DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF by Maryanne Kane, Journalist

DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF 

By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane

NORTHRUP GRUMMAN'S UNDERWATER WONDER

                                                        Source:  Northrup Grumman & Stock

• Have you ever seen the aerodynamic eloquence of a Manta Ray swim?  I have and the dynamics are incredible.  Now, aerospace & defense giant Northrup Grumman has created an underwater, self-driving vehicle based on the Manta Ray.   Here's what you need to know:
• The new finished prototype is called the Manta Ray
• It's a large, autonomous glider drone
• Operates long duration, long range, deep dive, autonomously
• No need of human logistics or any human on board
• Capable of payload undersea missions
• Totally unmanned
• Built through DARPA, the US Defense Dept.'s Advanced Research Projects Agency
• Has key technologies for long duration, long range, deep dive payloads as a new class of UUVs (uncrewed, underwater vehicles)
• Could become a critical component of subsea warfare
• Also contains an undersea energy harvesting technique and a low power, high efficiency propulsion system.

NASA'S NEXT MOON CAR MAY HAVE AN EARTHLY EV BATTERY

                                   Source:  Lunar Outpost, Venturi Astrolab, Intuitive Machines

• NASA just awarded contracts to 3 companies to develop the next lunar rover - 1 company plans to use GM EV batteries to power it. Here are some key facts:
• NASA has awarded $4.6 billion to Lunar Outpost, Intuitive Machines and Venturi Astrolab to design the next-G Moon car for astronauts
• Lunar Outpost plans to use GM EV battery tech, that power GM's electric vehicle models here on Earth, to power their vehicle on the Moon
• Lunar Outpost is leading its Lunar Dawn Moon vehicle team that includes GM, Lockheed Martin, Goodyear and MDA Space
• The lunar terrain vehicle (LTV) will include autonomous navigation, a reconfigurable cargo bed, a robotic arm and the ability to operate in extreme temperatures
• Lockheed Martin will help produce the vehicle
• GM will provide the battery and help design the chassis and suspension
• Goodyear is creating special tires
• MDA Space is creating the robotic arm and interface
• As you can see in the images, Venturi Astrolab and Intuitive Machines are also developing cutting-edge LTVs
• The selected LTVs will be used by Artemis V astronauts in the 2030 mission to the Moon.

For more news stories like this, 

Smart Talk on Top New Innovations

FLIGHT PATH TO THE FUTURE

DAILY VEHICLE BRIEFING

AI BREAKTHROUGHS

SEARCH FOR LIFE IN SPACE

"Daily Innovation Brief"© By Edward Kane