Daily Innovation News

June 18^th 2024

💻 Technology

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia tests the world’s first licensed autonomous air taxi in Mecca

Saudi Arabia has conducted the inaugural flight of the world's first licensed autonomous air taxi, EHang’s EH216-S, in Mecca. With approval from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), this two-seat eVTOL aircraft aims to transport pilgrims and enhance Advanced Air Mobility solutions in the region. The EH216-S, which received Chinese certification in October 2023, is now closer to commercial operations in Saudi Arabia, supporting various applications like medical transport and cargo logistics. This milestone aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 to advance the nation's aviation landscape.

🪖 Military

🇨🇳 Chinese researchers develop AI commander based on famous historical commanders for military simulations

China has created an AI military commander trained on strategies from historical and contemporary commanders. Confined to a laboratory at the Joint Operations College of the National Defence University, this AI commander participates in large-scale war games for the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The AI can autonomously replace human commanders in simulations, making strategic decisions based on historical data and current battlefield conditions. This technology aims to enhance military planning and adaptability, while maintaining ultimate command with human authorities. The research is published in Common Control & Simulation.

🌎 Environment

🇺🇸 US researchers develop dissolvable textiles from gelatin for sustainable fashion

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder's ATLAS Institute have created a DIY machine that spins textiles from sustainably sourced gelatin, allowing garments to be dissolved and recycled. The gelatin-based "biofibers" can be customized for strength, elasticity, and color, and dissolve in hot water, making recycling easy. This innovation addresses the environmental impact of textile waste, envisioning a future where clothes can be reformed into new garments. The team's findings were presented at the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US researchers develop a device to monitor cancer patients' white blood cell levels noninvasively to prevent life-threatening infections

MIT researchers have developed a device that allows cancer patients to monitor their white blood cell levels at home without needing blood samples. Developed by the company Leuko, this device uses light to scan the skin at the top of a fingernail, with AI analyzing the data to detect low white blood cell counts. This innovation could prevent life-threatening infections and improve the personalization of chemotherapy treatments. Currently undergoing FDA review, Leuko aims to make this technology widely available to enhance patient care and safety.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop wearable ultrasound device to target brain regions noninvasively

Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have created AhSonogenetics, a noninvasive technology combining holographic acoustic devices with genetic engineering to target specific neurons in the brain. This wearable ultrasound device can modulate neurons precisely, offering potential treatments for neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease. AhSonogenetics utilizes low-intensity focused ultrasound and flexible Airy beam-enabled binary acoustic metasurfaces to stimulate brain regions without invasive procedures. This innovation could revolutionize how brain diseases are treated by allowing precise and flexible neuromodulation. The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

🔋 Electronics

🇯🇵 Japanese firm TDK unveils solid-state battery with 20 times the energy density of competitors

TDK has announced a prototype solid-state battery with an energy density of 1,000 watt-hours per liter, 20 times that of the closest competitors. Utilizing all-ceramic material with oxide-based electrolytes and lithium alloy anodes, these tiny batteries promise high charge storage, reduced size, longer operating times, and enhanced safety. The breakthrough aims to revolutionize energy storage in small devices like the Apple Watch. TDK plans to ship samples next year, with mass production to follow, marking a significant step towards energy transformation.

🇯🇵 Japanese researchers develop wireless chipset with 640 Gbps transmission speed, 100x faster than 5G

Scientists from the Tokyo Institute of Technology and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) have created a groundbreaking wireless chipset achieving data transmission rates of 640 Gbps. Utilizing 65nm CMOS architecture, this cost-effective and scalable chipset operates in the 110-170 GHz frequency range. The chip integrates advanced amplifiers and a frequency converter to maintain signal strength and quality. Demonstrated with multi-level modulation and multiple-input, multiple-output configurations, the chipset promises to revolutionize wireless systems for applications like automated cars and telemedicine. The findings were presented at the 2024 IEEE Symposium on VLSI Technology & Circuits.

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