Important Innovations Collection

Here Comes the Robot with Your Coffee Accelerating Use of Robots in Hospitality Industry Labor shortages and rapidly rising costs are accelerating the use of robots in the hospitality industry.  It's an important megatrend in Hong Kong and Japan and a phenomenon that's sweeping worldwide.  A big and growing player is Hong Kong-based Rice Robots. It's cute, stocky cuboid robots serve as bellhops at Hong Kong hotels, deliver snacks to office workers in Japan and deliver coffee and drinks to customers at the Hong Kong Cyberport Innovation Hub. For customers of the Hub's Cafe, the drinks come stored in the cute, compact robot's head.  Customers use a pin sent to their cellphone to access their order.  In the age of Covid, the Rice robots are providing clean and efficient service without an extra layer of human contact, potentially spreading Covid.  That's a key reason that demand for robotic service is accelerating. New Armies of Service Robots There are g...

Green, Clean Travel Source: e-Bike Stock Image Avoiding Crowds on Mass Transit Most of the world's electric vehicles have two or three wheels - not four!  More than 180 million electric bikes and electric trikes are in use globally.  Bloomberg NEF forecasts that the number will escalate to 600 million by 2040.  By far, China accounts for most of the e-bikes and e-trikes.  But sales are also rapidly rising in Europe, the US, India, Taiwan and Vietnam.  The number of electric cars won't come close to 600 million any time soon. Major Changes to Global Transportation Through Pedal Power The e-bikes and e-trikes are driving major changes in global transportation.  They are responsible for more avoided oil consumption than any other transportation vehicle category.  e-bike technology is hitting stride as the bikes become lighter and faster. Pedal assisted models can reach speeds up to 30 mph, helping people to commute, avoid public transpo...