IDTechEx

Low-Cost Sensing Assists Climate Adaptation

'What gets measured gets managed' is a well-known adage in business, but could it also be applied to mitigating the effects of climate change? The recently published IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report emphasizes the importance of adaptation alongside emission reduction.

Anglo American to use 100% Renewable Energy in South Africa

Anglo American has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EDF Renewables, a global leader in renewable energy, to work together towards developing a regional renewable energy ecosystem in South Africa. The ecosystem is expected to be designed to meet Anglo American's operational electricity requirements in South Africa through the supply of 100% renewable electricity by 2030, thereby also supporting the resilience of the local electricity supply systems and the wider decarbonisation of energy in the country.

Using Sound Waves to Break up Kidney Stones

An innovative technique called burst wave lithotripsy may provide an effective, more accessible alternative for noninvasive treatment of kidney stones, according to initial human studies.

Sandvik Partners with Boliden on 3D Printing Trial

Additive manufacturing of parts looks set to upend the supply of components globally. A small-scale trial of 3D manufactured parts is helping Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions and leading mining company Boliden explore the potential.

Viridi Parente: Electric Construction Vehicles

Viridi Parente, based in Buffalo in the US, is a green tech company developing electric powertrains for compact construction machines through its Green Machine brand, and lithium-ion battery stationary energy storage through its Volta Energy brand. IDTechEx spoke with Viridi Parente CEO Jon M. Williams to find out more about the company's efforts to bring renewable energy solutions to the construction market.

Xolo

Xolo is a German 3D printing company developing 'xolography', a volumetric additive manufacturing technique. IDTechEx spoke with CEO and cofounder Dirk Radzinski.

Not So Fast: EV Charging Rates Make a Difference

Charging speeds for electric vehicles (EVs) vary, from as little as 15 minutes using an ultra-rapid 350 kW charger, to as much as 24 hours when relying on a domestic wall outlet. Eventually, we could reach a point where recharging barely takes longer than filling up with fuel.

SkyDrive and Suzuki Partnership for Commercialisation of Flying Cars

SkyDrive Inc and Suzuki Motor Corporation have jointly announced a partnership for the commercialization of flying cars.

The Sea Urchin Vacuum

Developed in Norway, the C Disc is a mobile and efficient diver-operated tool that can be used for harvesting various species from the seabed. The technology is designed to increase the catch rate, compared to traditional hand-picking by divers. With improved efficiency, the C Disc could help make sea urchin harvesting a sustainable and commercially viable venture in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Design Tweak Helps Prevent Malfunction in Yarns That Store Energy

Researchers have found a way to prevent electrical malfunctions in yarns designed to store electrical energy. Ultimately, the findings could help advance the development of "smart textiles" that would capture energy from the wearer's movements and power sensors and wearable electronics.

MICLEDI

MICLEDI develops microLED microdisplays for the augmented reality (AR) market, which are intended for integration with waveguide optics. The imec spin-out's displays are designed on a 300mm wafer platform for CMOS manufacturing compatibility. The fabless Leuven-based firm has demonstrated first display prototypes and just announced GlobalFoundries is its fab partner.

PragmatIC Semiconductor Unveils Plans for New UK Site

PragmatIC Semiconductor is proud to unveil PragmatIC Park, Durham, UK as the site for installation of its second FlexLogIC fabrication line producing ultra-low-cost flexible integrated circuits.

Senseair

Senseair is a gas sensors company, part of the Asahi Kasei group, specializing in non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) technology for carbon dioxide and alcohol detection. Tess Skyrme, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, interviewed their Executive Sales Director Pär Nordin to discuss the integration of their products into popular smart home products and automotive vehicles.

10,000 Patient Eyes Examined with Wearable AR/VR Diagnostic Platform

The company's platform delivers real-time vision diagnoses with six vision diagnostic exams, supported with five reimbursable CPT medical billing codes, in a single, wearable AR/VR headset. Eye care physicians can perform suprathreshold and full threshold visual fields, contrast sensitivity testing, color vision screening (both Ishihara and the Farnsworth D-15 extended color vision test), and dark adaptation. The platform replaces several legacy diagnostic devices and exceeds traditional standards of care in usability, cost, size, and portability.

First Prototype of 100% Recyclable Wind Turbine Blade

The ZEBRA (Zero wastE Blade ReseArch) consortium is marking a new step forward on the industry's transition to a circular economy with the production of the first prototype of its 100% recyclable wind turbine blade. The 62m blade was made using Arkema's Elium resin, which is a thermoplastic resin well known for its recyclable properties together with the new high performance Glass Fabrics from Owens Corning.

Bioprinting: The Challenge of Highly Filled Pastes

Although the printing of complete functional organs is still a dream of the future, research, and development of clinical bioprinter applications are making great strides. New technologies are needed to further improve the printing process of organic substances and to establish the three-dimensional construction of living cells layer by layer.

Electric Vehicle Partnership Aims to Deliver More Charge Points in UK

As the number of electric vehicles on UK roads continues to multiply against a backdrop of charge point shortages, two EV companies have agreed a partnership aimed at providing more chargers for businesses across the UK.

TriLite Technologies

TriLite is a developer and manufacturer of laser beam scanning (LBS) projectors, targeted especially for use in consumer augmented reality (AR) glasses. TriLite's Trixel 3 projector is extremely compact to fit in the arm of glasses, uses a single biaxial MEMS mirror from Infineon, and does not require external relay optics. The firm, based in Vienna, Austria, has developed innovative machine learning-based software to simplify calibration and control, reducing production costs and increasing manufacturing yields.

ACWA Power's Rabigh 3 IWP Project Achieves Guinness World Record

ACWA Power announced that the company's Rabigh 3 Independent Water Plant in Saudi Arabia, has been recognised as the "world's largest reverse osmosis desalination facility" by the Guinness World Records, the ultimate global authority on record-breaking achievements.

Braskem Expands Additive Manufacturing Portfolio

Braskem announces today the expansion of its 3D printing product portfolio to include polyethylene and glass fiber reinforced polypropylene filaments. Braskem's PE and glass fiber reinforced PP filaments are easier to print, have less warpage, minimal shrinkage, and better interlayer adhesion than other comparable products on the market.