Important Innovations Collection

Air Force Kick Starts Flying Car Industry Source:  Sabrewing Launches Agility Prime Open Competition The US Air Force is kick starting the flying car industry.  It wants thirty flying car vehicle models by 2030.  To achieve its goals, the Air Force is launching an open challenge to the flying car industry, called Agility Prime.  USAF Assistant Director Dr. Will Roper says there are multiple companies in a position to win the competition and deliver.  Specifically, the Air Force wants EVTOLs or electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles. Virtual Kickoff The Air Force launched the program with a virtual news conference announcement.  They want to innovate flying car vehicles for both the military and the driving/flying public.  Their approach is through collaboration with investors, the industry and "interagency" partners. Multiple Types and Designs Dr. Roper wants multiple designs such as large flying vehicles for cargo and smaller...

British Software Company Builds Digital City Interactive Simulations for Self Driving Vehicles   - Just Got Significant VC Funding Source:  Immense Simulations  Big Money Pouring into Software for Driverless Cars British software company Immense Simulations makes interactive city simulations of traffic and people flows on any given day.  The company today raised $4.6 million in a Series A funding led by UK's Amadeus Capital Partners and Japan's Global Brain Corporation.  This is a major sign of the times.  Investors are betting on autonomous vehicles going mainstream.  So far this year, companies in the self-driving vehicle sphere have raised $3 Billion in funding. Immense Technology Immense uses data from mobile phone operators, public transport and telematics databases to build city simulations.  Carmakers use the simulations to test their plans for fleets of autonomous cars on scenarios that are as close to real, congest...