Important Innovations Collection

Build Your Bike Source:  Xtracycle Xtracycle RFA Electric Bike This bike has a modular design that allows it to be reconfigured for changing needs.  The RFA (ready for anything) bike by Xtracycle is enabled to expand and shrink by its DynamicDrops wheelbase.  It can be shortened or lengthened where the rear wheel is mounted.  The electric bike can shift from a standard bike to a full cargo  bike.  The company calls it the world's first, future proof electric bike that "will never become obsolete" and can be used over a lifetime of changing needs. Bosch Motors The bike is powered by a mid-mounted Bosch drive with a choice of motors and powerpacks.  It can pack up to two batteries.  There also are accessories available like bench seats and racks. When fully expanded, it can carry the driver and 2 children.  One reviewer commented that it's a possible car replacement.  It's a new travel gadget priced at nearly $4,000.  For a...

Small, Countertop Clothes Dryer Source:  Morus Tech The Zero This new gadget is an ultrafast clothes dryer so compact it can sit on a countertop.  It also uses 40% less energy than a traditional dryer.  It's called the Morus Zero and it's leaving the dryer industry spinning, tumbling and tossing.  The company says this is the 1st vacuum clothes dryer in the world. Vacuum + Technology This small, highly efficient invention uses the company's patented Vacuum + technology to dry a load of clothes in 15 minutes.  It is vent-less and can easily fit into small living spaces. Lots of Technology The Zero has UV sterilization that eliminates 99.9% of bacteria.  It also contains a moisture sensor that automatically determines that the drying cycle is completed. The manufacturer is Morus Tech.  The machine is eco-friendly, dries at a low temperature and gets the job done much faster, saving on energy costs.  The company says it will start mass ...

Global Inventions You'll Enjoy Latest Top New Gadgets My latest book "List of Top New Gadgets" has just been published on Kindle and Amazon.  I've made it available for free borrows in the Kindle Lending Library.  For access, go to  amazon.com/author/ekane ASIN: B07RSLHMWK   The book is a fun series of news summaries on the latest gadgets invented around the world.  These are innovations that are practical and of great use.  Fellow US television journalist Maryanne Kane is the co-author.

Ford Self-Driving Robot Delivers Parts Where Needed Ford's Survival Robot Helps Workers & a Self-Learner Ford engineers have developed "Survival".  They named their robot Survival because of its ability to learn its way around a factory floor on its own.  This is a self-driving robot that delivers spare parts where needed, dodges objects and changes its route and stops if necessary.  Ford has deployed it in Europe.  Ford itself says their employees first thought they were part of a sci-fi movie.  But now Survival is part of the process and works perfectly around them. The robot frees-up humans for more important work. No Set-Up Needed Survival eliminates the need for any set-up assistance.  It notes and remaps objects in its route and adapts to its environment.  It's programmed to learn the whole factory floor and with sensors navigate on its own.  Ford engineers say this robot can save 40 employee hours daily by delivering part...

Blue Moon Lander Unveiled Source:  Jeff Bezos and Blue Moon Target Date for Lunar Mission 2024 Amazon founder Jeff Bezos unveiled his space company Blue Origins' plans to build and launch a spacecraft that will carry astronauts and science payloads to the Moon by 2024. He said the lander vehicle called Blue Moon is incredible and has been under development for three years. Awesome Technology The lander has a powerful new hydrogen powered engine that generates up to 10,000 pounds of thrust.  It will be able to land up to 6.5 metric tons of equipment on the moon.  The technology on this vehicle includes star trackers enabling autonomous navigation, LIDAR to map terrain and gigabit-bandwidth optical communications gear. Bezos said it can touch down within 75 feet of a given target.  His target date of 2024 is in line with the Trump Administration's plans for near term space exploration.

3D Mapping Source: Diver in flooded cave stock image New Technology from Czechoslovakia  Czech speleologists have developed a new technology using 3D printing to explore flooded caves without dangerous and numerous scuba diving explorations.  The technology has been developed by Geo-CZ, a company that uses the underlying tech to map archaeological and historic sites. Computerized Modelling, 3D Imaging To do it, the cave needs to be filmed robotically or by one dive.  The film is used to convert the cave into a computer model.  Cave specialists say the 3D imaging gives them much more information about the cave as a whole and the connections among corridors within the cave.  It's an important discovery and would have been of great use in Thailand when a dozen school children were trapped in a flooded cave about a year ago.  Fortunately they were rescued but it took days.

No Styrofoam - Environmentally Friendly Cooler Source:  Igloo Coolers Biodegradable Igloo Cooler As you head to the beach this summer, you might want to be aware of a new green gadget that Igloo has created.  It's a cooler named ReCool and is the world's first cooler made of completely biodegradable materials.  It can hold 16 quarts and retain ice for 12 hours.  It's green, clean and cheap - just $10.00 Green ReCool ReCool is made of organic molded paper pulp.  To provide strength and water resistance, it's treated with ketene dimers.  It can be reused multiple times and it's crumple resistant.  This is a new piece of gadget innovation and designed as a way to improve the environment by getting away from Styrofoam.