Lifeboat Foundation

Speaking of cars, consider the future of transportation and mobility, entailing the advent of self-driving cars.

It would seem that self-driving cars will be a welcomed boon to humanity. Predictions are that the regrettable 40,000 annual fatalities due to car crashes in the United States alone will be reduced enormously, and likewise, the estimated 2.3 million car crash injuries will nearly disappear.

What’s not to like about the emergence of self-driving cars?

Continue reading “Bothering And Even Spying On Your Neighbors Via An AI Self-Driving Car” »

In 2,022 a startup will begin selling airless bike tires that never go flat because they’re made out of a special NASA-developed metal alloy.

Self-driving trains could be greener, carry more stuff, and help unclog America’s congested supply chains. And making them a reality will likely be far easier than perfecting autonomous vehicles.

Circa 2020

Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving—literally. Researchers have created software that borrows concepts from Darwinian evolution, including “survival of the fittest,” to build AI programs that improve generation after generation without human input. The program replicated decades of AI research in a matter of days, and its designers think that one day, it could discover new approaches to AI.

“While most people were taking baby steps, they took a giant leap into the unknown,” says Risto Miikkulainen, a computer scientist at the University of Texas, Austin, who was not involved with the work. “This is one of those papers that could launch a lot of future research.”

Continue reading “Artificial intelligence is evolving all by itself” »

When urban development takes place, a traffic impact assessment is often needed before a project is approved: What will happen to auto traffic if a new apartment building or business complex is constructed, or if a road is widened? On the other hand, new developments affect foot traffic as well — and yet few places study the effects of urban change on pedestrians.

A group of MIT researchers wants to alter that, by developing a model of pedestrian activity that planners and city officials can use in much the same way officials evaluate vehicle traffic. A study they have conducted of Melbourne, Australia, shows that the model works well when tested against some of the most comprehensive pedestrian data available in the world.

“Our model can predict changes in pedestrian volume resulting from changes in the built environment and the spatial distribution of population, jobs, and business establishments,” says Andres Sevtsuk, an associate professor in MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP) and lead author of a newly published paper detailing the results. “This provides a framework to understand how new developments can affect pedestrian flows on city streets.”

Tokyo-based aircraft manufacturer Tetra Aviation revealed its first commercially available personal eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) Mk-5 just a short while ago. It happened in July at this year’s AirVenture OSHKOSH event in Wisconsin, touted the world’s greatest aviation celebration. Now the company follows with a flight demonstration of the aircraft in California.

# engineering.

How do you settle an argument with someone who’s clearly in the wrong? Well, you show them a live demonstration, even if it means putting your life on the line but in the end, you have to show them who’s the boss am I right?

That’s exactly what Destin Sandlin from SmarterEveryDay YouTube channel did by shutting off the helicopter midair to prove a point. A few years ago, Neil deGrasse Tyson had made a statement that “An airplane whose engine fails is a glider. A helicopter whose engine fails is a brick.” which did not sit well with the Youtuber and he decided to prove Tyson and everyone once and for all, that that statement was in fact wrong and the reality was different. The video was shot in 2016 but it has been making the rounds once again.

Continue reading “Watch A YouTuber Shut Off A Helicopter Engine Mid-Air — Just To Prove Neil deGrasse Tyson Wrong” »

Tesla Giga Shanghai has officially exceeded the Fremont Factory’s output, according to Elon Musk’s calculations. As Tesla’s main export hub, Giga Shanghai’s output will play a significant role in the company’s global growth.

“We have three new factories. Giga Shanghai has done an incredible job. And Giga Shanghai now exceeds Fremont in production,” Musk announced at the 2021 Annual Shareholders Meeting.

Musk pointed out that Tesla Giga Shanghai took roughly 11 months to build and reached full volume production a year later. Since Giga Shanghai started operations, Tesla’s production and delivery numbers have noticeably increased.