Important Innovations

  DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF                                                                                                  By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane KIA TO UNVEIL RANGE-TOPPING SUV                                                                                      Source:  Kia Kia says it will unveil a large, powerful & range-topping, new SUV on March 15th, 2023 The vehicle will be all electric and Kia's largest SUV to date It's being built on Hyundai-Kia Group's E-GMP platform which uses an 800 Volt architecture Range on a charge is expected to be more than 300 miles The EV is aerodynamically designed with lighting effects on the front and rear of the vehicle and lots of glass on the sides It has plenty of smart technologies including Automode autonomous driving, a 27" display and 350 kW rapid charging The EV is Kia's first SUV with 3 seating rows or 7 seats  Automotive experts expect it to be priced around $60,000  The EV9 is 1 of 11 new

  THE TESLA TEASE                                                                                      Source:  Tesla Tesla CEO Elon Musk is teasing that big news will be announced on Tesla Investors Day on March 1st, including the possibility of a new Tesla concept car The surprise car could be one of the concept vehicles that Musk has been teasing about:  a fully autonomous robotaxi, a new van or a $30,000 small passenger car for dense urban areas Analysts expect Musk to reveal the mass production version of the long-awaited Cybertruck Cybertruck is Tesla's 1st electric pickup, that's expected to be a cash cow and go into production this year CEO Musk will present his Master Plan 3 to transform transportation and save the planet through a fully sustainable energy future Musk says his presentation will offer "great hope and positivity for the future". ROBOTS TO DO 40% OF HOUSEHOLD TASKS                                                  Source:  Sony Experts predict th

   2023 BMW XM SUV IS BEING CALLED "WUNDERBAR"                                             Source:  BMW XM The 2023 BMW XM is the first electrified SUV from BMW's M Division that is famous for creating iconic sports vehicles like the M3 sedan Hybrid electric, 2 row, 5 seat SUV Twin-turbocharged, 4.4-liter V8 engine augmented by hybrid-electric powertrain Pumps out 664 hp and 590 pd-ft of torque 8-speed automatic transmission that delivers power to all 4 wheels 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds Hybrid battery provides 30 miles of fully electric driving on a charge Has stunning power and good looks that some automotive experts are calling "wunderbar" Pricing starts at $160,000 AI FIGHTER JET PILOT FROM DARPA                                             Source:  DARPA's Vista An incredible new, artificial intelligence (AI) milestone has been achieved in aviation The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA has successfully developed an AI sys

 D ear Viewers: We are launching a new, innovation news service on this blog called "Daily Innovation Brief".  At least one of the daily news stories will be transportation related, including new car, eVTOL and plane concepts.  The first edition of "Daily Innovation Brief" is below.  Thanks for viewing. Maryanne Kane MCLAREN'S NEW FLAGSHIP                                                                                     Source:  McLaren   Currently, the British performance automaker is developing its 750 S new supercar for unveiling this spring 740 hp supercar will replace the 720 S as the brand's flagship Powered by twin turbo 4.0-liter V8 Big rear wing, big air vents and inside a new front dashboard with an instrument panel above the steering wheel, plus a dramatic floating infotainment system Sporty, elegant, aerodynamic styling Priced to start at $340,000 and will debut in April 2023 Expected to be a performance dazzler. DARPA'S NEW CRANE X-PLANE  

   Big Competition for $49 Billion Helicopter Industry                                                                                Source:  AIR AIR's Flying Taxis 200 companies around the world are developing eVTOLs that could prove to be big disruptors of the $49 billion helicopter industry. Flying taxi company AIR is a primary example with impressive tech: Israel and California based AIR has developed a powerful, electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL) with a multi-market focus, including displacing helicopters as transit to and from yachts AIR is partnering with the non-profit International SeaKeepers Society to build an air taxi business within the yachting community to ferry passengers, cargo and supplies back and forth between yachts and the shore The sales pitch:  eVTOL air taxis are safer with far fewer parts that can break down, much cheaper, emit zero emissions and operate with much greater efficiency than helicopters SeaKeepers, which is an educational o

  Yanfeng's XiM23                                                  Source:  Yanfeng Future of Luxury Tech Driving Just unveiled in Germany, the XiM23 is the digital/connected, luxurious new car concept being developed by leading, global automotive supplier Yanfeng. Yanfeng is a $16 billion innovator of "smart car cabins" headquartered in Shanghai, China. Their automotive vision of the XiM23 is based on their proprietary research, the Luxury Research Study, into the driving public's priorities for the "perfect car". Their findings on desired new car innovations are being incorporated, particularly into the car's interior space, to change the driver's and passengers' experiences during their journeys.  The highly advanced digital technologies being deployed are designed to convert the car's interior into a user-centric experience.  In essence, this new car concept is the result of the combination of highly advanced digital and luxury features. 

   Zero Emissions, Hydrogen Powered Flying                                                                                 Source:  Airbus Three Concept Planes Airbus plans to develop and deploy the world's first zero emissions, commercial aircraft to carry passengers by 2035.  Its zero emissions, carbon neutral, hydrogen powered aircraft are called ZEROe.  Airbus is now finalizing decisions on which technologies to use for the next-G aircraft and which vehicle to go to market with first.  There are three concept planes under development:  a blended wing body (BWB), a turboprop and a turbofan powered aircraft.  All three planes use hydrogen as their primary power source. Delta Wing Model At the 2022 Singapore Air Show, Airbus is showcasing its twin engine, blended wing model with its integrated vertical tails.  The plane has a longer, wider cabin, lots of windows and access doors at the front of the fuselage. These are new refinements that Airbus has incorporated since the concept

  Switzerland's The Jet - Hydrogen Powered Hydrofoil                                                  Source: The Jet The Jet to be Manufactured in Dubai The Jet is a new form of hydrogen powered transportation.  The "flying boat" is powered by two hydrogen fuel cells that convert hydrogen into electricity and produce no emissions.  The vessel is a hydrofoil that glides three feet above the water at a top speed of 46 mph.  It can carry 12 passengers and a captain. It makes its water journey in silence and in harmony with the environment.  It is the innovative creation of Switzerland-based startup The Jet ZeroEmission, which will manufacture the hydrofoil in Dubai. New International Innovation Collaboration The hydrogen powered flying boat uses hydrofoils underneath the vessel to give it lift. It is a distinctively designed, slender white vessel.  It spans 32 feet and weighs 6 tons.  The Jet ZeroEmission company was founded by French yachtsman Alain Thebault.  The company

  New "Sphere" Concept Cars                                                  Source:  Audi Cars "Shaping the Future" Audi designers and engineers have innovated a new series of concept cars:  a sports car - the Skysphere; a limousine - the Grandsphere; and a SUV - the Urbansphere.  Audi says these concept cars, that will debuted over the next year,  reflect how Audi envisions luxury cars of the future.  The sphere theme represents Audi's holistic, digital ecosystem for an exciting in-car experience.  Technological innovations and luxury envelop the passengers.  The vehicles can be driven or drive autonomously. Skysphere The first vehicle to premiere will be Skysphere on August 10, 2021.  Skysphere is a sports car that can be driven or drive autonomously and it can be converted into a personal lounge.  Audi says the vehicle is shaping the future and "redefines progressive luxury".  It is a large, 2 seat vehicle with a possibly transparent roof in Audi&#

  First Missions to Inferno Like Planet in 30 Years                                                                           Source:  NASA Search for Interplanetary Answers NASA will launch two new missions to Venus between 2028 and 2030.  These missions of discovery will be the first explorations of Venus in thirty years.  NASA Administration Bill Nelson says the purpose is to provide new understanding of how Earth evolved, why it is habitable and why other planets in our solar system are not.  Nelson added that planetary science is critical to answering key questions like "Are we alone?" $1 Billion in Funding   The two selected mission concepts are called DAVINCI+ and VERITAS.  Each will be given $500 million for development funding. DAVINCI+ will measure the composition of Venus' atmosphere to learn how the planet formed, evolved and if it ever contained an ocean.  DAVINCI+ stands for Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry and Imaging.  The meas

  New Software Upgrades Promised within a Few Weeks Source:  Tesla "Smart Summon" To Be Offered in Europe   Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the company will be rolling out significantly improved self-driving technology within a few weeks.  Subscriptions for the new software will be offered this month.  Musk also tweeted that Tesla is making available its "Smart Summon" technology in Europe by the end of 2021.  The technology enables a driver to summon their vehicle in a parking lot by using a phone app. That handy feature is now available in the US. Under Scrutiny Tesla's autonomous driving technology is under scrutiny following several recent crashes.  Two people were killed in an accident in Texas, although it is disputed whether the car was driving itself or a human was behind the wheel.  Since October 2020, some Tesla employees and customers have been testing a beta version of Tesla's full, self-driving technology.  Tesla continues to work on the technology and

  New Water Vehicle From Italy's Lazzarini Design                                             Source:  Lazzarini Design Luxurious Powerboat Alternative Lazzarini Design has just introduced a highly revolutionary watercraft alternative to a powerboat.  It's called the Jet Capsule and it looks like a space ship on water.  It's an ultra luxurious vessel that comes with a variety of propulsion systems, layouts, amenities and furnishings that are totally customizable to the buyer.  There are two models - Due Punto Zero and Hyper Jet that can serve as private or commuting vessels.  The boats are made largely of carbon fiber and have integrated AC, touchscreens, LED headlight system and a surface scanner in the front of the boat to avoid hitting debris.  Electric or Hybrid Boating For the individual buyer, the  vessel can accommodate up to 10 passengers.  It also comes in the form of a commuter boat that can carry up to 20 passengers  plus the captain.  The propulsion system is ei

  Bezos' Blue Origin Ready to Sell Space Tourism Tickets                                                            Source:  Blue Origin's New Shepherd Rocket Travel Like Nothing Else - Hurtling into Space on New Shepherd Rocket Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin is about to start selling tickets for rides on its space tourism rocket New Shepherd.  The rocket has the capacity to carry six passengers into the lower edges of space.  It has been launched multiple times, successfully tested and has completed 11 missions.  You can sign up for a seat on the Blue Origin website.  The ticket price is expected to be disclosed by the company very soon. Vacationing in Zero Gravity The New Shepherd launch site is located in a remote desert area in Texas.  The space capsule has massive windows for passengers to enjoy the view.  Once reaching the edges of space, passengers will spend 10 minutes in zero gravity before returning to Earth. The rocket launches vertically wi

  World 1st: Pure, Usable Oxygen Extracted on Mars                                        Source:  NASA - MOXIE MOXIE Science Rover Did the Job NASA's Mars Mission has achieved another world first.  It has extracted breathable, pure oxygen from the thin Martian atmosphere.  This extraordinary feat was accomplished by a piece of technology onboard the Perserance rover.  MOXIE, a small science rover that is the size of a toaster - extracted and converted carbon dioxide into oxygen.  MOXIE stands for Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment. Impressive Technology MOXIE uses electrolysis to separate molecules of oxygen from molecules of carbon dioxide, using extreme heat.  95% of the Martian atmosphere is composed of carbon dioxide.  The initial oxygen created was small:  about enough to provide ten minutes worth of oxygen to an astronaut.  But it is the first time in history that a natural resource, directly usable by human, has been extracted on another planet. Scaling Up

Tech Communicating Using Body Language, Sounds & Lights Source:  Volvo 360c Incorporating Origins of Human Communications  Volvo's vision of the future of autonomous driving is based on the origins of human communications, going back 10,000 years.  The Sweden based company is developing technology to enable autonomous cars to communicate with each other, other drivers and pedestrians.  The techniques include body language, basic sounds and light pulses.  Volvo said today that it believes the long term solution to avoiding accidents and safer driving is autonomous, self-driving vehicles. Volvo 360c Autonomous Car Concept The Volvo 360c is Volvo's proprietary, autonomous concept car, leading the autonomous way.  The vehicle communicates with other vehicles, bikes and pedestrians on the road.  It uses external lights, sounds and even subtle "body language" movements to communicate what the vehicle is about to do.  Volvo researchers aim to give self-driving cars a for

  Austin Russell's Luminar Technologies                                                Source:  Austin Russell Autonomous Driving Tech with Lasers Leading the Way This morning, 25 year old entrepreneur Austin Russell woke up a billionaire.  His company Luminar Technologies of Florida went public yesterday on the Nasdaq.  By the end of day, it hit $22.98 a share with a market value of $7.8 billion.  Russell founded the company at the age of 17.  He owns more than 100 million shares and his net worth overnight skyrocketed to $2.4 billion. He has created lidar sensor technology that uses lasers to power autonomous vehicles.  His technology is considered breakthrough.  Forbes is calling Russell the world's youngest, self-made billionaire. Lidar & Laser Tech with Big Investors Backing It Luminar Technologies' (LAZR) lidar tech utilizes lasers to bounce off the car's surroundings and lets it see where it is going.  It provides 360 degree surroundings' intelligence to