The Innovation Report
Self-Flying Drones, Self-Driving Robots Combine To Deliver In Dallas
Self-flying drones and self-driving aircraft are joining forces to deliver your burrito. On Tuesday, Wing, the drone delivery arm of Google parent Alphabet, and Serve Robotics, a manufacturer of sidewalk delivery robots, announced a pilot partnership in Dallas, where...
Tiny Robot Convoy Conducts Successful Endoscopic Surgery In A Medical First
Anew robotic surgical tool has been developed. In a first-of-its-kind development, a robotic convoy was used to perform a minimally invasive endoscopic microsurgery. This was achieved using several millimeter-sized robots called TrainBots. The German...
In-Car Tech Innovation: Holographic Displays, AI Assistance, Smart Infotainment
This week’s e-mobility roundup: Volkswagen and Google Cloud launch an AI assistant, Ford unveils a holographic display, and Alibaba Cloud partners with Nvidia. Ford holograms The truth is, real estate is the reason car interiors are going digital - there simply isn’t...
Caterpillar Presents Dynamic Charging System For Mining Trucks
Caterpillar has called the system Cat Dynamic Energy Transfer (DET), which is suitable for the intermediate charging of both battery-only and hybrid mining vehicles. The solution consists of a power module that converts energy from a mining site’s power source for...
Silicon Valley Gets Its First Drone Delivery Service
Silicon Valley is getting its first drone delivery service to airdrop food and commercial items to local homes, though only the bare essentials (chocolate and Prime-branded drinks) are available right now. California-based Matternet is launching a pilot program...
NASA Shuts Off Voyager 2 Science Instrument As Power Dwindles
NASA engineers have turned off one of Voyager 2's science instruments due to dwindling power supplies on the spacecraft as it explores interstellar space. Voyager 2 launched into space on Aug. 20, 1977 and left the solar system on Nov. 5,...
Four-Legged Robot Learns To Climb Ladders
The proliferation of robots like Boston Dynamics’ Spot has showcased the versatility of quadrupeds. These systems have thrived at walking up stairs, traversing small obstacles, and navigating uneven terrain. Ladders, however, still present a big issue —...
Toyota Delays US Electric Car Plans As Sales Slow
Toyota is pushing back the start date for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing in the US, as global demand for battery-powered cars continues to soften. The Japanese motor industry giant was aiming to start production in late 2025 or early 2026. Toyota now expects to...
Uber, Lyft Drivers Use Teslas As Makeshift Robotaxis, Raising Safety Concerns
A self-driving Tesla carrying a passenger for Uber rammed into an SUV at an intersection in suburban Las Vegas in April, an accident that sparked new concerns that a growing stable of self-styled "robotaxis" is exploiting a regulatory gray area in U.S. cities, putting...
3 Reasons The Automotive Industry Is Poised To Fulfill The Promise Of Autonomous Driving
Over the past decade, numerous startups have raised billions to make self-driving cars a reality. Yet so far, most of these startups either have failed or remain limited. Companies like Waymo and Cruise are confined to robotaxi use cases, operating on predefined...
