Smart buildings require smart companies
Microsoft announced last week that it will be partnering with Johnson Controls to add artificial intelligence and smart building systems to the new headquarters of Bee'ah, a sustainability-focused company in the UAE. Bee'ah selected…
Money follows the heart
Bardy Diagnostics announced on 4/16/2019 that it has raised $35.5 million in Series B funding with a host of new investors. The funds will be used to further accelerate growth of its innovative P-wave focused cardiac…
Ready to flip a Samsung Coin?
Samsung is becoming increasingly active in the cryptocurrency space. In addition to investing $2.9 million in Ledger, a popular cryptocurrency hardware wallet manufacturer, Samsung's blockchain task force is currently developing a…
The modern wings of Daedalus
Last week, Alta Devices, which focuses on solar panels designed specifically for UAV applications, introduced its new HALE solar product. It uses world-record efficiency single junction gallium-arsenide solar cells and meets the unique…
America gets its first Wing
On 4/23/2019, the Federal Aviation Administration granted Wing, Alphabet's drone delivery subsidiary, the first approval to use drones to deliver packages commercially in the US. Having tested in Canberra, Australia, Wing will later be…
Loon raises $125 million along with its balloons
HAPSMobile, a joint venture by SoftBank and AeroVironment, invested $125 million in Loon, Alphabet's stratospheric balloon subsidiary. The investment is part of their long-term strategic relationship to advance the use of high altitude…
Data processing is supporting development of consumer products
Environmental control and related technology often garner most of the press attention in Consumer Sleep Technology. However, most of these devices are largely supported by developments in the Data Processing and Analytics category. Just as…
Powin Energy Makes Largest Contract to Date with CATL
Powin Energy Corporation has contracted 1.85 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of lithium-iron-phosphate battery cells with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), the world's leading producer of lithium-ion batteries. This…
IBM grounds Watson
After a couple years of ups and downs, IBM has decided to cease new sales from its Watson programs aimed at AI-based drug discovery and development due to poor financial returns. Despite having partnered with Pfizer, Novartis, and other…
More EVs means more charging stations
As the number of electric vehicles on the road continues to increase, many communities and organizations are supporting the transition. More electric vehicle charging stations are being installed, such as in New York and Maryland. EV…
100% biodegradable coolers coming to store
On 4/23/2019, Igloo announced its new product RECOOL, the world's first eco-sensitive cooler made from 100% biodegradable materials, primarily molded pulp. Igloo claims the product is patent-pending, but currently has no published activity…
Japan expands its no-fly zone for drones
Japan recently began legislative steps to tighten its drone regulations. Currently, drones are forbidden from flying over major political buildings and nuclear facilities. The new bill would prohibit drones near military bases, the Rugby…
Artificial intelligence tackles non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Gilead Sciences has partnered with Insitro, a drug development startup, to tackle non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Gilead will use Insitro's AI-based platform to create disease models for NAFLD, as well as discover targets deemed…
Coinbase filed to terminate its PAC in less than a year
Coinbase, a major US-based cryptocurrency exchange that has been featured on Forbes' Blockchain 50, filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to close its PAC on 4/3/2019. Its PAC had been formed in June 2018 and became a founding…
Oppo Mobile launches 5G phone
China-based Guangdong Oppo Moible Telelcommunications (Oppo) launched its 5G Oppo Reno smartphone today. The first 5G smartphone for the brand includes three rear cameras, an oblique pop-up camera, 10X zoom and Color OS6.
DJI drones helped save Notre-Dame
Drones played a part in quenching the fires at The Notre-Dame de Paris last week. The emergency response teams used at least two UAVs: a Mavic Pro and a Matrice M210, both by DJI. The drone footage helped the fire-fighters gauge the…
Dynapower releases new energy storage system
Dynapower has introduce a 125-kW behind-the-meter energy storage system that combines Dynapower's highly efficient EHV inverter with Li-Ion batteries in a temperature controlled battery enclosure.
Corning both makes and uses solar cells
Corning announced on 4/4/2019 that it is building a solar array at its facility in Oneonta, NY. This solar project is Corning's first in New York state. Corning is one of the largest entities in the Substrate category of Thin Film…
What the US can learn from Uruguay
Uruguay is the pioneer in the cannabis sector since they were the first country to legalize recreational cannabis in December of 2013. But five years later, they are running into some serious issues. It begins with pharmacies being the…
Price of silver rising with the demand for solar
Thanks to its unique properties that make it the metal with the highest electrical and thermal conductivity, silver is an important material in the manufacture of solar panels, making up around 6% of the total cost. Researchers at Kent…
Will L.A. become a virtual power plant?
Los Angeles aims to transition to 100% clean energy by 2045. Sunrun, a residential solar electricity provider in California, states that 75,000 solar residences used as a "virtual power plant" would be enough to replace the energy…
Casper attempts to enter sleep lighting arena
Online mattress retailer Casper Sleep recently released a glow lamp that's the Swiss Army knife of sleep lighting. Patent Forecast™ shows Casper is largely absent from patent activity in Visual Devices. However, potential competitors…
Combining AI and human grading to detect diabetic retinopathy
Eyenuk, a global artificial intelligence medical technology company that specializes in eye screening, announced on 4/11/2019 its EyeScreen™ Human + AI Diagnostic Service for diabetic retinopathy (DR). It combines the high accuracy of…
IBM’s AI cybersecurity report addresses the lack of response preparation
On 4/11/2019, IBM released a study on cybersecurity that includes the importance of artificial intelligence to cyber resilience. The report states that an alarming 77% of organizations do not have a cybersecurity incident response plan…
Quasi-cryptocurrency
The IMF and the World Bank have jointly launched "Learning Coin," which many refer to as a quasi-cryptocurrency. It will only be accessible within the two organizations and has no monetary value. Instead of serving as an actual…
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