Important Innovations

  Triton's Luxury Submersible with Panoramic Underwater Views                                                                             Source:  Triton Like an Entertainment Center Under the Sea There is a front row seat available for you to explore life underwater.  Florida-based submarine maker Triton has created an underwater excursion vehicle that provides panoramic views as you travel through the water.  The Triton 660/9 AVA and the smaller Triton 660/7 are uniquely designed submersibles that offer plenty of space.  Thanks to its free-form pressurized acrylic hull, Triton has three times the interior space of a typical submersible of a similar footprint.  It can comfortably carry eight passengers and a pilot for underwater expedi...

  GetGo - New Technology Experiment at Tesco in London                                             Source:  Tesco Supermarket Chain UK & Amazon Palm Pay Mobile Apps & Seamless Checkouts - Big New Grocery Trend Tesco, the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chain, is testing a scan-less - just walk in and walk out - grocery payment system that is based on a mobile app.  The trial is called Tesco GetGo.  To buy groceries without scanning the items or going through the checkout, the shopper, when they enter the store, needs to download the Tesco mobile app.  All items that the shopper selects are tracked and charged to the shopper's Tesco account.  The transaction is finalized on a QR code that is scanned by the customer's phone. Tesco says a receipt is provided to the customer within minutes.  This time-savings, no cu...

  GetGo - New Technology Experiment at Tesco in London                                             Source:  Tesco Supermarket Chain UK & Amazon Palm Pay Mobile Apps & Seamless Checkouts - Big New Grocery Trend Tesco, the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chain, is testing a scan-less - just walk in and walk out - grocery payment system that is based on a mobile app.  The trial is called Tesco GetGo.  To buy groceries without scanning the items or going through the checkout, the shopper, when they enter the store, needs to download the Tesco mobile app.  All items that the shopper selects are tracked and charged to the shopper's Tesco account.  The transaction is finalized on a QR code that is scanned by the customer's phone. Tesco says a receipt is provided to the customer within minutes.  This time-savings, no cu...

  Siemens & Deutsche Bahn Innovation - Digital Train Source:  Siemens & Deutsche Bahn No Special Tracks or Infrastructure Needed for New Automated Train German industrial giant Siemens and Deutsche Bahn have developed the world's 1st automated, driverless, digital train that requires no special tracks or new infrastructure.  The "intelligent" train is controlled by digital technology and is fully automated. Four new driverless trains will be deployed first in Hamburg as part of the city's $70 million urban rail system modernization program. They become fully operational in December 2021.  Bringing the Railroad into the Digital Future Siemens and Deutsche Bahn believe that their new driverless train brings the global railroad industry into the digital future.  The companies call the vehicle landmark innovation in "intelligent trains" and add that it is more energy efficient and punctual than traditional trains.  What is breakthrough and a world first...

  Lilac Solutions Innovative Tech & Global Battery Shortages Source:  Lilac Solutions Potential Battery Breakthru for EVs, Smartphones & More Lithium ion batteries are the power source for EVs, smartphones, computers and more.  The use of lithium ion batteries has become so pervasive that global demand for them is expected to quadruple over the next decade and global market shortages are expected as early as 2023. Now, there may be a new tech solution. Lilac Solutions, an Oakland, California startup, has a revolutionary new lithium ion extraction process that appears to be exponentially quicker, less expensive, less energy intensive and far more environmentally friendly than current lithium mining technologies.   Lithium - the "Irreplaceable Metal" for EVs Lithium is known as the "irreplaceable metal" for EVs because of its high energy density to power batteries with fewer cells at potentially less expense.  It is found in hard rock mountainous regi...

  SpaceX Successful Launch of Another Batch of 60 Satellites                                                                      Source:  SpaceX/NASA More Than 1,200 Satellites in Starlink Constellation & Counting Early this morning, at Cape Canaveral, Florida, SpaceX launched another 60 Starlink internet satellites.  That brings the total in the Starlink internet constellation to more than 1200.  The system promises to provide inexpensive broadband services to the globe and particularly to remote and underserved areas.  SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wants to have a threshold of 1,440 Starlink satellites deployed in low Earth orbit to deliver optimum broadband services.  He has also petitioned the Federal Communications Commission for permission to launch tens...

Boat Designed To Reduce Shipping Industry's Carbon Footprint                                               Source:  Sailcargo, Inc. Capable of Carrying 350 Tons On the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, an international team of 200 workers from 27 nations are building a hybrid sailboat.  It's an international project designed to demonstrate that it is possible to transport cargo without polluting the environment.  The 148 foot vessel will rely mostly on wind-power but it will also have two electric engines for moving around ports and for power in low wind conditions.  The hybrid vessel is capable of transporting 350 tons of cargo. Zero Emissions Cargo Transport The company Sailcargo Inc. was founded and is led by CEO and professional ship captain Danielle Dogget of Canada.  She aims to make the hybrid sailboat called Ceiba "enviro...

  Spot Spotted on the High Seas Aboard an Oil Rig Source:  Boston Dynamics Spot RoboDog Multitasking Robot Dog I've been following Boston Dynamics' Spot RoboDog for some time.  Here's an update on this incredible quadruped, multi-tasking robot dog.  Spot has been on duty in Asia doing polite, social distancing patrols on the streets of Singapore to advise and encourage people to keep their distances and prevent the spread of COVID-19 among residents during 2020.  Spot is serving as a service assistance robot in US offices and homes.  He's on duty as a patrol robot on UK construction sites.  And, now Spot has gone on the high-seas, aboard a British Petroleum oil rig more than 190 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico to do off-shore robotic duty.  Spot seems to be the world's greatest utility robot. Spot on Oil Rig Duty Onboard the BP oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, Spot is being programmed to monitor gauges, sniff out dangerous smells of methane and chec...