IDTechEx

New design improves firefighting robots

A new design in firefighting robots, already successfully tested in the field, could make firefighters' jobs less dangerous and address one of the biggest challenges with firefighting robots - the ability to maneuver in a burning structure.

Gold Fields' Granny Smith mine to install mega solar and battery power

Gold Fields' Granny Smith gold mine is set to install one of the world's largest renewable energy microgrids powered by more than 20,000 solar panels and backed up by a 2MW /1MWh battery system.

Facial recognition for coins

Countless historical coins that differ from each other only in details are in storage at German state museums. Unlike paintings, these archaeological artifacts may not be labeled, marked or barcoded. Researchers have developed a scanner and analysis software in collaboration which digitally capture the visual features of coins and describe them exactly in a matter of seconds.

Iron-platinum catalyst keeps fuel cells clean, even in cold weather

Batteries are currently outpacing fuel cells in the technological race to power the electric vehicle. Lithium batteries keep getting cheaper, while fuel cells remain hampered by pricey, short-lived platinum catalysts. Researchers suggest that adding a bit more platinum—albeit in a novel form—could help fuel cell cars catch up.

3D Biotek

IDTechEx analyst Dr Nadia Tsao interviewed 3D Biotek CEO Mr Wing Lau on June 9, 2017. 3D Biotek is a company providing 3D scaffolds for cell culture, as well as perfusion bioreactors based on this technology.

Dilemma of Automotive Vertical Integration

It is a rule-of-thumb that manufacturers should vertically integrate only when products and markets mature, so they can confidently shave off the last pennies of cost. One exception is when shortages loom: Tesla built its battery gigafactory fast using proven Panasonic technology. However, many suppliers now build battery gigafactories.

Why Tesla Bought the Supercapacitor World Leader

Tesla needs to excel in the much broader range of energy storage technologies needed for Class 8 trucks down to Tesla 3 cars to retain uniquely long range for the price.

3D printed tires and shoes that self-repair

Instead of throwing away your broken boots or cracked toys, why not let them fix themselves? Researchers have developed 3D-printed rubber materials that can do just that.

E-paper poster for daily weather updates

A screen printed poster that uses smart ink and a tiny internet connected computer to reflect the day's changing weather. As the weather forecast changes, so will the ink on the paper. The icons take 5-15 minutes to fully activate and will update throughout the day as needed.

Harvesting the heart's energy to power life saving devices

The heart's motion is so powerful that it can recharge devices that save our lives, according to new research. Using a dime-sized invention the kinetic energy of the heart can be converted into electricity to power a wide-range of implantable devices.

Putting neural networks under the microscope

Researchers are putting the machine-learning systems known as neural networks under the microscope. In a study that sheds light on how these systems manage to translate text from one language to another, the researchers developed a method that pinpoints individual nodes, or "neurons," in the networks that capture specific linguistic features.

Smart, self-powered knee implants

Researchers decided it was time to create smarter knee implants that could monitor changes in activity as they happened.

Buses and Trucks: $200 Billion of Reinvented Energy Storage

We move to cities and do internet shopping: that destroys the market for private cars and boosts demand for buses and delivery trucks. Monster Class 8 trucks are top polluters on US highways, all powering a boom in energy storage in buses and trucks. The new IDTechEx report, "Energy Storage for Electric Buses and Trucks 2019-2029" analyses the similar requirements.

First thin-film solar power industrial park in Middle East

The first solar thin-film industrial park in the Middle East region. The total investment of the project will be over one billion dollars.

UK moves forward with self driving vehicles

In a strong signal of support for the UK automotive and technology industries, the government has announced that a process is being developed to support the advanced trials of automated vehicles. Advanced trials will not be supported unless they have passed rigorous safety assessments.

Rebelling Against Massive Concrete and Steel

The British have studied the possibility of a Severn tidal barrage for 100 years and its government has turned it down again recently as seriously uneconomic. It

Corvus Energy strengthens its product portfolio for maritime batteries

Corvus Energy Holding AS has signed an agreement to acquire all shares in Grenland Energy AS. Grenland Energy develops and manufactures lightweight lithium-ion batteries for the maritime, offshore and subsea industry.

Multi-million Pound centre to develop medical technologies using light

The Centre for Process Innovation has held a topping out ceremony to mark the completion of construction work on a new, state-of-the-art facility that will develop next generation light-based healthcare treatments.

High-fidelity analytics technology for optimal operation of energy

KBC announced the release of a new high-fidelity analytics technology, VM-MPO 6. It will allow scheduling engineers and operators to incorporate more precise forecasts into the decision making process, over various time horizons when dealing with multiple time-dependent constraints, resulting in increased optimization benefits of their energy systems.

Marine robots take calculated risks

Algorithm could help autonomous underwater vehicles explore risky but scientifically-rewarding environments.