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Showing posts from March, 2021

Pfizer-BioNTech Kid's COVID Vaccine

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COVID Kids' Vaccine Moves Forward                            Source:  Pfizer-BioNTech COVID Vaccine 100% Effective in Initial Data From Trials Germany based BioNTech and Pfizer announced today that their COVID-19 vaccine is 100% effective in teens, according to their initial data from ongoing trials in children from 12 to 15 years old.  The companies added kids tolerate the vaccine very well.  Their vaccine has already been approved for emergency use in young people 16 year old plus and adults.  The companies, based on their new data, say that they believe it is safe and effective for kids 12 to 15 years old to receive the two shot vaccine.  Their data is being forwarded to the FDA for its review and possible approval for use in young teens to protect them from COVID.  The companies hope to start vaccinating kids before the start of the new school year in fall of 2021. Testing Ongoing For Kids of All Ages The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been shot into the arms of hundreds of millio

Germany's Big New Innovations by Edward Kane

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Just Published on Amazon & Kindle                                                        ASIN: B091FQ4774 Fascinating New Innovations Being Developed in Germany My book "Germany's Big New Innovations" showcases fascinating breakthrough innovations in Travel,  Energy, Medicine and more that have just been developed by German engineers, scientists and technologists. Many of the inventions are life enhancing and life saving.  To take a look, go to  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B091FQ4774&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_RTYB3X7TFY93ZXSA0CAZ ... ...

Flying At Supersonic Speeds

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Aerion of Florida's Pipeline of SSTs Source:  Aerion AS3                                                                                Source:  Aerion AS2 LA TO Tokyo in Less Than 3 Hours A new supersonic passenger jet is under development at Aerion aviation in Orlando, Florida.  The Aerion AS3 is a Mach 4 + commercial jet.  The company says it can fly from LA to Tokyo in less than 3 hours and from New York to London in less than an hour.  The SST can carry 50 passengers and has a range of 7,000 nautical miles.  And it will be operational by the end of this decade. NASA Partnership Aerion is working with NASA's Langley Research Center on the AS3. Concept and design work are currently underway. The company unveiled a rendering of the concept yesterday.  The SST will travel at an estimated speed of 4,000 mph.  More details are expected later in 2021. More SSTs in the R&D Pipeline Aerion plans on developing a hybrid-electric supersonic aircraft.  It has another SST, the AS2,

US' Vast Expansion of Offshore Wind Power

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US President Joe Biden To Open Up Offshore Wind Development                                                         Source:  Block Island Wind Farm, Rhode Island Much Greener US Power Mix US President Joe Biden announced today that he is greatly expanding the nation's offshore wind capacity to combat climate change.  Offshore wind power is a critical component of  Biden's goal of eventually reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions and providing 100% clean electricity by 2035.  He plans to generate 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind power by 2030.  That would provide enough energy to power 10 million homes and eliminate 78 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year. Wind Projects to Fight Climate Change & Create New Jobs President Biden intends to open new stretches of ocean areas to wind farm development, starting with the New York Bight in the waters off Long Island, New York.  He also intends to streamline the permitting process and provide billions of

US Plans Major Solar Energy Increase

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President Biden Wants Solar Energy Costs Cut 60%                                                                 Source:  Stock Solar Farm Image s Biden Targets 100% Clean Electricity by 2035 In a big reversal of former President Donald Trump's denial of climate change, President Joe Biden has a very aggressive green energy agenda.  Mr. Biden wants to cut US solar energy costs by 60% within the next decade.  And, he pledges to decarbonize the US power industry by 2035 by having it run on entirely green energy.  He wants the industry to produce 100% green electricity by 2035.  President Biden is acutely aware of the global damage that greenhouse gas emissions are doing to the environment, including the waves of severe weather consistently hitting the US with forest fires, flooding and severe storms. New Green Energy Innovations The US Department of Energy (DOE) says that to achieve the President's solar goals, solar energy needs to be installed at five-times the current rate.  T

Totally Solar Powered Concept Car Unveiled

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California Startup Humble Motors' The Humble One                                             Source:  Humble Motors More Than $20 Million in Pre-Orders California-based startup Humble Motors has unveiled a solar roof concept SUV that they call the Humble One or One, for short.  The vehicle has 80 square feet of highly advanced photovoltaic cells on the roof that capture sunlight and turn it into electricity to power the vehicle for a range of 60 miles per day. Hot New Entry into the Solar Car Market The One SUV has 4 doors and is roomy enough to carry four passengers. It is 198 inches long and weighs 4,000 pound.  It is engineered to be as lightweight as possible. Humble Motors is calling it the world's first, totally solar powered SUV. It's a hot vehicle with more than $20 million in pre-orders.  In February 2021, One orders grew 426% in the US,  while US EV sales increased only 12%.  Humble One's price is not so humble.  It starts at $109,000 with vehicle deliveries b

New Alpina B8 Gran Coupe

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Powerful Luxury Version of BMW 8-Series                                        Source:  BMW - Alpina B8 BMW & Alpina's Unique Partnership BMW and Alpina have just unveiled a powerful and luxurious new sedan, the Alpina B8 Gran Coupe.  The B8 Gran Coupe is Alpina's version of the BMW 8-Series Gran Coupe.  Germany-based Alpina is a separate company but it is BMW's luxury and performance automobile craftsman.  Alpina develops high performance versions of BMWs.  The company builds engines and parts and customizes luxury interiors by hand.  BMW does the final assembly of the souped-up BMW's.  So, the two companies just unveiled the powerful, luxurious and very expensive new B8 Gran Coupe to some great automotive reviews. Power Performance and Elegant Luxury The Alpina B8 is the most expensive entry in the new BMW 8-Series lineup.  Experts say it combines many of the 8-Series lineup's best qualities into a classic, luxury and powerful performance car.  Almost everythi

Developing COVID Vaccine For Kids

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 BioNTech and Pfizer Testing COVID Vaccine for Kids                                                            Source:  BioNTech & Pfizer Breakthrough Medical Innovation Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech hope to be able to vaccinate children under 12 years old against COVID-19 by early 2022.  Early stage trials started in late March 2021.  The volunteers (via their parents) are as young as 6 months old.  The Pfizer BioNTech COVID vaccine for adults was the first authorized for use in the US in mid December 2020 and among the first to hit global markets in late fall 2020. In the US alone, 66 million people have received it. Shot In The Arm Only the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is being used on 16 and 17 year old teens in the US.  Moderna's vaccine has been cleared for those 18 years and older.  No vaccine has been authorized for use on children under 16 year old in the US.  The Pfizer BioNTech vaccine for children is a two shot dosage.  In Phase 1 and 2 trials, three different d

Germany Using AI to Protect Forests From CC

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Fighting Climate Change Destruction of Forests With Tech Source:  German AI Forest Preservation  Sustainable Forests Climate Change is devastating forests around the world, including in Germany.  The worst conditions in Germany are taking place in Baden-Wurttemberg, where 43% of all forest areas are damaged.  German scientists are starting to deploy artificial intelligence and big data in an innovative program to make forest systems more resilient and resistant to Climate Change. AI Based Forest Management Scientists from Karlsruher Institute for Technology (KIT) and EDI Gmbh (an intelligent software spinoff) have developed an AI based assistance system for forest management.  This is a collaborative big data gathering effort by the South German Climate Office, the German Weather Service, KIT and EDI Gmbh.  They're developing a cloud based, decision making support system based on AI to better manage and protects forests and make them sustainable. Mobile Apps For Local Foresters The

Franzi the Robot Cheers Patients in Germany

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Franzi Cleans Hospital Floors, Talks, Sings & Cracks Jokes                                        Source: Dr. Rettler SERVICE A Robot Putting Smiles on Patients' Faces During the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, a new robot named Franziska, or Franzi for short, is spotlessly cleaning the hallway floors in a Munich, Germany hospital.  And importantly she is cheering up patients, staff and visitors along the way with her talking, singing and joke-telling.  Franzi can clean floors for ten hours on a single charge.  She receives her cleaning duty commands by smart phone.  The 3.3 feet tall robot has become quite the sensation while doing highly valuable service and keeping human workers out of harms way. Robotic Workforce in the Pandemic Franzi is an advanced member of the robotic workforce during the pandemic.  She is stationed at Neuperlach Hospital in Munich and is part of Dr. Rettler SERVICE, a German company that specializes in hospital cleaning, which is a critical service durin

Porsche's New E-Bikes

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The Sport & The Cross                                                  Source:  Porsche High Performance E-Biking in Style Porsche just unveiled two new e-bikes with very impressive performance capabilities and jaw-dropping price tags.  The E-Bike Sport is priced at $10,700.  And, the E-Bike Cross is priced at $8,549.  They were unveiled alongside the new Porsche Taycan Cross Turimo.  The bikes' design styles were inspired by the car's aerodynamics. The Sport The bikes were built by Porsche's own design studio.  The Sport has a full suspension carbon frame and integrated front and rear lights.  Its Shimano EP8 mid-drive motor can support up to 25 km/h.  It is a road bike designed for everyday use. The Sport is road legal in most European countries with a top speed of 15.5 mph.  It has very large disc brakes to stop quickly if necessary. The bike weighs 48 pounds. The Cross The Cross has a more rugged design for off-roading and weighs 48.7 pounds.  The seat and handlebar

Germany's Autonomous Underwater Robot

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Robot Designed to Prevent Drownings                                          Source:  Fraunhofer Institute Rescue Aquatic Robot German researchers have created an autonomous, underwater robot to rescue people in danger of drowning.  The team of scientists and roboticists are from the Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation in Germany.  The robot, called DEDAVE, is said to be a world robotic first.  DEDAVE is a prototype now under development Advanced Technologies When used at a pool, DEDAVE uses surveillance cameras mounted on the ceiling above the pool to spot the movement patterns of someone in danger of drowning. The movement is identified by artificial intelligence based computer system. The robot is stored in a docking station at the bottom of the pool.  The camera sends coordinates to the robot that pinpoints the location of the person in distress. The robot releases from the docking station, uses its onboard cameras to locate and then rescu

Tesla, Espionage & Car Cameras

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Could Cameras On Tesla Cars Be Used For Spying?                                             Source:  Tesla Stock Image China Thinks Tesla EVs Are Potential Espionage Weapons China is the world's largest electric vehicle market.  It is of vital importance to Tesla, as 30% of its total sales are now coming from China.  China thinks that advanced cameras on Tesla vehicles could be used to spy on them.  That is why the Chinese military just banned Tesla cars from entering any of its military complexes.  The Chinese military specifically cited security and intelligence concerns over the cameras that are installed on Tesla cars.  Tesla is a huge player in the China EV market.  It has a gigafactory in Shanghai that is accelerating its operations.  For Tesla CEO Elon Musk, this is one big global EV headache.  The Tesla founder, entrepreneur and CEO has just reacted to the allegation that Tesla cars are weapons to spy. CEO Musk Takes The Espionage Allegation Head On Elon Musk never seems to

Latest Smart Devices & Innovations

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Innovations For Gen Z & Beyond: Sports, Electronics, Education & More                                                                                     Source:  Amazon For a very limited time, my new book "Innovations for Gen Z & Beyond: Sports, Electronics, Education & More" is discounted as an e-book to $3.99.  That is a 70% savings off the print book price. To take a look inside,  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08W4V5DS1&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_K8JA01MRY8BR8DKSY1WY Smart Devices For The 2020's: Journalist Guide To New Gadgets                                                  Source:  Amazon Also, one of my most popular books "Smart Devices For The 2020's: Journalist Guide To New Gadgets", for a very few days, is being offered for free.  These  are Amazon special promotions that you can take advantage of.  To take a look inside,  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08B6ZV13M&preview=newtab

Rolls-Royce & World's Fastest E-Plane

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Spirit of Innovation E-Plane Hopes to Set World Speed Record                              Source:  Rolls-Royce Spirit of Innovation Zero Emissions, Fast Flying UK based Rolls-Royce is determined to manufacture and fly the world's fastest electric plane.  It plans to test fly its prototype "Spirit of Innovation" in the spring of 2021. The electric plane is a small, propeller test aircraft powered by a powerful battery pack.  Spirit of Innovation has recently been tested for taxi-ing and accelerating on a runway at a test site in the UK.  The plane propelled itself forward with power from its highly advanced battery and propulsion system that is said to be groundbreaking electrical technology. The battery pack consists of 6,000 cells.  Rolls-Royce says that is the most energy dense battery pack ever integrated into an aircraft. Tech Specs The e-plane has a 400 kW electric powertrain.  When combined with the battery system, it can hit speeds of 300 mph.  The current electric

Innovations For Gen Z & Beyond

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Top New Innovations for Young Adults, Teens & You                                                        Source: Amazon Amazon Limited Time Promotion If you are interested in big new innovations that you can use, this is an Amazon special offer of value to you.  One of  my latest books "Innovations For Gen Z and Beyond"  is being offered at a deep discount - more than 64% off the print price - for a few days by Amazon and Kindle.  The book showcases the latest breakthrough innovations for young adults, teens and savvy adults who know where to look for emerging innovation trends.  To take a look, go to  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08W4V5DS1&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_E91HYBC5886ED2H80E55 ... ...

Mercedes New Electric EQS

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Electric Sedan Based on Vision EQS Concept Source:  Mercedes-Benz Breakthrough Hyperscreen Germany based Mercedes-Benz has previewed its upcoming electric sedan the EQS, which is based on the Vision EQS concept.  The electric sedan is expected to be offered at several different price-points and functionality levels.  A top model will provide 435 miles range on a charge.  The car is so technologically advanced that with a wave of your hand, you can open and close the sunroof.  The most anticipated feature is the EQS' innovative hyperscreen. MBUX Hyperscreen The brain and nervous system of the car is the MBUX hyperscreen, which is a massive OLED display system.  According to Mercedes, artificial intelligence enables the system to continuously get to know the driver progressively better.  Based on the data, the system delivers personalized infotainment and vehicle operating choices.  The hyperscreen is housed in a single piece of curved glass with haptic feedback across the front dash

VW Aims To Be The #1 EV Leader

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 VW Hopes To Surpass Tesla By 2025                                             Source:  VW EV 70 Brand New VW EV Models To Roll Out During 2020's Volkswagen leadership has a grand plan to be the #1 leader in the global electric vehicle market by 2025.  To achieve that goal and displace Tesla, VW says it must more than double its EV sales this year.  It also needs to employ 10,000 software developers which would make VW the second largest European software company behind SAP.  And, the company says it will build six new battery factories in Europe. Aggressive Agenda VW intends to roll out 70 new EV models this decade.  UBS forecasts  that VW could equal Tesla in sales by 2022 and surpass them by 300,000 vehicles by 2025.  Next generation batteries could prove to be the gamechanger for VW.  Batteries account for 30% of the cost of an EV.  VW believes it can cut the cost in half with the development of next generation solid state batteries starting in 2025.   Wall Street Approves Disp

Lotus Electric Endurance Race Car Concept

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  Lotus E-R9 Source:  Lotus E-R9 Cutting Edge Electric Driving Technologies UK based Lotus is designing an electric endurance race car concept that will go into action in 2030.  The electric vehicle is called the E-R9.  It is futuristic and very edgy.  The racer is sleek, shaped like a delta wing and is fully electric.  Its body panels can morph in response to aerodynamic conditions.  The panels can change shape and angle.  The driver can trigger the morphing or input from the vehicle's performance sensors can trigger the change.  The morphing helps to reduce drag on straightaways and produces downforce to help navigate corners on the racetrack.  This concept vehicle is not just about racing.  It is a platform to showcase Lotus engineering's advanced capabilities in aerodynamics and electric powertrains. Next G Technologies The vehicle's powertrain has an electric motor powering each wheel.  And Lotus says it has a "mixed cell chemistry battery" designed to delive

Volvo's Futuristic Lounge Car

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Autonomous Luxury Car Concept                                                             Source:  Volvo Concept Car by Roman Zenin Driving Into the Future The autonomous concept car is called the Volvo Think Inside the Box.  It's a very edgy concept car designed for Volvo by UK creative designer Roman Zenin while doing his thesis at a University in Germany.  The vehicle's interior is the big differentiator.  The designer has created a luxurious lounge zone that can be used for office work, resting or leisure time and entertainment with the family while travelling.  It is a fascinating example of driving into the future in an autonomous lounge car. A Living Room On Wheels This vehicle is like a living room on wheels.   The two-seat version comes with big, plush sofa-like seating.  There is a huge entertainment display where the windshield is that allows the travelers to enjoy their favorite entertainment as they are driven to their destination.   A lever provides easy access to

Kia's 1st Fully Electric Car

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Kia  EV 6                                             Source:  Kia EV6 From Concept Car to Soon-to-Be Reality Kia's EV 6 is a concept car that is about to become a reality.  It is a sleek, aerodynamic electric car that could prove to be a force in the EV market.  The car has a range of 311 miles on a charge.  It offers very fast charging: 4 minutes of charging provides 62 miles of drivetime.  And it can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in three seconds. EV 6 Will Debut Later This Month Kia just unveiled the first images of EV 6.  As a concept car, it went by the code name CV.  It was designed in accordance with Kia's new design philosophy Opposites United.  The philosophy reflects the opposites in nature.   The design is a collaborative effort by Kia design studios in Korea, Germany and the US.  And it is built on Kia's new EV platform, the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).  The platform is designed to deliver EV's with very strong performance specifications.  Kia wi

Breakthrough Concept Cars 2020's

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"Breakthrough Concept Cars 2020's" by Edward Kane Source:  Amazon  ASIN: B08YTGFCG2 The Future of Driving Take a look at my breakthrough book "Breakthrough Concept Cars 2020's" that showcases the latest concept cars from the world's leading automakers.  It's a look at the future of driving. https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08YTGFCG2&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_58C46MASEPM4VVG0FM8P ... ...

New Fast, Quiet Supersonic Jet

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Spike Aerospace's S 512                                                                        Source:  Spike Aerospace Getting to Places in Half the Time The Concorde supersonic jet was decommissioned 18 years ago.  Now there is a new entry in the SST travel space.  The Spike S 512 is the ultimate in flying.  Travelling at supersonic speeds without sonic booms, the jet is quiet and can cut travel times in half.  Now under development by Spike Aerospace headquartered in Boston, the jet will fly at Mach 1.6 and will travel 720 km/h faster than any other civilian aircraft.  An example: this SST will enable passengers to fly from New York City to London in just three hours.   Luxurious Flying The Spike S 512 is a luxury business SST jet.  It can carry 18 passengers.   The cabin is pure luxury and advanced tech.  There is high speed wireless internet, panoramic views as you fly to your destination, plush seating, full telephone services, high definition display screens, reduced cabin n

Tesla Cybertruck News

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Electric Truck That Powers a Camper                                                 Source:  Tesla Cybertruck E-Pickup with Zero Emissions   The Tesla Cybertruck is one of the most anticipated product launches in history.  Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk just disclosed on Twitter that cybertruck owners will be able to power their campers with the electric pickup truck.  The truck is one of Musk's pet projects.  It is due to go into production in late 2021 and hit the market by 2022. Tech Specs The Cybertruck is an impressive piece of automotive technology.  The exterior is made of scratch and dent resistant steel, that Musk claims is bullet proof. The least expensive version starts at $39,900 and can tow up to 7,500 pounds.  The dual motor version starts at $49,900 and can tow up to 10,000 pounds.  The tri-motor version starts at $69,900, has a range of more than 500 miles on a charge and has a towing capacity of more than 14,000 pounds, which would cover a variety of trailers and

Elon Musk Grows Satellite Internet Network

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SpaceX Successful Launch of Another Batch of 60 Satellites                                                                      Source:  SpaceX/NASA More Than 1,200 Satellites in Starlink Constellation & Counting Early this morning, at Cape Canaveral, Florida, SpaceX launched another 60 Starlink internet satellites.  That brings the total in the Starlink internet constellation to more than 1200.  The system promises to provide inexpensive broadband services to the globe and particularly to remote and underserved areas.  SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wants to have a threshold of 1,440 Starlink satellites deployed in low Earth orbit to deliver optimum broadband services.  He has also petitioned the Federal Communications Commission for permission to launch tens of thousands of more satellites.  Musk has the internet service in beta-testing along stretches of the US-Canadian border and in Germany, the UK and New Zealand. Customers can also sign up on line for future service when it becomes ava

Jeep Wrangler Magneto EV Concept

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 Fully Electric Wrangler Concept                             Source:  Wrangler Magneto Concept Car Could Go Into Production by Late 2022 The Stellantis NV brand Chrysler Fiat's Jeep is working on an electric version of the Jeep Wrangler.  It's called the Jeep Wrangler Magneto concept vehicle and it is fully electric.  Automotive experts  anticipate that it will go into full production by late 2022. Classic Wrangler Styling The integrity of the iconic Wrangler design is maintained in the new EV concept even though the vehicle is built on an entirely different powertrain.  In renderings, the battery powered SUV appears to have a single electric motor and several battery modules.  Wrangler has provided no details on battery capacity, power output or range. Full Throttle Electric The Magneto is a 4x4, all wheel drive, off road capable Wrangler SUV.  No price has been announced but Jeep's first electric vehicle, the plug-in hybrid Jeep Wrangler xE starts at $47,995.  Stellantis

Elon Musk Connecting The World

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 Starlink Links to Moving Planes, Ships, Semi-Trucks and RV's                                                                                Source:  SpaceX New, Space Based Broadband Connectivity SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wants to deploy his Starlink satellite constellation to provide internet connectivity to moving aircraft, ships at sea, semi-trucks and RVs on the road through his satellite based internet network.  SpaceX is currently working on an antenna that would provide vehicles the connectivity to pull in the internet while in motion. SpaceX Needs FCC Approval to Expand Services Musk says the service is not for Tesla cars because the user terminal is much to large for a car.  It is for large moving vehicles and vessels.  Musk is asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for authorization to deploy the antennas.  This is another example of Musk looking at the world and seizing upon another unmet need as a big business opportunity.  Starlink promises to provide inexpensi

Aston Martin's Volante Vision Concept

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 Flying Taxi "Beauty in Motion"                                                                 Source:  Aston Martin Volante Vision A Flying Car That James Bond Would Love In his many movies, super spy, 007 James Bond's car of choice was always an Aston Martin.  Aston Martin's futuristic concept vehicle Volante Vision would take his breath away.  Volante Vision is an autonomous, hybrid electric flying taxi.  The vehicle is an e-VTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) that seats three adults.  A revolutionary piece of personal travel mobility, the EV is fully autonomous and is designed for urban and inner city travel. Volante Vision takes off and lands like a helicopter.  Aston Martin says its purpose is to provide fast, efficient and congestion free travel. The company says the EV redefines "beauty in motion." Latest Technological Innovations With the concept vehicle, Aston Martin is exploring new technologies for use in personal mobility.  The UK base

Cadillac's PAV Concept Car

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 "A Mobile Living Room" Source:  Cadillac Luxury Robotaxi Concept Cadillac has unveiled the Cadillac PAV, a personal autonomous vehicle that is designed to make the travel experience luxurious and comfortable.  Cadillac calls the vehicle "a mobile living room". It is a fully autonomous, driverless, electric shared vehicle designed to transport a family or friends to an event or destination. It's loaded with luxury features and amenities that you would expect from an high end, very advanced high tech, limousine service. Advanced Technology The concept robotaxi has an onboard AI system with advanced voice recognition.  Passengers can control the pod cabin's temperature, brightness, lights, climate control and aromotherapy through speaking or hand gestures.  The AI system understands both.  There are biometric sensors in the seats to monitor passengers' vital signs and accordingly adjust conditions in the pod. HALO Portfolio The PAV is a mobile luxury and t