The Innovation Report
U-M Economists Predict Rising Jobless Rate, Auto Sales Slowdown In Michigan As Tariffs Hit
Higher tariffs and their impact on trade remain the "wildest of wild cards" when it comes to economic forecasts, according to the latest outlook released May 16 by University of Michigan economists. The U.S. economy remains "mostly healthy," U-M economists said,...
Butterfly Hovering Technique Could Revolutionize Drone Design
Butterflies sometimes appear to zigzag and drift when they hover. Their bodies may look jerky from a distance, yet these movements help them stay aloft in ways few people expect. Yanlai Zhang from Beihang University recently contributed to a study that examines how...
Clean Energy Is Under Attack Even Where It’s Booming
Tax credits for clean-electricity generation and manufacturing are set to vanish under a plan proposed last week by congressional Republicans. Meanwhile, lawmakers in states such as Texas and Arizona—home to some of the country’s biggest renewable-energy projects—are...
Smart Mobility Today: This Week
As we approach Memorial Day and thousands of people hit the roads to travel to relaxing getaways, how much more interesting and fun would it be to fly there, and I am not talking about in a plane. Last week's Global Auto Mobility and the Smart Mobility Today podcast...
Autonomous Coal Miners Get To Work In Mongolia
A fleet of 100 electric driverless coal-mining trucks has been put into operation in Mongolia, coordinated by AI running on a 5G-A network. The project is expected to grow, bringing new safety and efficiency to China's coal-mining industry. While the negative...
How 5G And The Metaverse Are Changing Agriculture
A review of digital technologies in the International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology suggests that integration of mobile, 5G, wireless and the so-called metaverse could be a turning point in global agriculture. The use of this kind of...
GM Suspends Hydrogen Fuel Cell Plant Project In Michigan
A major investment in hydrogen fuel cell production by GM has been put on hold, according to a report in Crain’s Detroit Business. According to a source familiar with the matter, work has been paused on a $55 million joint project with supplier Piston Automotive...
US To Rescind Rule That Lowered Solar, Wind Project Fees On Federal Land
The Trump administration took steps to rescind a Biden-era regulation that lowered fees for renewable energy projects on federal lands, saying the rule unfairly favored development of wind and solar facilities. The Interior Department said in a press release on...
This $1M Flying Car Can Reach Speeds Of 155 Mph
A Slovakian startup working to make the age-old dream of flying cars a reality says it has a new prototype that could ship as early as 2026. Klein Vision, which has spent the past three decades developing its “AirCar,” has already completed over 170 flight...
SpaceX To FCC: We Can Supply A GPS Alternative Through Starlink
As the Federal Communications Commission considers GPS alternatives, SpaceX says its Starlink satellites are already up for the task. The company made its pitch in a Wednesday letter to the FCC after the commission kicked off a public inquiry about...
