Important Innovations

  First Successful Test With Passenger Onboard                                          Source:   Virgin Hyperloop Travel at 620 to 700 MPH In Las Vegas yesterday, Virgin Hyperloop made its first successful run with two passengers onboard.  The high speed travel technology travelled 500 meters in just 15 seconds at the Virgin test site. Speeds hit 107.5 mph. The two passengers, Virgin Hyperloop Cofounder/CTO Josh Giegel and Virgin Hyperloop Director of Passenger Experience Sara Luchian sat in a single pod. They said they enjoyed the very high speed ride. They are the first in the world to take a hyperloop ride. The hyperloop carries passengers in small pods that levitate above the track in a vacuum tube.  It is capable of speeds up to 700 mph.  Some experts believe it will revolutionize travel. An expert in Sweden calls it "the barf r...

Mid-November Hypersonic Test in Russian Arctic "Unbeatable" According to President Putin The Russian news agency Tass, citing military sources, reports that Russia tested a hypersonic missile over the Russian Arctic within the past two weeks.  A MIG 31 Intercept jet performed the testing of the Kinjal Dagger hypersonic missile. Ground Target The missile was fired against a ground target at the Pemboi training grounds in Russia's Arctic Komi region.  No other details were provided.  Russian President Vladimir Putin has bragged that the Dagger missile is unbeatable and capable of evading any enemy defenses.  The Kinjal Dagger is said to be capable of hitting targets 1,250 miles away with conventional or nuclear warheads travelling at hypersonic speeds.  Average hypersonic speeds range from Mach 5-10. Danish Defense Warning Meanwhile in its annual risk assessment report, the Danish Defense Intelligence Service warned of a "great power play" shaping up b...

Chinese Mars Lander Passes Important Landing Test Source:  Chinese Mars Lander Test China - Emerging Space Power China just successfully completed a landing test of its Mars lander that will contain a rover to explore Mars.  This puts China squarely on track for its Mission to Mars in the summer of 2020.  This mission involves landing on and exploring the Red Planet.  Mars is cold and barren but it's considered the only planet other than Earth that is habitable.  The Chinese space mission could contribute to the international effort to learn about and start understanding the climate conditions and mineral resources on Mars. Billions of Dollars Invested in Space China is pouring billions of dollars into its military-run space program.  It hopes to have a crewed space station in orbit by 2022.  China's space investment is paying off.  Early in 2019 it landed a rover on the far side of the Moon, which is a first.  Clearly, China is e...

DARPA Field Tests Ground Robots with Swarming Drones Source:  DARPA OFFSET Field Test For Dense Urban Warfare The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA, is testing the use of swarming drones and ground robots to assist infantry troops as they work dense urban areas on military missions.  DARPA envisions using as many as 250 swarming drones and robots at a time  to defeat the enemy with overwhelming technological advantage.  DARPA is testing out the autonomous team including an ambition test in Georgia this summer.  https://youtu.be/ruWC10AW87E (DARPA test video). Urban Missions The program is called OFFSET or OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics (OFFSET) program.  In Georgia, the swarming drones and robots on the ground worked a two block area.  Their goal was to find, surround and secure a mock city building. Ongoing Tests This is another part of DARPA's ongoing efforts to combine humans with advanced machines for ...

US Postal Service Testing Self-Driving Trucks Source:  TuSimple Autonomous Mail Hauling Truck Tests Now Underway The US Postal Service is testing self-driving trucks for long haul mail delivery between Phoenix and Dallas.  The autonomous trucks are being deployed from the San Diego startup TuSimple.  The project to test the feasibility of moving mail over the nation's highways by autonomous vehicles is underway for the next two weeks.  For a news blog go to Important Innovations Collection: Self-Driving US Mail Trucks : US Mail Tests Autonomous Truck Deliveries Source:  TuSimple Autonomous Truck Autonomous Mail Delivery The US Postal Service has start...

1st Test for CTE, Sports-Related, Traumatic Brain Injuries in the Living Source:  Stock images of football players Breakthrough Research and Discoveries by Boston University Scientists CTE is the danger for players inherent in any contact sport.  Repeated hard hits to and rattling of the head in the course of games taking a cumulative toll and resulting in traumatic brain injury CTE which is a fatal disease.  Until now, there was no way to detect it in the living.  The only reference points for doctors were changes in mood and behavior in the patient following a bad hit to the head and concussion..  But now, there is a brain scan test to detect the abnormal protein tau which is an indicator that the disease condition is present.  It's an important breakthrough just announced by scientists at Boston University.  For a great news blog, go to Important Innovations Collection: Breakthrough on CTE Brain Injuries from Sports : First Test for CTE in...

Musk's Test Tunnel to Move Cars Underground Source:  Boring Company's Loop Lift tunnel Plans for LA, Chicago, NYC and DC Elon Musk's Boring Company just opened his Loop Lift tunnel in Hawthorne, California.  It's 1.14 miles long.  This is his innovative loop lift system designed to bypass what he calls "soul destroying" traffic jams.  Cars are elevated down to the tunnel.  They're put on the tracks and glide along.  This is a prototype test tunnel on the grounds of his Boring Company.  Musk foresees loop lift, underground tunnel systems throughout the US. 150 MPH Speeds Musk says the vehicles can travel at speeds up to 150 miles per hour.  The system is designed to let people get off at various stops.  They and their cars are elevated back up to the ground.  Musk wants to dig a tunnel in Los Angeles to Dodgers Stadium; in Chicago to O'Hare Airport and from New York City to Washington, DC.  He says he'd like to charge $1 ...