Important Innovations Collection

New South Wales Engineering Students Innovated the Sunswift 7                                                  Source: UNSW Sunswift Breaks Guinness World Record Sunswift 7 now holds the Guinness World Record for the world's fastest solar powered EV. Incredibly it is the 2-year development project of a group of highly talented engineering students at the University of New South Wales, who set their target to break a world record.  They did it! They have secured the distinction of the world's fastest solar powered car over a 1,000 km (621-mile distance) with massive numbers of laps around an official Australian racetrack.  The Sunswift's average speed was 53 mph.  The 600 mile plus range it achieved on a single charge is unprecedented and establishes a new standard for solar-powered cars.  What is so striking is tha...

From Downunder, Alauda Aeronautics                                                   Source:  Alauda Alauda's Airspeeder Completes 250 Successful Flights Electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) are a big, global, growth industry.  Morgan Stanley estimates the market will be worth $1.5 trillion by 2040.  A major industry player, Alauda Aeronautics, is emerging from Downunder in Adelaide, Southern Australia.  The company has just marked the 250th successful flight of its eVTOL Airspeeder.  And the company is helping to develop new technological breakthroughs for eVTOLs by establishing a competitive, global racing league for eVTOL/flying cars.  The concept is to foster and incubate innovation the way race car development has fostered breakthrough technologies for the automotive industry....

Embraer's Eve Has Order Backlog of 1,785 eVTOLs                                        Source:  Embraer's Eve Green, Zero Emissions Urban Air Mobility Brazil's aviation giant Embraer has a very hot eVTOL flying taxi subsidiary, Eve Urban Air Mobility, which is doing record business.  Eve, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL, has an order backlog of 1,785 eVTOLs or electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles.  That big backlog amounts to $5.4 billion in flying taxi orders.  And, at the 2022 Singapore Air Show, the backlog got bigger.  Eve has signed a number of new deals to make its eVTOLs operational in Australia by 2025.  Western Australia air charter companies Aviair and Helispirit, which specialize in scenic charter flights, have ordered 50 Eve eVTOLs.  Melbourne based helicopter company Microflite ordered 40 Eve eVTOLs....

World First From the Netherlands & Australia                                             Source:  Studio MOM LAVO Hydrogen, Solar Powered Battery E-Bike Dutch e-bike manufacturer Studio MOM  and hybrid hydrogen battery maker LAVO of Australia have invented a world first - a hydrogen powered electric bike that can transport heavy cargo over long distances.  MOM says the hydrogen battery is much lighter than lithium-ion batteries typically used in e-bikes.  As a result, the cargo bike can carry heavier loads for longer distances with zero emissions. Breakthrough Battery Technology The LAVO hydrogen battery, developed at the University of New South Wales, uses solar energy to distill hydrogen from water.  The hydrogen is absorbed into a patented metal hydride and converts into battery power.  The e-bike is the first commercial ...

Alauda Aeronautics Airspeeder Mk3                                                  Source:  Alauda First Unmanned Flights for Flying Race Car Alauda Aeronautics' Airspeeder Mk3 - a flying race car - has just successfully completed its first, unmanned test flights over the South Australia desert.  The flying car is a spectacular piece of technology, inspired by Formula One race cars dating back to the 1950's and 1060's.  It's an all electric, 13 feet long, octocopter e-VTOL, that vertically takes off and lands like a helicopter.  Alauda is building at least ten Airspeeders, which will participate in the world's first flying race car races later this year. Cutting Edge Flying Car Technologies Airspeeder is powered by a lithium polymer battery that delivers fifteen minutes of flying time.  The flying car weighs 287 pounds....

Airspeeder Mk3 - World's First Electric Flying Race Car                                        Source:  Airspeeder Mk3 Flying Car Races Coming Soon The world's first electric flying race car - the Airspeeder Mk3 - is an extraordinary piece of technology.  It combines top features of  F1 race cars, fighter jets and helicopters.  The inspiration for the EV comes from legendary Mercedes-Benzes, Rolls Royce's and Bugatti's, which developed new race car technologies and then incorporated them into commercial vehicles.  The Airspeeder Mk3 has just gone into production in Adelaide, Australia at Alauda Aeronautics.   Ten vehicles are being produced for flying car races over Australia and on other continents over the next year. Technology Comparisons When compared to the Audi SQ7, Airspeeder delivers the same amount of power - 435 PS - while being ...

Airspeeder MK4                                             Source:  Airspeeder MK4 Ready to Race & Generate New Flying Car Technologies for Consumers The world's first electric flying racecar has been unveiled by Alauda Aeronautics of Australia.  It's called the Airspeeder MK4.  The flying racecar is an eVTOL or electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle. Alauda says it is ready to race.  Airspeeder is full sized and its design was inspired by F1 racing cars.  Ten more e- flying racecars are being built to compete in the world's first races in the skies.  The racing competitions are designed to generate the development of new technologies that will transfer into future, flying passenger vehicles and highly advanced forms of aerial mobility. Tech Specs Airspeeder has top speeds of 75 mph and can accelerate from zero to 62 m...

World First in Remote Australia                                                                          Source:  Alauda Airspeeder mk3                                                  Source:  Alauda F1 Race in the Sky Alauda Aeronautics of Adelaide, Australia is finalizing the manufacturing of 10 electric, flying car racing vehicles to participate in the world's first flying car race.  These vehicles contain highly advanced technologies never deployed before in e-VTOLs or electric, vertical takeoff and landing vehicles.  The flying racing car eVTOL is called the Airspeeder mk3.  The vehicle has be...

  FDA Approves Moderna COVID Vaccine                                                                                Source:  Ellume COVID Test FDA Okays Australia's Home Diagnostic Test For COVID The FDA has given emergency approval to Moderna's COVID vaccine, making it the second COVID vaccine, along with Pfizer's,  available in the US.  The vaccine is 95% effective and is available to adults, while trials are expanded for teenagers. Meanwhile, the Australian diagnostic test company Ellume has scored a big win.  The FDA has approved its over the counter, at home,  COVID-19 test.  This is the first COVID-19 test approved for use at home.  Ellume Home COVID Test The system uses a nasal swab to collect data, analy...

Successful Japanese Mission in Space                                                  Source:  JAXA Japanese Spacecraft Retrieves Asteroid Dust The Japanese space agency JAXA has announced that its spacecraft Hayabusa2 has successfully retrieved asteroid dust from the asteroid Ryugu in space.  The scientific hope is that the asteroid dust will contain clues to the origin of the Earth and the solar system.  Japanese scientists also hope to learn "how water was brought to Earth".  The asteroid dust dates back 4.6 billion years. Arduous Mission The asteroid mission was a long and arduous one.  It underscores the innovative leadership role that Asian nations are taking in space.  Last week, a Chinese robotic spacecraft collected samples of the Moon's surface.  That is the first time since 1972 that lunar soil has ...

Airspeeder Will Race Its Flying Cars in 2020 Source:  Airspeeder South Australia Startup Before the end of 2020, Australian startup Airspeeder will host a full fledge flying car race in the remote South Australian Outback.  Airspeeder has developed two flying cars.  They are electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles eVTOLs or flying taxis.  But these flying electric vehicles are specifically designed for air racing.  The reason:  vehicle racing has driven technology innovation. Manned and Unmanned EVs Airspeeder has invented the MK 4 which has a maximum speed of 130 km/h (81 mph), weighs 120 KG (265 pounds) and seats a single pilot.  The EV is powered by a 500 kw battery, has the same power to weight ratio as a fighter jet and provides 12 minutes flight time per battery.  The company also has created the unmanned MK 2 which has a maximum speed of 60 km/h (37 mph), weighs 80 KG (176 pounds) and provides 7 minutes of flight time. 2...

BP Pilot Project in Australia Source:  Hydrogen Producing Hydrogen From Wind and Solar Power British Petroleum has won approval from the government of Australia to produce hydrogen energy from wind and solar power.  The renewable energy sources of wind and solar power will be used to split water and convert it into hydrogen and ammonia.  Australia is contributing more than $1 million to the $4.4 million BP feasibility study. Australia:  Global Hydrogen Capital Australia has ambitions to be a major producer of hydrogen by 2030.  If the feasibility study yields promising results, BP will build a pilot plant in western Australia to produce 20,000 tons of hydrogen.  Later, it will build a commercial scale facility capable of producting 1 million tons for both domestic and international markets. Renewable Energy's Holy Grail The production of green, renewable hydrogen using wind and solar power drastically cuts carbon emissions.  Energy exp...

Skies Light Up Over Western Australia Source:  Australia's Desert Fireball Network Streak of Light the Width of Texas  The celestial event, called a Grazing Fireball, happened over Western Australia. The meteorite that blazed over the night skies took a highly unusual path.  For a minute and a half it burned, carving an arc of blazing light as wide as the state of  Texas, then it faded away and took back off into space.  It's being called the meteorite that ignored the one way signs of our Solar system. On to Jupiter What's incredible is this meteorite didn't disintegrate in our atmosphere or crash to Earth.  After the light display faded, it took off back into space.  According to Australian astronomers and scientists, who have just released their findings on the event, that happened in July 2017, the wrong  way meteorite is headed to Jupiter They say, the likely arrival date is 2025. Blazing Speed This is an e...

Biggest Explosion Ever Experienced in the Universe - Bigger than Big Bang Source:  NASA Huge Explosion in Universe From Light Years Ago Just Detected By Global Team Astronomers using data from the most advanced NASA, European Space Agency, India and Australia telescopes have just discovered the biggest explosion that the universe has ever experienced since the Big Bang.  It happened in a galaxy 390 million light years away from the Earth.  And incredibly it took place in slow motion over hundreds of millions of years.  The science to discover this phenomena is remarkable and the details emerging on events going back into space from such a distance and time are amazing, innovative scientific discoveries. Supermassive Black Hole in the Ophiuchus Galaxy Cluster The global team of astronomers say the explosion they detected released five times more energy than ever detected before.  The explosion came from a supermassive black hold in a galaxy...

Australia's FrogPhone for Science Source:  University of  New South Wales & University of Canberra FrogPhone Science Calls to Remotely Monitor the Environment This new innovation is a call for science. Australian researchers have developed the FrogPhone system, which once installed at a frog pond location,enables scientists to call in on their cell phones and remotely  listen in on frogs in the wild.  Why is that important?  It provides great access and data to monitor the health of the environment.  Frogs are widely recognized as one of the best barometers of how healthy local environments are.  The FrogPhone is a novel device and a technological first. Frogs and the Quality of the Surrounding Environment The FrogPhone allows scientists to call a frog screening site and monitor the frogs, real-time, in nature.  This is the world's first solar powered device that provides environmental data via text while conducting ...

World's 1st Camera System to Spot Drivers Handling Mobile Phones Source:  Sydney Highways Stock Image New South Wales Using Tech to Cut Road Fatalities Australia's state of New South Wales, where Sydney is located, today rolled out new technology along the roads to cut fatalities caused by distracted drivers on mobile phones.  They're deploying high definition, AI-enabled detection cameras to spot drivers handling their mobile phones, which is illegal in New South Wales (NSW).  45 portable cameras, including fixed and mobile trailer mounted cameras, are being set-up in undisclosed locations.  Authorities believe that within two year the surveillance system will cut the number of fatalities on its roads by one-third. This HD, AI camera system tech and application are a world first. 24-7 Roadside Detection The high tech cameras work day, night and in all types of weather to detect if a driver going by is handling a mobile phone.  The cameras use artifi...

World's 1st Long Range Shark Deterrent System for Boaters Source:  Ocean Guardian Shark Shield System Virtual Shark Safety Net Jaws, beware.  New technology has just been unveiled that provides long range protection against sharks.  The system has been developed for boaters but has application for jetties and very small beaches.  The company that invented this new tech is Ocean Guardian of Australia. It's powered by their system Shark Shield Technology and the purpose is to protect swimmers from shark attacks by diverting the sharks with technology. BOAT01 Shark Deterrent The device is called the Ocean Guardian BOAT01 Long Range Shark Deterrent.  It's designed to increase swimmer safety from shark attacks while specifically swimming off a boat or jetty.  The device deploys electronic deterrence from the back of a boat.  It emits a strong electrical impulse that causes the shark strong but temporary discomfort and causes them to move away fro...

WaveFlyer - Electric, Combo Boat & Hydrofoil Eco-friendly Summer Fun WaveFlyer is an all electric watercraft that's part boat and part hydrofoil, invented by ElectroNautic of Australia. It's the world's first flying personal watercraft.  The vehicle combines features of boats and hydrofoils to move and literally fly above the waves.  The inventors say it offers a smooth, quiet and eco-friendly water ride.  Being all electric, it's not spewing fuel into the water. WaveFlyer This new type of watercraft, which is still in the prototype phase, is the invention of Australian researchers in partnership with the University of Western Australia.  It's the next technological iteration on an electric jet ski. The vehicle is equipped with ElectroNatutic's WaveDrive.  That's a twin hydrofoil propulsion system that's patent pending.  The system enables the WaveFlyer to move above the water.  It operates for thirty minutes on a charge.  The team h...

Wind Turbine Blades Like Gull Wings Source:  Deakin University and Prof. Jorg Schluter Green Wind Energy Soars with New "Wings" Inspired by the shape of seagull wings, this new wind turbine blades are designed to make smaller turbine systems more efficient.  The invention comes from Australia and Deakin University Engineering Professor Jorg Schluter.  He believes the new technology could improve options for green power generation in remote and rural areas. Soaring on Air Currents The blades are designed with the curvature of a gull wing.  The rationale is the ability of seagulls to soar effortlessly on air currents. Greater Wind Power Generation In small turbines, for which the technology was designed, the blades generate 10 to 15% more power than conventional blades.  This is a new generation of wind turbine blade that increases electricity production and is based on nature - seagulls.  Prof. Schluter adds that small scale wind turbines ...

First International Flight Test & Collaboration with AT&T on Connectivity Announced Source:  Uber Test Flights in Three Global Cities 2020 Uber is on a roll. It just announced a collaboration with AT&T to enhance connectivity on its air taxi and cargo drone vehicles.  And it's selected Australia's second largest city, Melbourne, as the first international test site for its air taxi service.  The test flights will start in 2020 in Melbourne, along with test flights in previously announced Dallas and Los Angeles.  The test flight service will link central city locations with nearby airports. Commercial Launch 2023 The Uber air taxi fleet is electric powered and can be ordered on demand by customers through smartphone apps.  The fleet will have vertical takeoff, vertical landing and rapid horizontal flight.  The electric powered vehicles are part helicopter, part drone and part fixed wing aircraft with multiple small rotors....