DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF by Maryanne Kane, Journalist

  DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF

                                                                      

                 By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane

WORLD 1st: SPACE SOLAR POWER BEAMED TO EARTH

                  

                        

                            Source:  Caltech & Stock

• In a world first, scientists from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have wirelessly beamed clean space solar power to earth
• It's a powerful source of sustainable energy, never blocked by clouds or darkness & was first envisioned by science fiction writer Isac Asimov in 1941
• Wireless beaming was achieved by an instrument called MAPLE (Microwave Array for Power Transfer Low-orbit Experiment) that's aboard the spacecraft Space Polar Power Demonstrator, which was created and launched by Caltech to harvest solar power in space and send it to Earth to specific locations as a permanent energy source
• It's estimated that space-based harvesters can pull in 8-times more solar energy than solar panels anyplace on Earth
• Caltech's achievement proves the viability of tapping into the sustainable supply of solar energy from the Sun in space & directly sending it to Earth
• Caltech scientists hope that the wireless transmission of space solar energy "will democratize access to energy" here on Earth.
• Their achievement is breakthrough scientific innovation.

PENTAGON'S MACH 7 HYPERSONIC AIRCRAFT

Source:  Hypersonix & Pentagon

• An experimental, autonomous aircraft capable of Mach 7 or 5,371 mph will fly next summer as part of the US Dept. of Defense's HyCAT testing program, overseen by DOD's Innovation Unit
• Called DART AE, it's an experimental cruise aircraft built by Australian company Hypersonix Launch System
• DART AE is a 9.8 foot long, 660 pound demonstrator
• Hypersonix is 1 of 3 firms awarded HyCAT contracts for development by Pentagon
• Range:  620 miles at Mach 7
• Totally 3D printed
• Powered by Spartan Engine fueled by clean, green hydrogen
• Engine is supersonic ramjet that requires constant supersonic airflow to operate
• Hypersonix expects Spartan propulsion system to accelerate aircraft to Mach 12 or 9,207 mph
• Pentagon currently has 70 hypersonic vehicle programs under development.

CHINA'S MANNED UFO THAT'S AN eVTOL

                        

                    Source: Shenzhen UFO Flying Saucer Tech

• China has the innovation distinction of having created the world's 1st eVTOL flying saucer
• Over the weekend, it circled the Chinese city of Shenzhen & fascinated many who thought they were observing a possible alien spacecraft
• Developed over 3 years by the Chinese startup Shenzhen UFO Flying Saucer Technology, a human pilot was taking it for a first test flight over a lake
• The interest the eVTOL is getting is intergalactic because of its innovative design:

1. Amphibious aircraft that can take off & land on water & land
2. 12 propeller motors that provide triple redundancy for power supply, motor operation & flight control
3. Global invention patent
4. Designed for tourists & as an advertising platform
5. Flight time:  15 minutes
6. Max speed:  50 kilometers
7. Altitude:  200 meters
8. Operational modes:  automatic or manual

• This is one of the most innovative eVTOLS to hit the global market and it looks like a fun ride.

For more news stories like this, FLIGHT PATH TO FUTURE

"Daily Innovation Brief" © By Edward Kane