No Need To Fridge Cartoon: Amazon Gets a New Food Preservation Technology
Day: September 14, 2017
Houston Flood Chance for Drones to Shine
Drones used in hurricane Harvey to aid Houston’s Recovery in larger numbers and more innovative ways than ever before. Hurricane Harvey was one of the most devastating flood events to ever occur in the United States, dropping a record setting 33 trillion gallons of rainfall. Houston is the most populous city in Texas, and the fourth most-populated city in the United States.
He would like to see drones be able to locate people who may be stuck in their houses and deliver medicine and food to people who are stranded.
Given the vast territory of the flood, extraordinary measures are being tested in the recovery process. Drone technology is being used by government agencies and business for large scale surveillance and recovery efforts for the first time in history. For the first time, drones are a significant tool in assessment and restoration efforts. They are already having bold impact, and will continue to become more important as an emergency management tool in the future.
Once Banned Drones Contribute Critical Info
Before the hurricane struck the city of Houston, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a memo banning the flying of drones over Houston. Now that the storm is over, the ban has been lifted and companies are using drones in a variety of experimental ways. In fact, drones are being used all over the area to help assess damage, perform search assessments for rescue operations, and to examine the condition and possible damage of critical infrastructure.
Telecommunication, insurance, and even railway companies prepared fleets of drones to make assessments of the damage. With drones, they were able to evaluate destruction of cell towers, railroads, and homes much earlier, more quickly and more safely than if they were done by individual people. Many companies used drones to examine and inspect areas and equipment that were difficult to reach in the current flooding and chaos.
Drones were able to inspect bridges, power lines, roadways, and more. They were also used to inspect far flung remote communities where flooding prevented road access. Drones can also be used as hotspots for cell phones and internet connectivity.
Companies That Used Drones for Inspection
State Farm, which offers financial and insurance services in the US, used drones to gather photos after Harvey. In the past, insurance adjusters had to visit each site individually after the waters receded, a process which could take weeks or even months to complete after major disasters. With drone surveys, State Farm can quickly and accurately ascertain flood water damage and begin to make damage assessments even before the waters have receded.
Allstate Corporation is second largest personal insurer in the United States. They implemented a drone inspection program in Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and New Mexico to assess potential damage from floods as well as damage to roofs from high winds, tornadoes and hail.
The Allstate program uses drones to do fly over surveys in cities that will be affected by a weather event. They compile files of ‘before’ pictures that can be used for a baseline in damage assessments. They fly over the cities again once the storm is over to see the difference.
Justin Herndon, the spokesman for The Allstate Corporation, said that “[With Harvey] Contractors are going to become quite scarce because demand is so high, so the faster we can get our customers on a list, the faster they can start with that recovery process.”
BNSF Railway, one of the largest freight railroad networks in North America, has sent drones to monitor the conditions of its railroads after the winds and rain stopped. The company has 1,400 to 1,800 trains that travel every day across 28 states, they also have three in Canadian provinces. Their inspection checks train tracks for obstruction and damages.
The railroad company has also been part of an onogoing study with the FAA and other agencies that oversee drones and air safety. BNSF is one of a number of participants involved in Beyond Visual Line of Sight tests to determine safe drone usage over long distances. They are ideally suited as they have miles and miles of railroad track. Naturally, they are developing systems to inspect track and property with drones.
AT&T’s Dallas office moved crew out of the path of Hurricane Harvey, keeping them safe and ready to work after the storm hit. Immediately after the storm, they deployed 25 drones into the hard hit area to check wire lines and cell towers. This allowed them to quickly and efficiently pinpoint areas to be fixed and oftentimes, allowed crews to have a good idea of what needed to be fixed before they got there.
Post Harvey Drones
Weeks after Harvey blew through Houston, bringing record breaking floods and devastation, the city continues to assess and repair damage. Drones are critical in the efforts as they can more quickly and efficiently inspect bridges, roads, structures and homes.
In addition, drones can be used underwater, entering areas that are submerged and flooded to assess damage and even look for survivors who may be trapped in flooded buildings without access to get out safely. This is a new area of drone use, which is being used experimentally for the first time.
According to Ken Cook, the Senior Vice President of EagleView, he would like to see drones be able to locate people who may be stuck in their houses and deliver medicine and food to people who are stranded. Drones can be used for a variety of life saving missions, when manpower is scarce and conditions are hazardous.
Drones have come a long way. These tiny semi-autonomous vehicles can travel through air, over water, under water, and on land, to places which may be difficult or dangerous for humans to go. Houston is a test case to learn what drones can do and how they will fit into disaster and recovery scenarios in the future.
If drones continue to perform as they seem to be doing in Houston, they will have a bold impact on how we respond to and recover from storms in the coming years.
Regulatory Sandbox In Singapore Sets Up Energy Testing
The regulatory sandbox in Singapore is set to form energy technology and new business can be tested and refined before being launched to the public.
iSwitch, said having a sandbox will allow companies such as theirs to test bold ideas in commercial setting, but still within a controlled environment.
The bold ideas were proposed by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) in the hopes of creating a “safe and conducive space” much like what was proposed and adopted in the United Kingdom. In February 2017, the UK’s Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) started a regulatory sandbox to test future developments in the energy sector.
Singapore’s EMA hopes to follow suit and says that while they cannot guarantee error or failure-free systems, the sandbox can provide a safe environment to test these innovations. The move comes at the heels of bold technological changes being developed and rolled out.
Renewable technology and energy storage methods are being created and have created new business models previously unheard of in Singapore. The EMA said the sandbox would also allow them to provide much-needed support and regulatory sandbox frameworks to different companies.
Sandbox, Boon to Energy Industry
Players in various industries have welcomed the proposed sandbox. Even though the EMA said it would not be shelling out money for proposals which will be tested in the sandbox, it also won’t impose new charges or fees.
According to reports, the proposals which will be tested in the sandbox cover those that have been newly introduced to the market. Or, they could be innovations to how technology is currently being used. One caveat though, the proposals should benefit consumers in the gas and electricity industries.
Retailers, for their part, welcomed the proposal and said the regulatory sandbox would be an excellent way to protect intellectual properties which new businesses have developed.
Singapore’s Red Dot Power, headed by its chairman Vijay Sirse, called the proposal for the sandbox a “proactive one.” His company is working to integrate innovative solutions for battery storage, demand response, as well as e-mobility. Being able to achieve this will significantly lower the cost of the service to customers; however, there’s still no policy framework until now.
Sirse hopes that the creation of the sandbox will be able to fill in the gaps. Another independent retailer, iSwitch, said having a sandbox will allow companies such as theirs to test bold ideas in a commercial setting, but still within a controlled environment.
iSwitch’s general manager of wholesale and trading Andrew Koscharsky explained that being tested in a controlled environment would mean that products won’t affect a broader market in case the idea doesn’t work.
The company is working on new payment methods as well as carbon products before Singapore fully implements its carbon tax law in 2019.
According to Rob Khoo, the managing director of a solar quotation comparison and crowdfunding platform called SolarPVExchange, the proposed sandbox will also be beneficial to condominium owners who are looking at converting to solar panels. These owners won’t be able to install solar panels unless they have permission from the condominium’s managing body, which stands as the master tenant.
Khoo explained that they have had to turn down a lot of potential clients because of this. In an attempt to solve the problem, the company installed a meter at each of the units – right where solar energy is generated. They’ve also devised a solution to varying the resistance in the building’s electrical network, so the solar energy goes to the intended unit.
The sandbox is a bold idea which stands to benefit small and big players in the emerging energy market. Other countries can benefit from a similar testing ground.
Super Sonic Jets All Clear for Take-Off
Superman has a combination of both speed and power, epitomized by flying effortlessly at great speeds. What if this fictional capability, the ability to fly incredibly fast, anywhere in the world, becomes real?
The Trump Administration wants to make that reality, launching a program to develop Super Sonic Jets, also known as SST. These jets will be more advanced than the failed Concord, with new systems to reduce noise and sonic booms. They will greatly reduce travel time and increase business between far flung cities like Hong Kong and New York.
Today, most supersonic jets are built for military and research purposes. The aviation industry has come a long way with the development of SST technology. These military supersonic airplanes are standard for fighters around the world from the United States of America to Russia. They include the;
- F-35 Lightning II
- Su-27 Flanker
- F-111 Aardvark
- F-15 Eagle
- MiG-31 Foxhound
- XB-70 Valkyrie
- Bell X-2 “Starbuster”
- MiG-25 Foxbat
- Lockheed YF-12
- SR-71 Blackbird
With the continuous innovation that has occurred in the development of these high speed planes, many new possibilities have opened up. Supersonic jets were once practical only the military and research industries, but now, they are being designed to help travelers reduce flight time. The emergence of supersonic business jets is on a roll.
Companies around the globe are busily developing SST aircraft that are safe and fast. Here are ten companies and organizations that defied the odds and are pushing the boundaries of bringing supersonic aircraft to civilians.
NASA
NASA is known for space travel, now they have a new mission. They designed a supersonic plane to cater to civilian travelers.
The agency’s concept is to make the aircraft quieter, which is a common problem for all supersonic jet models. With a budget of nearly $400 million, NASA is seeking bids from different manufacturers to execute their design plan.
The agency is hoping to work with General Dynamics, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Boom Supersonic.
Lockheed Martin
The American company that has a worldwide interest focused on defense, security, advanced technology, and global aerospace. It’s official pseudonym, Skunk Works is working to manufacture a quieter supersonic jet alongside NASA.
The new plane, to be called the QueSST X, could fly as soon as 2020. Lockheed Martin received a $20 million from NASA. Marillyn Hewson is the current President and Chief Executive Office of Lockheed Martin.
Boom Technology
With just three years in the aerospace industry, the startup company has already created a name for itself in both developing and manufacturing planes. Blake Scholl is the CEO of Boom Technology. He works with Joe Wilding, the Chief Engineer, and Josh Krall as the CTO.
The Denver-based company is creating a supersonic aircraft that has attracted funding from Silicon Valley. The concept of Boom Technology for its aircraft includes a 40-seat plane. It will be tested by the end of 2017.
Aerion Corporation
Based in Reno, Nevada, the American aircraft manufacturer has created a supersonic jet model called Aerion AS2. The plane is not expected to fly until 2021. The AS2 has funding of $120 million, to design and build a 12 seat civilian plane.
Doug Nichols is the CEO of Aerion Corporation. The company is shooting for FAA certification in 2021 and to begin service in 2023.
Spike Aerospace
The design and aerospace engineering firm commercializes and creates aviation technologies. Vik Kachoria is the President and CEO of Spike Aerospace.
The company is developing the S-512, which is a supersonic business jet that is going to fly within 10 years. The $100 million jet is designed to fly passengers from London to Hong Kong in just 5.5 hours.
Gulfstream Aerospace
Since 1958, Gulfstream Aerospace has produced more than 2,000 aircraft. Headed by the CEO, Mark Burns the company has developed its own high-speed plane, Gulfstream G650.
The supersonic jet model is their star accomplishment in a long history of private jet development. G650, which is worth $65 million, has the ability to travel from London to Dubai in just a short period of time.
Cessna Aircraft Company
Even though it is labelled as a subsidiary, the American general aviation aircraft company has manufactured world-class business jets. Scott A. Ernest is the CEO of Cessna, located in Wichita, Kansas.
The company developed the Cessna Citation X, a supersonic jet that has a stunning interior. According to the creators, the Citation X model is the fastest civilian aircraft in the world up to date.
Dassault Aviation
The French company is an aircraft manufacturer that focuses on regional, military, and business jets. Eric Trappier is the CEO of Dassault Aviation. The company has a net income of 384 million Euros.
The company manufactured Dassault Falcon 7X. The business jet model incorporated fighter jet technology to give it superior speed and performance.
Bombardier Incorporated
Starting as a developer of snow machines, the Canadian multinational aerospace and transportation company has evolved into a high tech leader in aircraft. Alain M. Bellemare is the CEO of Bombardier Incorporated. The company was reported to have a total revenue of $16.34 billion.
Bombardier’s entry into the high-speed field is the Bombardier Global 6000, which has the “biggest and longest seated compartment of any true business jet.” It has a speed of 590 mph.
The Boeing Company
Being a multinational corporation, the American company manufactures, designs, and sells, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and airplanes around the globe. Dennis Muilenburg is the CEO, Chairman, and President of Boeing.
According to Mail Online, Boeing has plans to develop a hypersonic passenger plane. Recently, the company won a military contract to create a hypersonic spaceplane.
Supersonic Jet Advantages
- Fast flight from the departure to the destination area.
- It is safer during turbulence because of the high speed.
Supersonic jets have evolved greatly, becoming standard for military use around the world. Now they are entering civilian air space. Regulatory hurdles are being stripped away, to open the world to a new generation of faster safer flight.
