Important Innovations

New NASA, ESA, South Korea Virtual Network to Monitor Air Pollution Source:  UK Government - Air Pollution in Europe Hourly Air Quality, Air Pollution Updates NASA, the European Space Agency and South Korea are joining forces to create a new constellation of satellites with highly advanced instrumentation to monitor global air quality and air pollution.  The system is so advanced it is capable of monitoring, tracking and providing hourly updates on air quality anyplace on Earth. South Korea Launch The environmental watch from space was just kicked off by South Korea's launch of its Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer, aboard its ocean monitoring satellite.  NASA will launch similar instruments in 2022.  The European Space Agency will launch its own satellites and instruments in 2023.  It will be the world's first, real time, air quality monitoring system covering the globe with updates every hour. Global Air Quality M...

Ebo CatPal: Robotic Companion for Your Cat Real-Time Monitor and Playmate for Home Alone Cats It's called the Ebo CatPal.  The device is designed to keep your pet cat happy, occupied and prevent boredom by providing the cat with fun interaction and exercise with a smart, robotic companion. This robot is loaded with advanced technology: CatPal has AI algorithms to detect the cat's mood and adapt to the cat's style of play It connects to WiFi to enable the owners to monitor the cat with sound and video, providing access anywhere There's a 1080p HD camera to live stream the cat Ebo's movements are autonomous and it can wheel, roll and dance on its own with the assistance of collision sensors Ebo's eyes, sounds and movements mimic real-life play It self-returns to its charging block to recharge when needed Cat-Proof Ebo is ruggedly cat-proof and round.  After scanning a room for obstacles, it rolls about on its own power, makes noises a...

Australia's FrogPhone for Science Source:  University of  New South Wales & University of Canberra FrogPhone Science Calls to Remotely Monitor the Environment This new innovation is a call for science. Australian researchers have developed the FrogPhone system, which once installed at a frog pond location,enables scientists to call in on their cell phones and remotely  listen in on frogs in the wild.  Why is that important?  It provides great access and data to monitor the health of the environment.  Frogs are widely recognized as one of the best barometers of how healthy local environments are.  The FrogPhone is a novel device and a technological first. Frogs and the Quality of the Surrounding Environment The FrogPhone allows scientists to call a frog screening site and monitor the frogs, real-time, in nature.  This is the world's first solar powered device that provides environmental data via text while conducting real-time sou...

World's 1st Camera System to Spot Drivers Handling Mobile Phones Source:  Sydney Highways Stock Image New South Wales Using Tech to Cut Road Fatalities Australia's state of New South Wales, where Sydney is located, today rolled out new technology along the roads to cut fatalities caused by distracted drivers on mobile phones.  They're deploying high definition, AI-enabled detection cameras to spot drivers handling their mobile phones, which is illegal in New South Wales (NSW).  45 portable cameras, including fixed and mobile trailer mounted cameras, are being set-up in undisclosed locations.  Authorities believe that within two year the surveillance system will cut the number of fatalities on its roads by one-third. This HD, AI camera system tech and application are a world first. 24-7 Roadside Detection The high tech cameras work day, night and in all types of weather to detect if a driver going by is handling a mobile phone.  The cameras...

New Portable, Air Quality Monitor from Singapore Source:  NTU Singapore Real-Time Detection of Toxic Gases & Chemicals in the Air Researchers at Nanyang Technological University - NTU Singapore - have invented a sensor that can identify a wide range of airborne gases and chemicals instantly.  This includes gas leaks and pollution toxins both indoors and outside.  The prototype device is portable and made for rapid deployment by agencies to identify airborne hazards immediately. Seconds Fast Results Current technology can require up to a few days to identify specific toxins in the air.  This new sensor is made for emergency situations that require quick and ongoing analysis.  The device is composed of a chip made from a porous nanomaterial that traps gas particles.  A laser beamed on the chip interacts with the gas molecules to produce a lower energy light.  That light is analyzed by a camera to see if its spectroscopic signature matches ...

MIT's Underwater Sensor Network to Take the Ocean's Pulse Source:  MIT Powered Solely by Sound Waves To investigate the vast unexplored areas of the oceans, MIT engineers are building a submerged network of interconnected sensors that send data to the surface.  It's an underwater internet of things to monitor temperature changes from climate change, ocean pollution and marine life over long time periods.  The MIT team has invented a battery-free sensor, powered by sound waves. The device can monitor the ocean environment at great depths over long periods of time with no battery.  The submerged system uses the vibration of piezoelectric materials to generate power and send and receive data. Underwater Communications System This MIT invention appears to be a major breakthrough.  Up until now, the difficulty of deploying deep water sensors to study ocean conditions has been greatly limited by their battery life.  It's very difficult to change batter...

Portable, in the Field Gadget, for Healthy Plants & Spot Disease Source:  North Caroline State University new tech for plant health First of its Kind Device to Detect Plant Disease in Minutes A new, smartphone powered device detects disease in plants.  For the first time, plant disease can be detected by a portable device, used by a farmer in the field and the analysis is done on the spot within minutes.  Up until now, plant analysis had to be done in a lab and that could take days or weeks.  This smartphone powered device reads gas concentrations in a plant in the farm field real-time. That analysis tells farmers that they are dealing with the presence of disease in plants and that they should take action. Portable, Down on the Farm Device This significant innovation was developed by a team at North Carolina State University.  The device is designed to attach to a farmer's smart phone above the phone's camera for quick crop analysis....

For Runners:  New Tech for Wind Conditions Source: Styrd  Meter Pod Power Meter Measures Environment During Your Run For runners, wind, rain, heat and other environmental conditions make a big difference in your run.  So this new, real-time monitor is of interest.  It's called the Stryd power meter to monitor conditions for your every stride.  It's a pod that attaches to the laces of your running shoes.  The sensors tell you how the wind is impacting your running.  It also includes the impact of other environmental conditions while you are running like temperature and humidity. Real-Time Data and For Later Review The data is stored onboard, transmits in real-time and for later reviews.  The new Stryd has a better air flow design that can measure wind speeds and tells you if you're running into a head wind or not. This new invention lets you know with accuracy how you are running against real-time environmental conditions.  It's brin...

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.

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...

MultiUse Wearable Health Monitor Comprehensive Health Armband for Athletes and Patients In Sweden, KTH Royal Institute of Technology researchers have invented a wearable armband that provides a comprehensive health monitoring system by analyzing both sweat and blood.  It sends the information to an app.  It was designed for runners but also works for patients.  For a great news blog on this, go to Important Innovations Collection: Comprehensive Wearable Health Monitor : Swedish Invention:  Multipurpose Sensor Monitors Blood & Sweat Source:  KTH Royal Institute of Technology New Health  Armband For ...

Mobile Heart Telemetry Rhythm Express RX-1 The Rhythm Express RX-1 is an advanced, remote cardiac monitoring system invented by VivaQuant of Minneapolis. It has just been cleared for use by the FDA. The wearable, wireless heart monitor provides heart patients continuous coverage and gives them more freedom.  It monitors a patient's arrhythmia with its artificial intelligence and patented wavelet-based analytics, 24/7 at home, work, wherever they are. Mobile Cardiac Telemetry The one piece device also functions as a Mobile Cardiac Telemetry unit, wirelessly transmitting the readings for remote analysis by medical staff, allowing the patient to be monitored and diagnosed no matter where they are.  The inventor, Dr. Marina Brockway says it provides faster, higher quality diagnosis at a lower cost. It works continuously for two weeks without a recharge.

UCLA's Wearable Nanogenerator to Monitor Athletic Performance Source:  Stock Image of Extreme Ski Jump SnowTENG - First of its Kind Nanogenerator This small, inexpensive, slim device can be embedded in the bottom of a ski or the sole of snow boots.  It generates its own power and can monitor the athletic performance of skiers and others engaged in winter sports.  The device converts contact with snow into electricity, which the device harvests.  Developed by UCLA engineers in warm, sunny LA, it has tremendous potential to create the next generation of wearable devices to monitor athletes and to work as smart weather stations with no battery power needed. Best in Snow For more details, go to Important Innovations Collection: Electricity from Snow - UCLA First : First of its Kind Nanogenerato r:  SnowTENG Source:  UCLA Generating Electricity from Snow - New Wearables From sunny, warm Los Angel...

New Biomedical Innovation - Smart Wrist Band for Heart Early Warning Device on A-Fib and Stroke  This breakthrough medical device, that looks like a watch, is from an international team of biomedical engineers and scientists based in Lithuania and Sweden.  Their smart wrist band detects early warning signs of A-fib and stroke that can save the wearer time to get medical attention. This is a continuous, easy to use monitoring system.  Up to now, people at risk went to periodic clinic checkups.  Potentially big medical innovation.   For a great news blog on this, go to Important Innovations Collection: Smart Wrist Band : Wrist Device: Stroke Early Warning System Source:  Kaunas University of Technology International Biomedical Engineering Breakthrough ...