in reaction to the chemical composition of the sweat.  The team just announced the device and is working on increasing its sensitivity.

New Autonomous Paradigm on the Ground, Underwater, in the Air - Based on Brain Research Source:  Stock Image of the Brain Boston University Leading Global Scientific Research Team The US Department of Defense just awarded $7.5 million to a team of scientists from Boston University, MIT and Australian research universities.  The funding is to utilize neuroscience research  to better control and organize engineered systems for the development of the next generation of autonomous systems for driverless vehicles. The systems would be new bioinspired control systems to mimic how living organisms' brains successfully navigate their spacial environments. Brain Power What's fascinating about this project is that the autonomous systems they develop will have applications across driverless vehicles on land, sea and air.  The team is led by Boston University Professor of Engineering Yannis Paschalidis, who specializes in biomedical, systems, electrical and computing engineerin

Robot Created by Hong Kong Artist Source:  Artist Peter Wong and his robot's art at London Exhibit Paints in Traditional Chinese Style The project is called the "Far Side of the Moon."  Artist Victor Wong in Hong Kong has created a robot enabled with artificial intelligence that paints moonscapes in the traditional Chinese painting style.  The robot is called A.I. Gemini.  It took Wong three years to build and program the robot artist, along with teaching it artistic style techniques. Randomness Peter Wong doesn't know what the robot will paint.  Randomness is programmed into its algorithms.  The AI has been fed lunar 3D images from NASA and from China's Chang'e-4 lunar rover that took pictures of the far, dark side of the moon in January.  This is another example of the powerful combination of robotics with artificial intelligence delivering remarkable results, including art from the dark side of the moon.

First of its Kind Nanogenerato r:  SnowTENG Source:  UCLA Generating Electricity from Snow - New Wearables From sunny, warm Los Angeles, a team of engineers at UCLA have invented an innovative device that generates electricity from contact with snow.  It's inexpensive, small and thin like a sheet of plastic.  According to the researchers, it provides its own power and doesn't require batteries.  It's a clever device that has the potential to generate a whole new generation of wearables to track athletic performance.  It also functions as a weather station, smart enough to tell you how much snow is falling, from what direction along with wind speed and direction. Best in Snow It's a snow-based triboelectric nanogenerator, the Snow TENG.  It contains silicon attached to an electrode.  When the negatively charged layer of silicon makes contacts with the positively charged snow, electricity is created that's harvested by the device. New Generation of Wearab

5th Book - Free Borrow on Kindle Lending Library Valuable Guide to the Latest Innovative Uses of AI and AR I've just enabled my book "How to Use AI and AR" as a free borrow on the Kindle Lending Library.  It's a very valuable guide to how artificial intelligence and augmented reality are driving accelerating innovation by their uses across industries, such as robotics, autonomous cars and medicine. Here's the code you'll need  ASIN: B07KBBQ44J   You can also access a free sample read at  amazon.com/author/ekane  Be in the Know About the Latest Top Innovations Across Key Areas: 4 More Books Free These books will put you in the know about the latest top innovations across key areas. I've also just enabled four other books as free borrows in the Kindle Lending Library.  They include "How to Travel in the Future" Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 which showcase the latest in travel innovations like aerial taxis, spaceplanes, the Rolls Royce of flying cars

New Wind Technology Source:  US Army Corps of Engineers Green Energy Gamechanger from Army Corps of Engineers This is a new breakthrough in wind turbine technology inspired by Venetian blinds.  It can generate electricity from a breeze too light for standard wind turbines.  It harvests electricity from gentle breezes under 9 mph. New Patent It's the invention of a team at the US Army Corps of Engineers.  They just received a patent for it.  It's a prototype device they believe can be scaled up to provide wind power to communities in low wind areas. Renewable Energy from a Breeze The device consists of eight adjustable elastic tension gradient strips mounted vertically to PVC tubes at the top and bottom.  A slight breeze against the strips causes them to move and push a copper induction coil at the base of each to move along a magnet filled pipe and create a current.  The team is looking to further develop the renewable energy technology for commercial uses.

World's Largest Aircraft's First Flight Source:  Stratolaunch Systems Wingspan the Size of a Professional Football Field The world's largest aircraft flew over the Mojave Desert in California this past weekend.  It was the first flight for the carbon-composite plane built by Stratolaunch Systems, the company started by the late Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft.  It was a great success for the company as it enters the crowded and very lucrative commercial space travel market.  The plane is an air launch system. Roc The plane is an extraordinary piece of technology.  It's powered by six engines on two fuselages.  The wingspan is immense - the length of a football field.  The plane, named Roc, flew two hours and landed safely.  The company says Roc is designed to be a flexible alternative to land based space launch systems.

Very Connected Dairy Cattle Source:  Cows with Cisco's 5G collars Cisco Systems UK Tests 5G connected cows are engaged in testing a milking system of the future.  They are Friesian dairy cattle and they have 5G connectivity way before most of us do. 5G Network Infrastructure Being Tested Cisco Systems is designing network infrastructure for 5G.  In three rural locations in the UK, they've setup 5G test sites to see how wireless and mobile connectivity performs.  5G promises super fast connectivity.  According to experts, the first nationwide coverage in the US, Japan and China won't happen until 2023. CowTech 50 dairy cows are outfitted with several 5G gadgets.  The primary one is a collar that controls a robotic milking machine.  The cows also have health-monitoring ear tags.  Cisco says the devices don't harm the cows in any way.  They're testing the ability of 5G to send data from the sensors much faster than a typical farm PC. New High Tech Farm

My Books I've just made a fourth book available to the Kindle Lending Library for free borrowing.  The books contain my news summaries, as a journalist, of the latest top global innovations in specific disciplines.  They're listed below. If you're interested in the latest innovations, I think you'll enjoy these books and find them very valuable as an information source.  For more information, go to  amazon.com/author/ekane

Successful Launch of World's Most Powerful Rocket Source:  Falcon Heavy Lift-Off Took Off With the Force of 18 Passenger Jets SpaceX, owned by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, sent the world's most powerful rocket, SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, on its first commercial mission. The launch took place late this week in Florida.  It served as an important demonstration of SpaceX's capabilities in the crowded field of competitors chasing lucrative military launch contracts. Perfect Mission Accomplished The rocket took off with the force of 18 passenger jets.  All 27 of its engines fired up at liftoff - 9 engines per booster.  The rocket delivered a communications satellite into orbit for a paying customer, Arabsat of Saudi Arabia.  Remarkably, all three rocket boosters landed safety back on earth.

Renewable Energy Innovation from Sweden New Salt-Based Storage Technology System For Green Energy Vattenfall is a Swedish power producer. It's building a plant in Berlin to test storing electricity from solar plants and wind turbines in salt to preserve their usability.  The purpose is to preserve green energy and overcome natural problems caused by changing sun and wind conditions, specifically light and day and changing wind speeds.. The start and stop natural dynamics of wind and the sun are a big disadvantage.  The purpose is to have the green energy stored and ready for use. SaltX of Sweden The system was invented by SaltX, another Swedish firm. It uses salt crystals coated with nanoparticles that heat up with electricity and release the heat when they are discharged. The project will run through the summer in Berlin.  The plant will have a storage capacity of 10 megawatts.  This is the first time that SaltX's technology has been tested on an industrial scale.  Th

First Test for CTE in the Living Source:  Stock Image Game-changing Discovery by Boston University Scientists Boston University research scientists have just announced a big breakthrough in brain research on CTE, Chronic Traumatic Encepthalopathy.  CTE is a fatal brain condition caused by blows to the head, particularly common in football and other sports. Until now, there was no way to diagnose it in the living. BU Discovered An Abnormal Protein Tau Linked to CTE The researchers examined the brains of ex-NFL players who died and found the abnormal protein tau that is an indicator of CTE in many of their brains.  The breakthrough is, for the first time, the scientists are able to detect signs of CTE through the presence of tau in living patients.  BU scientists brain scanned 26 living, ex-NFL players and 31 ordinary people with no history of brain injuries. The scans lit up much more frequently for tau in the football players indicating they are suffering from CTE. Leading

Important Innovations Collection Best, Latest Global Innovations Across Industries If you are fascinated by new innovations changing our world, you may really enjoy my book "Important Innovations Collection - The Best".  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1797046632/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i13 Handy Reference Guide It's a handy, easy to read, guide book on the latest top global innovations across industries like travel, robotics, AI, medicine, energy, the environment and much more.  It's written in a news summary fashion with the bottom-line facts you need to know by me, a national journalist. Free Borrow and Free Sample You can borrow it for free in the Kindle Library  ASIN: B07NTWC3FW or enjoy a free sample read at  amazon.com/author/ekane   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1797046632/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i13