Important Innovations Collection

Cadillac e-VTOL Flying Taxi                                        GM:  e-VTOL Concept New Form of Personal Air Mobility GM surprised the world at CES 2021 by introducing a totally unexpected Cadillac personal flying machine.  It's an electric powered, autonomous e-VTOL.  The vehicle takes off and lands vertically.  It is sleek and futuristic looking.  It is a flying drone that GM calls a flying taxi.  This is not a flying car as it cannot be driven. Highly Advanced GM EV Technology GM has invested $27 billion into the development of electric vehicles.  It is utilizing its on-road electric vehicle technologies to go airborne.  The personal flying vehicle is totally powered by batteries.  GM's top of the line Ultium EV battery platform is likely to play a major role in the e-VTOL, which has zero emissions.  The four-rotor air...

Invention Created by Self-Taught Engineer Source:  Zhao Deli flying motorcycle Flying Above Traffic 30 Feet in the Air The China Xinhua News Agency reports that a self-taught  "genius" Chinese engineer has created a flying motorcycle.  And he has demonstrated its capabilities and effectiveness. The motorcycle is capable of flying 30 feet in the air to get above and over traffic jams. Flying Above it All The inventor is engineer Zhao Deli from China's Hunan  province.  He has worked for many years to create his own flying scooter to simply fly above it all, particularly on traffic congested streets. The latest prototype is a white drone-like vehicle with fast moving propellers on the four corners of the motorbike.  Deli hopes to eventually sell these personal  mobility vehicles to the public.  A prototype he created in 2018 reached speeds of 44 mph and had a battery life of 30 minutes. The latest version looks much sleeker and ...

Amphibious Pelican Drone from The Netherlands Source:  Pelican Drone, TU Delft Water Testing in Minutes The Pelican amphibious drone is able to deliver water tests in minutes.  This new technology is gamechanging because current water quality testing is time and labor intensive, requires on site visits by humans and then the water samples have to be transported to a lab. The traditional process is expensive and many times the water samples no longer accurately reflect current water conditions, which dynamically change. The Pelican drone provides water quality testing results in real-time. Autonomous and Real Time Water Monitoring A team at Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands has invented the Pelican drone that flies over the water surface and scans it for problem areas with its onboard hyperspectral cameras.  If there's a potential problem, the drone swoops down and takes a water sample.  The sample is transferred to a portable cytasense ...

Dragonfly Rotorcraft-Lander Goes to Saturn's Largest Moon - Titan Source:  NASA's Dragonfly Artist Rendering NASA Searching for Life and the Origins of Life on Earth NASA has just announced plans to launch its Dragonfly Mission in 2025.  It's an audacious plan to land the Dragonfly rotorcraft lander on Titan, which is Saturn's largest moon.  It's the only moon in the solar system that has an atmosphere.  According to NASA, Titan is most comparable to early Earth and, most importantly, it has the ingredients to support life.  This is NASA's next mission to a new destination.  It will also mark the first time that a multi-rotor vehicle is deployed on another planet. Source:  NASA - Titan Mission Out of This World Dragonfly has the capacity to fly 100 miles through Titan's thick and cold atmosphere. It will make trips on a daily basis to a number of test sites.  The terrain is diverse and includes oceans, rivers, dunes, lakes and...

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 h...

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.

Greater Energy Efficiency Yale's Drone with Landing Gear Nature Inspired UAV Researchers at Yale University have developed a UAV that uses robotic talons inspired by birds.  The landing gear allows the drone to perch and rest in places that would normally be inaccessible.  The drone can attach to ledges and even hang upside down.  The landing gear allows the drone to rest and turn off its motor while still gathering information with its sensors and cameras. Purpose The purpose of the robotic talons is to enable the drone to conserve battery power and increase its energy efficiency.  A number of different talons can be attached to the bottom of the drone to land in different places and on different surfaces. Practical Applications The nature inspired talons give the drone far more access in the environment that it's working in and enable it to perform many more tasks.  The Yale team continues to develop the drone.  They are likely to empower it ...

EEG Smart's UDrone Source:  EEG  Smart UDrone Powered by the Mind This is a brand new piece of drone innovation.  Chinese robotics company EEG Smart's UDrone is controlled by brain waves and head movements via a sensor-laden headset called. UMind.  This new piece of technology is a look into the mind-controlled future and could turn out to be one of the biggest innovations in 2019.  It goes on the market in mid-March for $279.00 Mini-Quadcopter The UDrone is a lightweight mini-quadcopter with innovative features. It can recognize faces, track subjects and recognize gestures.  It also packs a camera that can stream live video in real-time to your phone.  UDrone can fly 6 to 7 minutes on its battery.  And, you can also fly it using your mobile phone. UMind Headset The most fascinating component of this technology is the UMind headset that is loaded with sensors to enable mind control operations.  The sensors include the following:...

US Army Invention - Drone Defense Source:  US Army Drone Netting Device Drone Netting Grenade U.S Army researchers have created a 40 mm grenade to protect the armed forces from menacing, enemy or rogue drones.  The defensive drone grenade takes out the drone with a weighted net. Countermeasure - Net Bagging a Drone The net is spring loaded and ejects from the front of the grenade when it nears the drone target.  The net can be triggered remotely by a person on the ground or automatically by an onboard proximity sensor. Drone Defense The net springs open to 30 feet in diameter.  It traps the drone, causing it to fall to the ground.  Word of this new drone defensive technology has just been released.  For more news stories on important innovations, go to  amazon.com/author/ekane

New Look at Flying's Future Source:  Bell Helicopter's Bell Nexus Readying for Takeoff Bell Nexus, created by Bell Helicopter, is a drone aerial taxi that is in a category of its own.  Some global news organizations are calling it the most serious competitor to pick you up on your rooftop and air-shuttle you to your destination's rooftop. Air Taxi's Top speeds are 250 mph.  It has wings for vertical and horizontal flight.  There are six, tilting ducted fans and a hybrid electric system to provide power.  The vehicle can accommodate a pilot and 4 passengers.  And, it's a real vehicle that's still under development but readying for take-off.   For more news stories on innovation, go to  amazon.com/author/ekane  

China's EHANG 184 Source:  The EHANG 184 Drone Transit China is leading the way in passenger carrying drones.  The world's 1st fully autonomous, electric passenger carrying drone, The EHANG 184, demonstrated its flying capabilities in Lianyunjang, China.  In 2018 it completed a series of 1000 plus test flights.  The EHang 184 can carry a single passenger for a 23 minutes flight at top speed of 62 mph at sea level. It's an autonomous, aerial vehicle designed to provide short to medium distance transportation and communications. For the "Common Man " The Chinese company EHang says this is the first vehicle to give the "common man" fully automated flying. Their mission is to "let humankind fly freely like a bird".  EHANG is an award winning innovation company.  Their EHANG 184 is a means of commuting above the traffic. The company says the drone has full redundancy (duplicate backup systems) to ensure safety.  And, it's 100% green ...

Multi Tasking Flying Drone - Alert, Search and Rescue Source:  The Little Ripper Award Winning Drone Innovation from Down Under It's called the Little Ripper.  It's a 3.2 foot, remotely piloted, flying drone invented by The Ripper Group of Australia and co-developed by the University of Technology-Sydney.  It's been cited as one of the top 100 security innovations of 2018.  They are currently being deployed in Australia, including for water rescues. Shark Alert System The drones come in single and multi rotor versions and are customized for search, rescue and lifesaving operations.  They use multiple strategies including deploying rescue devices and communicating with those in need of assistance.  Its HD cameras use artificial intelligence.  Little Ripper is being used off Sydney to sight sharks (distinguishing them from other marine animals) and alert swimmers. Successful Rescues The drone also flies on search and rescue missions.  R...