Daily Innovation News

October 1^st 2024

💻 Technology

🇨🇳 China breaks drone swarm record with 10,000 drones forming a high-def sky display

On China's National Day, the city of Shenzhen set a new record with a breathtaking aerial show using 10,197 drones. This display showcased vibrant 3D graphics, including soaring birds, thunderbolts, and a 3D model of Shenzhen, highlighting the rapid advancements in drone swarm technology. Using coordinated movements and changes in color, the drones transformed the sky into a dynamic screen, pushing the boundaries of aerial entertainment.

⚡️ Energy

🇸🇪 Swedish firm develops hybrid energy raft harnessing wave, wind, and solar to power 1,000 homes

A Swedish company has created a 38-meter Hybrid Energy Converter (HEC) that combines wave, wind, and solar energy to generate around 1 MW of power with a 40% capacity factor. The raft features vertical wind turbines, solar panels, and wave power technology, producing more energy per sea area than traditional offshore wind farms. This modular design aims to deliver consistent renewable energy and can be easily produced, installed, and maintained. The company seeks additional funding to scale up this innovative power solution.

🦾 Robotics

🇺🇸 US engineers develop Clio, an AI system to help robots identify essential objects for tasks

MIT researchers have created Clio, an AI system that allows robots to identify and focus on task-relevant objects in their surroundings. Using natural language prompts, Clio helps robots quickly map scenes and retain only the necessary elements, enhancing their efficiency in real-world tasks. The system combines computer vision, language models, and mapping tools to distinguish objects based on their relevance to specific tasks. Clio's adaptability could benefit various applications, from search and rescue to domestic and industrial robots. The findings are published in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters.

🇺🇸 US companies test robot-to-drone deliveries for faster, eco-friendly food service

Serve Robotics has partnered with Wing Aviation to test a new delivery method that uses autonomous sidewalk robots to transfer food to drones for delivery up to 6 miles away. This innovative approach aims to redefine last-mile delivery, allowing for 30-minute food delivery across entire cities while avoiding traffic congestion. The fully electric robots and drones offer a sustainable, cost-effective option for small-package deliveries. Pilot deliveries will begin in Dallas, Texas, with more details to follow soon.

🌎 Environment

🇰🇪 AI boosts crop yield and fights disease for African farmers

An AI app is revolutionizing farming in Africa by providing small-scale farmers with crop insights, nutrient plans, and agronomic advice, improving yields and combating crop diseases. The app, developed by iSDA, uses satellite data and local knowledge to help farmers make better decisions for their soil, increasing profitability and yield returns. Despite concerns about losing indigenous farming methods, this AI technology is filling a crucial gap in agricultural education and support, particularly in regions where government resources are limited.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US scientists develop mouth swab test to predict aging speed and mortality risk

US researchers have created a tool called CheekAge, which analyzes methylation patterns in cheek cells to estimate biological aging and mortality risk. CheekAge was found to be more accurate in predicting mortality than earlier blood-based epigenetic clocks, highlighting shared aging indicators across different tissues. This simple, non-invasive test also identified genes potentially linked to age-related diseases, offering insights into the aging process. The study was published in Frontiers in Aging.

🇺🇸 US scientists develop laser-based headset to measure blood flow, assess stroke risk

Researchers at Caltech have created a portable, laser-based headset that measures blood flow and volume in the brain to assess stroke risk noninvasively. The device uses speckle contrast optical spectroscopy (SCOS) to monitor changes in blood vessel expansion and flow rates, especially during a breath-holding exercise. Initial studies show that this method can effectively differentiate between individuals at low and high stroke risk. This affordable technology, detailed in Biomedical Optics Express, could revolutionize stroke risk assessment and improve early detection.

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