In 2016, Volvo introduced two connected car safety alerts in Sweden and Norway: the Slippery Road Alert and Hazard Light Alert. Now, that tech is making its way to Europe. The features will be available in Europe on all 2020 models and can retrofit older versions starting from 2016 Volvos. “Sharing real-time safety data between cars can […]
Panasonic Unveils Transparent OLED Concept Display
At Italy’s Salone del Mobile furniture and lifestyle exhibition, Panasonic unveiled a transparent OLED concept display, which was part of an installation by Swiss furniture brand Vitra. If you walk by the structure, it resembles an ordinary glass cabinet with a wooden frame. But once the device is powered on, the glass reveals its true […]
Bio-Threat Detection System Earns $2.9M Contract Award
SenseNet is a fast, low-cost, and reliable integrated sensor system developed by ENSCO, Inc. that can detect biological threats in real time within buildings. ENSCO, Inc. has been awarded a $2.9 million, 18-month contract from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) to continue SenseNet’s development. “Biological and environmental health hazards can pose […]
The Great Barrier Reef Is in Trouble, but Robots Can Help
Coral reefs are suffering from climate change, pollution, and rising ocean temperatures, which strip the colorful reefs of their dynamic hues. Coral bleaching occurs when conditions are no longer suitable for an algae called zooxanthellae, according to a Particle report. Under healthier times, the algae provides the coral food, and the coral provides the algae […]
A Backpack with an Anti-Theft Fingerprint Lock
While traveling, it’s important that all your belongings are safe and secure. Italian company Agazzi Designs has developed a water-resistant backpack to ease the mind of travelers with its anti-theft fingerprint lock. Once the identity of the owner is verified, a stainless steel cable releases its hold around the backpack’s zippers. The cable can also […]
Tesla’s Sentry Mode Helps Police Arrest Suspected Carjacker
Tesla rolled out a security feature in February known as Sentry Mode, which protects against theft and break-ins. According to ABC 7 news, the feature has already helped police catch a suspected carjacker in San Francisco. When Sentry Mode is activated, it goes into a “Standby” state where the car’s cameras are ready to catch […]
An Electric Bus That’s More Than 88 Feet Long
Chinese automobile manufacturer BYD has launched the K12A, a pure electric bi-articulated bus that uses its 27-m-long (88.5-ft-long) body to carry up to 250 passengers at a maximum speed of 70 km/h (43.5 mph). The announcement took place at the company’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China. According to BYD, it’s “the longest pure electric bus in […]
Emotionally Intelligent Robots
Case Western Reserve University researchers are moving toward robots with superior emotional intelligence. They’re advancing the artificial intelligence (AI) that’s already being used in today’s interactive video games, with lofty goals of creating next-gen personalized robots that can read human emotions in real time. Reportedly, the robots can identify human feelings and emotions faster than […]
I Became an Engineer: Because I Had a Knack for Programming
***Editor’s Note: The “I Became an Engineer” blog runs every Friday. To share your story email jennifer.delaosa@advantagebizmarketing.com*** This week’s story comes from ECN reader Suzanne Hansel. I thought I should be able to talk to my (then) boyfriend about programming. So I took a Fortran course and aced it (Spring 1976). I graduated with a BA […]
Artificial Intelligence Helps Violin Students Improve Their Skills
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. However, artificial intelligence (AI) may help ease the trials and tribulations of the learning process. Researchers from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona developed an AI-enhanced automated system that can identify seven violin bow techniques performed by professionals with 94 percent accuracy. “We recorded movement and audio […]