Important Innovations

Vehicle Armor - As Good As Steel, Half the Weight Source:  NCSU Prof. Afsaneh Rabiei and her Invention CMF New Invention - Composite Metal Foam Engineers at North Carolina State University have invented a composite metal foam (CMF) that is able to stop .50 caliber armor piercing bullets.  The lead inventor is NCSU Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Afsaneh Rabiei.  They've done so by embedding steel spheres inside the steel matrix of the CMF. New Armor Plate for Military Vehicles The new material for bullet proofing is designed for military vehicles.  The invention is as strong and protective as steel but is half the weight.  That will enable designers of military vehicles to make them much lighter. Withstands Rounds at Impact Velocities of 885 mph The foam is placed between a ceramic faceplate and thin aluminum backplate.  The armor is strong enough to absorb 78% of the kinetic energy from .50 caliber armor piercing bullets wit...

On World Ocean Day, a Rising Tide of Plastic Pollution Source:  Monterey Bay Awash in Plastic On World Ocean Day 2019 there is growing evidence that the global problem of ocean pollution from plastic waste is getting worse.  By latest estimates there are 5 trillion pieces of plastic waste in global oceans.  Every year another 8 million metric tons of plastic are dumped in the ocean.  Once pristine ocean areas from California to Spain are facing pollution problems.  For a detailed news blog, go to Important Innovations Collection: Global Oceans Awash in Plastic : World Ocean Day Source:  Monterey Bay Aqarium - Monterey Shoreline Once Pristine Locations from Monterey, CA to Spain's Basque C...

US Defense Department's DARPA Investing Millions in BMIs Source:  DARPA Brain Machine Interfaces - the New Frontier Brain-Machine Interfaces (BMIs). The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency - DARPA -  is investing millions of dollars into its Next Generation, Non-Surgical Neurotechnology program.  The purpose is to provide BMIs to the US military for overwhelming technological advantages. Breakthrough R&D DARPA has just launched a radical approach.  Wireless BMIs that do not require surgery to link the brain and technology.  Six academic teams have just been tapped to come up with radically different, innovative approaches.  The concepts include connecting by acoustic signals, electromagnetic waves, infrared beams, genetically enhanced neurons and nanotechnology.  It's a 4 year research program and each university team is said to be getting $20 million. MegaTrend  This is an important trend to follow.  B...

For Kids: New Tech to Let Them Know Where Parents Are on Flights Source: West Jet Gadget for Connections In Flight The WestJet Flight Light innovation is a gadget that enables children and their parents who are inflight to connect in real-time.  This is an interesting gadget that serves a need for millions of kids with parents who are travelling. WestJet is based in Canada and their invention provides kids a visual image of where their parents are as they travel by plane to a destination.  The image is on the ceiling of the child's room at night. R/T Communications This device communicates by Bluetooth with a smartphone App that the parent  uses to enter their flight at WestJet.  The flight data goes to the WestJet Flight Light where it's projected onto the ceiling, as a continuous updating airplane and flight map.  Parents can also send text messages and emogies for projection alongside the map.

Tourist Space Vacations Source:  NASA - ISS NASA To Bring Private Citizens to International Space Station This is a first and a strong harbinger of the commercialization of space. NASA, for $50 million +++ will fly private citizens to the International Space Station, starting in early 2020.  It would be the ultimate vacation onboard the ISS for up to thirty days and the ultimate field trip into outer space for research.  For at the look at the future of space commercialization, go to  Important Innovations Collection: NASA Space Station Vacations : $50 Million ++ Flight That's Out of this World Source:  NASA - ISS Dawn of Space Tourism NASA is opening the International Space ...

AI Algorithm Monitors Your Pet Source:  Comcast "Pet Filter" from Comcast Comcast has just unveiled advanced AI technology for pet lovers to remotely monitor their pets.  Comcast has created its own AI algorithm to zero in on pet activity.  They call it the Pet Filter.  The company says it something different from other solutions commercially available.  It detects anything from a dog sitting still to one running outside in your yard 30 feet away and distinguishes that activity from cars and people. Spot On Xfinity Pet Camera The new system "Pet Filter" is for Comcast Xfinity Home security cameras. The filter enables the system to detect pets in video clips and allows customers to check their pet's movements. The system's cameras and continuous video recording service zoom in on pet activity.  When pet motion is detected, it creates a smart thumbnail image, allowing the customer to find it quickly and easily.  It lets you see wha...

Ai-Da - Robot Artist Source:  Aiden Meller's Ai-Da Humanoid has 1st Solo Art Exhibit Next Week Humanoid robot artist Ai-Da has a sold out 1st, solo art exhibition in the UK next week.  Inventor and art gallery owner Aiden Meller have sold over a million pounds of her artwork.  This extraordinary piece of robotics is loaded with AI algorithms created by scientists at the University of Oxford and paints by sight with the cameras in her eyes.  For a great news blog, go to Important Innovations Collection: Ai-Da -- Robot Artist : Ai-Da's First Solo Art Exhibit Source:  Aiden Meller's Ai-Da Already a Sell-out Ai-Da has been described by her British in...