The Industry Innovation Report
Autonomous Vehicles Legislation Progress
German lawmakers have already approved a new law aiming to bring autonomous vehicles into regular operation in 2022. Signatories to the Vienna Conventions—including Luxembourg and Germany---will be able to incorporate the legislation into their domestic traffic...
How Autonomous Underwater Robots Can Spot Oil Plumes After An Ocean Spill
On April 20, 2010, the offshore oil rig Deepwater Horizon exploded, burned, sank in the Gulf of Mexico and terrified the world. This horrific accident — recorded as the largest oil spill in history — killed 11 workers and released 210 million gallons of...
Critics Worry About Bill to Let Driverless Cars Roll into Kansas as AVs Expand in US
Autonomous vehicles, once a thing of science fiction lore, could soon be headed to Kansas roads — though sharp disagreements remain on proposed legislation to allow driverless trucks to roll into the state. A bill under consideration in the Legislature would allow for...
Race to 6G: Chinese Researchers Declare Data Streaming Record with Whirling Radio Waves
Chinese researchers say they have achieved a record data streaming speed using a revolutionary technology that could help China take the lead in the global race for next-gen wireless communication, or 6G. Using vortex millimetre waves, a form of extremely...
Congress Still Spinning Its Wheels on AV Regulation
On Wednesday, Congress held its first hearing on autonomous vehicles in over two years, and there was not a lot to show for it. At the end of the four-and-a-half-hour event, there was no indication that lawmakers were any closer to a consensus on how best to regulate...
White House Unveils $5 Billion Plan to Blanket US Highways with New Electric-Car Chargers
Right now one of the glaring reasons not to own an electric car is the charging. Gas stations are a dime a dozen, but charging plugs in much of the country are few and far between. That may not be the case for long if President Joe Biden's plan comes to fruition. The...
Drones Key in Making Decisions as Winston-Salem Fertilizer Plants Fire Continues to Burn
While fire crews aren’t allowed on-site at the Weaver Fertilizer Plant over fears of explosive materials, leaders are relying heavily on aerial tools to give them a better idea of what’s going on. “We’ve worked together, but this is the first full-scale incident where...
Mercedes-Benz Says It’s Using Mushrooms in New EVs
Mercedes-Benz has gone full-throttle with funky sustainable features in its upcoming VISION EQXX electric vehicle. The car will be made out of a variety of sustainable materials, including mushrooms, cacti and bamboo products, according to Mercedes-Benz’s news release...
A New Artificial Intelligence Traffic Light Could Help Shorten Your Commute Times
Ask any nerd and they’ll say artificial intelligence is taking over. That may not always be for the best, but finally it seems the tech is being put to good use – in traffic lights. A new study out of Germany says having traffic lights use AI technology may keep...
Flying Robot Generates as Much Power as a Flapping Insect
A small robot with wings like an insect can fly and generate more power than a similarly-sized animal in nature. Most flying robots, whether they use wings or propellers, have motors and gears – and transmission systems to connect the components together, but these...
