The Innovation Report
The Navy Wants Autonomous Ships; New England Startups Are Racing To Deliver
Shipbuilding startups in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have raised a lot of money recently. It's a funding drive fueled by the possibility of autonomous ships. Scott Kirsner, columnist for WBUR's editorial partner MassLive, reports that the United States defense...
Louisiana Becoming A Drone Boat Hot Spot
Louisiana shipbuilding has entered a new generation of high-tech construction, with autonomous vehicles, robotic ships and waterborne landing pads for spacecraft. The state's already rich maritime history is getting richer —literally and figuratively. "We arguably...
Smart Mobility Today: 4 October 2025
As a Bachelor of Fine Arts major with a heavy engineering background (my father). I have always appreciated science, exploration, and innovation. As I grew up, I was always making simple machines to meet my needs such as getting my lamp to turn off across the room...
Ford, GM Workaround Keeps EV Tax Credit Alive For Leasing While Supplies Last
Ford Motor Co. and General Motors have developed a method through the IRS guidance to extend use of the electric vehicle tax credits, at least for leases, into the fourth quarter. The Detroit automakers used their financing arms, called captive finance companies, to...
Record EV Sales Lead GM, Ford To 8% Increases In Q3 U.S. Auto Sales
Strong electric vehicle sales are leading to robust third-quarter results for major automakers, as consumers flocked to car dealerships before the end of $7,500 in federal incentives for EVs. Ford Motor, General Motors and Hyundai all reported...
Engineers Create Soft Robots That Can Literally Walk On Water
Scientists have developed HydroSpread, a novel technique for building soft robots on water, with wide-ranging possibilities in robotics, healthcare, and environmental monitoring. Picture a miniature robot, no larger than a leaf, gliding effortlessly across the surface...
Doordash Announces Dot, Its New Autonomous Robot For Deliveries
DoorDash on Tuesday unveiled its new autonomous delivery robot: Dot. It's the "first commercial autonomous delivery robot to seamlessly navigate bike lanes, roads, and sidewalks, and is purpose-built for local commerce," the company said in a press release. The robot...
China Now Has More Factory Robots Than the Rest of the World Combined
Factory floors used to be loud with human voices. Not anymore. Instead, more and more factories have a monotonous, almost hypnotic hum. It’s the sound of a million arms that never tire. We’re talking, of course, about robots. They never sleep, never complain, and...
Judge Blocks Trump’s Cuts To Anti-Terror Funding For New York City Transit
Citing the 9/11 attacks and other threats, a U.S. judge on Wednesday blocked the federal government from diverting or withdrawing $34 million in funding to protect New York's transportation system from terrorist attacks. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said the state of New...
Ford Responds To Trump’s Sweeping New Tariffs On Trucks
Speaking on CNBC's Squawk Box Tuesday, Ford CEO Farley said: "This is a really big deal for our country, and for Ford. "We make all of our heavy duty trucks in America. We have a lot of competition from overseas. A 25 percent tariff will be a really big deal. On the...
