Important Innovations Collection

Electric Seagliders                                                  Source:  REGENT REGENT & Hawaiin Airlines Partner on New Type of E-Plane A fascinating new form of aviation technology is being developed.  Boston-based REGENT (which stands for Regional Electric Ground Effect Nautical Transport) has developed a new type of electric aircraft that flies just above the surface of the water. Now, Hawaiian airlines is partnering with and investing in REGENT, which was founded by two MIT trained engineers with significant, real world, aviation and aerospace experience.  Hawaiian Airlines expects to deploy the all-electric powered, next generation, sea glider planes for inter-island travel.  This is a brand-new form of zero emissions flying.  In fact, it is a brand-new category in the commercial aviation m...

REGENT's Seaglider                                                 Source:  REGENT Seaglider Combo Plane & Boat for Coastal Commutes It's being called the next generation of coastal transportation.  A flying electric boat or ferry, capable of carrying 12 passengers, is currently being tested in the waters of Tampa Bay Florida.  It is the invention of Boston aerospace startup REGENT, founded by two MIT aerospace engineers.  This vehicle is six times faster than a water ferry and is one-half the cost of a regular plane.  The Mayor of nearby St. Peterburg calls it "more energy efficient, more climate friendly and less stressful" than current forms of travel. WIGs The Seaglider is potentially disruptive technology. The vehicle is categorized as a WIG or Wing in Ground Effect craft.  WIGs glide over the water using ...

Hyundai Completes Acquisition of Leading Robot Developer Boston Dynamics                                Source:  Hyundai & Boston Dynamics Synergies of Robotics and Automakers Hyundai Motor Group has completed its acquisition of Boston Dynamics, a world leader in developing agile, mobile robots such as Spot the robodog.  Boston Dynamics was valued at $1.1 billion with Hyundai having an 80% stake and SoftBank owning 20%.  The question is why would a global automaker buy a robotics company?  The answer:  Hyundai is going into robotics in multidimensional ways, including autonomous cars, urban air mobility vehicles and robots. Robotic Value Chain Hyundai says that it and Boston Dynamics will create a robotic value chain for everything from robot component manufacturing to smart logistics solutions.  Hyundai already has significant internal robotic expertise inclu...

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 ca...