The Innovation Report
Armed With Traffic Cones, Protesters Are Immobilizing Driverless Cars
Two people dressed in dark colors and wearing masks dart into a busy street on a hill in San Francisco. One of them hauls a big orange traffic cone. They sprint toward a driverless car and quickly set the cone on the hood. The vehicle's side lights burst on...
University Of Missouri Plans ‘Industry 4.0’ Lab
The adoption of autonomous technologies for smart manufacturing across the U.S. in recent years has driven higher ed investments in machine learning, data science, blockchain technology and advanced 3D printing. At the University of Missouri, interest in...
Largest Search Of Loch Ness In Over 50 Years Will Deploy Drones And Hydrophones
The largest cryptological survey of Loch Ness in over 50 years is scheduled to take place this weekend, featuring technology never before used to search for the elusive, still unproven Loch Ness Monster. Affectionately known by many as “Nessie,” no...
AI Helps Robots Manipulate Objects With Their Whole Bodies
Imagine you want to carry a large, heavy box up a flight of stairs. You might spread your fingers out and lift that box with both hands, then hold it on top of your forearms and balance it against your chest, using your whole body to manipulate the box. Humans are...
Detroit: DTE, Consumers Energy Playing Big Role In EV Transition
As a growing number of Michigan residents drive electric vehicles, the state's largest utilities — DTE Energy and Consumers Energy — are playing a role in the electric vehicle transition, from ensuring the infrastructure can handle increased demand to encouraging...
Texas: One Of Cheapest Gas Taxes In The US— And Some Of The Highest EV Fees
Drivers in Texas who think they're skirting gas taxes by driving electric should think again — the Lone Star State wants them to pay for their fair share, too. Drivers essentially pay for their road use at the pump through gas taxes, which get funneled to state...
GM’s Cruise AV Unit To Cut Fleet In Half After 2 Crashes
General Motors' Cruise autonomous vehicle unit has agreed to cut its fleet of San Francisco robotaxis in half as authorities investigate two recent crashes in the city. The state Department of Motor Vehicles asked for the reduction after a Cruise vehicle...
Why Are Space Agencies Racing To The Moon’s South Pole?
India's space agency is attempting to land a spacecraft on the moon's south pole, a mission that could advance India's space ambitions and expand knowledge of lunar water ice, potentially one of the moon's most valuable resources. Here's what's known about the...
Clearspace-1 Space Debris Cleanup Target In Orbit Just Got Struck By Space Debris
A leftover rocket adapter, expected to be removed from low Earth orbit in 2026, has new pieces of space debris floating nearby. That's a likely aftereffect of being hit by something small flying through space. The problem was spotted by the 18th...
Batteries Keep Texas Grid Humming In Heat Waves
A battery boom is helping to stabilize the Texas power grid, offering a template for utilities that want to cut their greenhouse gases even as air conditioners hum wildly during heat waves. The growth of batteries was evident last week when energy storage facilities...
