Important Innovations Collection

UMiles' Integrity 3 eVTOL                                                       Source:  UMiles The Drone of Drones Spain's aerial mobility vehicle developer UMiles has unveiled two, new, fascinating aircraft.  One is a remotely piloted, electric air taxi concept and the other is a piloted, two passenger eVTOL vehicle called Integrity 3.  The single seat, remotely piloted air taxi is being called the "drone of drones" by UMiles. It has been built as a prototye and will be test flown in a number of European cities later this year.  UMiles is a new contender in the growing air mobility market and an experienced drone manufacturer to watch.  It is quite a technological feat for a relatively small to medium sized aviation company to be unveiling two new models of flying technology at once. The Drone of D...

Spot the RoboDog on Duty to Monitor & Protect Pompei's Ancient Ruins                                                                                                     Source:  Pompei New Tech Guarding Ancient History This is a fascinating case of highly advanced robotic, AI, drone and laser technologies being deployed to guard and protect ancient, historical ruins dating back more than 2,000 years.  Famous robot dog Spot, created by US based Boston Robotics and now owned by Hyundai, is deployed by Italy's Archeological Park of Pompei to roam around the ruins to inspect and monitor the condition of the famous archeological structures. Robotic Patrols for Data Collection Spot is...

Polestar's Latest Electric Convertible Concept                                                  Source:  Polestar Car With Flying Drone Launches to Videotape the Drive Sweden-based electric car manufacturer Polestar has a new all-electric convertible sports car concept that comes with its own flying drone.  The EV called O2 is a stunning sports car convertible with 2+2 seating, meaning 2 seats in the front and 2 snug seats in the back.  O2 is a highly advanced piece of automotive engineering with a bonded aluminum body.  It is totally electric, zero emissions with the added advanced technology of a flying, built in "cinematic drone".  The drone is engineered to launch from the rear of the car, while the car is moving, and then videotape the driver's journey along the road for later cinematic viewing. Tech Specs The O2 i...

World 1st From German Drone Manufacturer Phoenix Wings Project XCelerate in the UK A network of drones, created by German drone manufacturer Phoenix Wings, will be launched in the UK to deliver blood and vital medical supplies starting in 2022.  The purpose of the solely dedicated, medical supply logistics system is to accelerate by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) the delivery of lifesaving medicines, including COVID vaccines.  The system is a first of its kind in the UK and globally.  The goal is to establish it as national infrastructure - green and zero emissions - to transport medical supplies like blood via drones.  It's being called Project XCelerate. Cutting Edge Technology The Phoenix Wings drones are capable of long distance travel and of reaching remote locations.  They are controlled by mobile devices and operate over the UK's 4G and 5G networks.  Project XCelerate is being led by a consortium of companies and organizations, including Phoenix Win...

Combination Plane and Drone - Tayln Air                                                  Source:  Talyn Air No Need For an Airport Los Angeles-based Talyn Air has designed a unique e-VTOL, an electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle.  The vehicle is a concept that flies like a plane but launches and lands with the assistance of a large drone. The unmanned drone flies the e-VTOL to its flight level where it releases the e-VTOL once its rotors reach a flight sustaining speed. The drone returns to its base to be recharged for another takeoff or landing.  Talyn Air says this system is so efficient it can travel three to five times farther than most other electric planes. Rocket Science Talyn Air was co-founded by two astronauts, Jamie Gull and Evan Mucasey, who both worked on Crew Dragon and the Falcon 9 rocket at SpaceX.  ...

Zipline Vaccine Deliveries by Drone                                        Source:  Zipline Potential New Remedy to Vaccine Shortages  In the business of drone deliveries, Zipline is by far the biggest player.  It has extensive experience delivering blood and vaccines by drones.  In fact, in 2020, it delivered one million doses of non-COVID-19 vaccines in Africa alone.  It is now about to tackle the difficult logistical task of delivering COVID vaccines. Vaccines Coming By Flying Drones Zipline is a 7 year old startup, headquartered in San Francisco.  It just disclosed that it is developing a COVID vaccine drone delivery system with a COVID vaccine manufacturer.  Zipline did not name the manufacturer that it's working with.  The delivery process is very complicated because many of the vaccines like those from Pfizer and Moderna need t...

FAA Approves Small Drones Flying Over People & At Night                                                      Source:  Amazon Opens the Way to Widespread Commercial Drone Deliveries The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just approved small drones flying over people and at night.  This regulatory clearance is viewed as enabling the start of widespread commercial drone package deliveries in the US.  For companies like Amazon, Walmart and UPS, this is a long-awaited decision and a big business opportunity.  Until now, drones have been restricted to very limited operations involving direct participants and required FAA clearance and waivers for more public exposure, such as testing drone package deliveries in specific neighborhoods. Security Issues The FAA is addressing security concerns by requiring re...

Reusable, Affordable, Flying, Highly Advanced Drones                                Source:  DARPA's Gremlins Program For the US Military and Multi-Purpose Missions DARPA, the US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency, has a fascinating, highly advanced drone program underway to launch and catch airborne drones.  DARPA calls it the Gremlins program and it just completed the first flight test of its X-61A drone vehicle that is designed for airborne launch, free flight, swarming and then retrieval in the air, for re-use thereafter.  Drones Within Inches of Retrieval What DARPA is striving for is the aerial recovery of multiple drones that are low cost and reusable, unmanned aerial systems or  GAV (Gremlin Aerial Vehicles). The test drones each flew two hours autonomously and successfully tested for all formation flying positions and for safety.  But, with...

 Golf Course with Drones Delivering Beverages and Snacks                    Source: Golf Digest, TMZ, Michael Jordan & his Drones Tech-Savvy, Sophisticated, Elite Golfing Michael Jordan is considered by many as one of, if not the greatest basketball player of all time.  Now, the former NBA superstar, businessman and entrepreneur has opened one of the world's most tech savvy, exclusive and elite golf courses in South Florida.  It's called The Grove XXIII, representing the #23 he wore when he played for the Chicago Bulls.  What differentiates the course is the technology.  Jordan is deploying flying drones to deliver, on order, snacks and drinks including cold beer, to golfers as they play their rounds.   Snack & Drink Serving Flying Drones  The course is located in Hobe Sound, Florida and opened in 2019.  It is state of the art with very sleek holes, a 15,000 foot clubhouse an...

The Rainforest Connection and Connected Mangroves                               Source:  Philippine Peat Swamp Forest Drones, Cell Phones, the Cloud Fighting Climate Change In the Philippines, telecom company PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications are deploying drones, cell phones, digital technology and the Cloud to preserve and protect critical areas of global environmental biodiversity.  Specifically, they're using technology to protect the Caimpuga Peatlands and the Aguran Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary.  They contain the only remaining peat swamp forest in the Philippines.  The project is called The Rainforest Connection.  Another PLDT program Connected Mangroves is using technology to protect mangrove forests.  These are unique ecosystems critical in the fight against Climate Change. Climate Change's Impact Peatlands can store twice as much carbon as all...

Disinfecting Drones at Atlanta Falcon's Mercedes Benz Stadium                                     Source:  Lucid Drone Technologies High Tech Aerial Disinfecting at Falcon's Stadium In Atlanta, the Mercedes Benz Stadium, where the Atlanta Falcons play, and Lucid Drone Technologies have teamed-up to become the first professional sports venue to use disinfecting drones to protect fans, players and staff from Covid and other viruses.   Highly Advanced Technology Starting on October 11 when the Falcon's home stadium opens for limited fan capacity, Lucid's D1 disinfecting drones will release, as they fly, medical grade disinfecting chemicals after each game.  The disinfectant is dispensed by using electrostatic spraying nozzles.  Lucid says one drone can do the work of 14 workers with backpack sprays.  The drones cut the time to accomplish the cleaning b...

Highly Advanced, Connected, Responsive Robots Source:  Qualcomm's 5G Robotic Connectivity System New Tech from Qualcomm San Diego-based mobile chipmaker Qualcomm has introduced revolutionary new technology for robots and drones.  It is the first 5G system with hardware, software and tools for advanced robots.  It's called the RB5 system. Empowering robots and drones with 5G connectivity takes them to the next level of connectivity, quickness and responsiveness.  5G is not just for smartphones anymore! New Enabling Technologies RB5 uses new Qualcomm technologies.  For instance, it uses the company's new QRB5165 processor for robots.  And it has a companion module for 4G LTE and 5G connectivity through Qualcomm's X55 modem, which is also used in smartphones. Creativity Built-In The RB5 has a tremendous amount of artificial intelligence built-in to enable robot and drone developers to create machines that are more responsive, smart and fast....

Honeywell's New Unmanned Aerial Systems Unit Source:  Volocopter Capitalizing on Flying Taxis and Drone Deliveries Honeywell International, a major aerospace supplier,  is launching a new autonomous aerial systems business unit.  The strategic move is a bet on growth in the unmanned aviation market of flying taxis, packages and cargo delivered by unmanned vehicles and drones.  Honeywell expects that business will grow into  a $120 billion market by 2030. And Honeywell expects to get 20% of that market. Technology Supplier Honeywell's area of expertise is building aviation electronics and autonomous flight control systems.  The company doesn't build the drones.  It supplies aviation electronics and autonomous flight systems to customers like Germany's Volocopter, which is building eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing) flying taxis.  Another customer is UK based Vertical Aerospace which has a prototype vehicle that can carry carg...

BOOKS BY JOURNALIST EDWARD KANE Non-fiction books on innovations and discoveries across industries in 2020 and 2019 FUTURE TRAVEL VEHICLES Just published today by Amazon and Kindle  amazon.com/author/ekane FUTURE TRAVEL VEHICLES BY EDWARD KANE SPACE "Space 2020's:  What's Up There?" - Kindle & paperback "Bargain Space Trips" - Kindle & paperback "Space Renaissance in the 21st Century" - Kindle & paperback "Search For Life in Space" - Kindle & paperback TRANSPORTATION AND TRAVEL INNOVATIONS "Future of Transportation:  2020's and Beyond" - Kindle & paperback "Electric Vehicles for All" - Kindle & paperback "Hot Electric Vehicles for the 2020's" - Kindle & paperback "Important Innovations: Transportation" - Kindle, paperback & Audiobook on Audible "How to Travel in the Future" Vol. 1 & 2 - Kindle & paper...

World's 1st Drone Cleared for Heavy Cargo Trials Source:  Ehang 216 Booming Drone Business China's Ehang is the world's 1st autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) & eVTOL company approved to perform commercial trials of carrying heavy cargo in its passenger drones.  The pilotless Ehang 216 drones can carry two passengers, go up to 80 mph and travel a distance of 19 miles. It's now the first drone company in the world that is cleared to perform a series of trial tests with the drone carrying cargo loads of  330 pounds and more. Global Market Size Ehang founder and CEO Hu Huazi says the Chinese regulatory authority's clearance will accelerate the commercialization of  AAV/eVTOL technology and air mobility solutions for logistics. He adds it's a foundation for the world to establish a coordinated and sustainable regulatory environment.  The global market potential for eVTOLs is huge.  Morgan Stanley estimates it at $1.5 Trillion by 2040.  3...

Harnessing Ocean Energy As A Power Source Source:  DARPA Sustainable Energy The concept of underwater energy harvesting by drones is being developed by the US Defense Department's Advanced Research Agency DARPA.  This could not only revolutionize naval propulsion, particularly for drone submarines, by providing them a sustainable energy source.  But also, if the drones transport the harvested ocean energy to ships at sea, there would be far less need to return to port to refuel.  The time and energy efficiencies would be breakthrough. Manta Ray Project DARPA calls the program the Manta Ray Project.  It's goal is to develop unmanned underwater vehicles - drones - that can operate underwater for very long, extended periods of time, all the while harvesting the energy of the ocean as a power source.  Four companies have just been selected for the job.  Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman and Navtek LLC are working on the drones.  And Metron ...

COVID-19 Accelerating Autonomous Deliveries Source:  Waymo Big Investor Money Pouring In COVID-19 is accelerating a big shift in the global autonomous driving industry.  Business is booming in the autonomous delivery of packages, not the autonomous driving of people.  Companies like self-driving technology company Waymo are enjoying a huge boom in its business of package deliveries and a big influx of capital from investors. Fresh Capital Big players like Waymo, which is owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, are getting a big jump in funding.  Waymo now has $3 billion in fresh capital after expanding its first funding round.  It just raised $750 million in mid May.  According to Reuters' analysis, investors have poured $6 billion into two dozen companies involved in autonomous deliveries in the past seven months.  The technology ranges from drones to big, autonomous trucks. Global Phenomenon:  Future of Travel.   The gro...

UK Testing Drones to Deliver Medical Supplies UK's NHS Test Medical Supply Drone Testing Fast Tracked for This Week The use of new technologies in the coronavirus health crisis is proving to be increasingly important. The United Kingdom is starting test trials this week on using drones to deliver much needed medical supplies during the pandemic. The drone delivery service project is being spearheaded by the UK's Transport Ministry. They're fast tracking the effort.  The first deliveries are going to a hospital on the Isle of Wight.  The Ministry also hopes to use drones to deliver other vital supplies. British Robots Delivering Groceries Meanwhile, a fleet of robots on wheels are delivering groceries and other vital shopping items during the UK's coronavirus lockdown.  For example, the UK  robot company Starship is providing  free robot deliveries of groceries to all NHS health workers in the town  of Milton Keynes an...

New Search and Rescue Technology  -  WideSee System Drone Invention of UK, US and China-based Universities A team of engineers from the University of Leeds in the UK, University of Massachusetts in the US and Northwestern University in Xi'an China have developed new flying and imaging drone technology that can spot people trapped inside of buildings behind concrete walls 1/2 meter thick.  The WideSee drone mounted scanner can fly around the outside of a high rise building engulfed in fire or in a state of collapse and see if there are any people trapped inside.  It's new technology for search and rescue and it overcomes existing limitations to spot people entrapped in a disastrous situation. New Technology The new WideSee system doesn't use traditional heat seeking cameras that can be compromised by flames.  In order to overcome that limitation, the team used an adaptation of LoRa wireless radio systems that are commercially available.  The radio s...

Unique Power System:  Inflight Battery Swaps for Drones Source:  UC Berkeley New Drone/Battery System UC Berkeley HiPeRLab Innovation Can you imagine a drone with almost unlimited flying time?  Well, it's just been created by engineers and roboticists at the University of California Berkeley's HiPeRLab, their High Performance Robotics Lab.  It's a prototype drone system with unique, inflight battery switching technology.  The potential is to keep drones in the air for almost unlimited flight times. Quadcopter Drone with a Docking Deck The team has invented a quadcopter drone with a docking tray that's able to accept a smaller, fresh battery delivering drone.  The battery drone lands on the dock, recharges the larger drone and flies away.  This allows the next battery drone to fly in and take its place to do a recharge. Sustainable Drone Flights This is a fascinating approach to one way of powering sustainable drone flights.  In the f...