Among the array of regulations on drone operations imposed by the United States government is flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). Instated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the regulation prevents drone pilots from flying their crafts without having a clear direct visual. The FAA’s reasoning behind imposing this particular regulation are based on…
This Week In Photos: Improving Batteries With Aluminum, Utilizing Robotic Counselors, Satellite Monitors U.S. Tornado Spike
Aluminum Improving Batteries Researchers have discovered new conductor and electrode material that could aid in the development of cheaper batteries capable of large-scale storage of renewable energy. This transition ultimately relies on technologies that allow cheap and temporary storage of electricity from renewable sources. The material researchers are focusing on is aluminum batteries comprised of cheap and abundant raw materials. Two…
Video: Protecting Yourself Against Ransomware Attacks
Cyberattacks can be implemented in a variety of ways, with ransomware being one of the most common methods for hackers. To clarify, ransomware is malicious software that blocks access to a computer system or network, until a sum of money is paid. What makes ransomware so dangerous is this kind of attack can happen anywhere…
Inching Closer Toward Battery-less, Wireless Streaming Devices
In what could be a significant breakthrough for smart glasses, researchers in the United States have reportedly claimed to create a way of streaming HD video that uses up to 10,000 times less power than current technologies. A team of engineers at the University of Washington developed a technique that enables wearable cameras like smart…
Infographic: Smart Shipping Challenges
Innovative devices like the IoT are making technologies “smarter” and ubiquitous parts our everyday lives. From achieving daily routine tasks to managing massive commercial and industrial networks, smart technology is changing the way we conduct our routines and even how our businesses operate. Advances in connected and autonomous vehicles are very well-documented, and make for…
This Week In Photos: Facial Recognition Technology Works In The Dark, Studying Plants From Space, Dartmouth’s Innovative Smartwatch
Facial Recognition Technology Works In Dark An artificial intelligence and machine learning method developed by Army researchers, captures and produces a visible thermal image of a person’s face in low-light or nighttime conditions. This breakthrough could lead to the development of enhanced real-time biometrics and post-mission forensic analysis for nocturnal covert operations. Thermal imaging technologies are…
Video: NASA’s New Tool For Hunting Exoplanets
Yesterday, NASA (in collaboration with SpaceX) launched the TESS satellite, a spacecraft developed with the aim of identifying thousands of alien worlds in star systems light years away from Earth. TESS stands for Transitioning Exoplanet Survey Satellite, and will take two years to survey roughly 85 percent of the night sky. TESS is the industry’s…
Why Mission-Critical Networks Should Rely On Kinetic Mesh Networking
Mission-critical networks are the operational backbone of a business or organization who utilizes its services. Data in these systems must get delivered, regardless of circumstances, so practical issues like mobility, congestion, local interference, or hardware outages aren’t viable excuses. When these systems fail or get interrupted, the effects could be catastrophic. Mission-critical networks are generally…
Can Artificial Intelligence Help Identify Life On Other Planets?
Researchers at the Center for Robotics and Neural Systems (CRNS) at Plymouth University are developing artificial intelligence (AI) that learns to recognize patterns of life-supporting conditions on other worlds. The team will be presenting their work at the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science (EWASS) in Liverpool, with their primary focus being how an…
Drone Influence Over Agriculture Continues To Expand
With notable names like Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) in attendance, researchers and viticulturists (grape growers) spoke about their work testing unmanned aerial vehicles (popularly known as drones), at Ferrum College last week. During the presentation, Samantha Smith-Herndon from the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, demonstrated a drone known as “AgBot” that was equipped with…
Nevada Ready To Embrace 5G
Surprisingly (at least to some), Nevada is one of the country’s most innovative states, with autonomous vehicles currently being tested on their roads, along with drones in the skies above. City planners and government officials in the state have been very receptive to new and developing technologies in recent years, which has brought new companies,…
Using The IoT To Mitigate Water Use In Rice Irrigation
In an effort to take the potentially significant environmental aspects of rice production into consideration, many farmers with an innovative mindset are recognizing the need to increase efficiency so they can grow more rice using fewer resources. One popular method among rice farmers is called alternate wetting and drying (AWD), which is a rice farming…
Infographic: Finding The Right Wearable For Your Fitness Schedule
Nowadays, a lot of people are becoming more weary of their physique, which has sparked a welcoming craze of working out and staying in shape in the United States. Granted we still face severe issues with nutrition quality and obesity, there are countless individuals out there who are defying this concerning trends that have plagued…
Video: Have Wearables Become A Security Risk?
A global heat map published online by a popular fitness app shows several people exercising inside U.S. bases near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), as indicated by a series of bright lines. This contrasts sharply to what the map shows north of the border, where there is no action whatsoever. These revelations have prompted a…
Satellite Show 2018: Three Trends
Last week’s 2018 Satellite Show in Washington, DC, gave me the opportunity to view the state-of-the-art in satellite technology as well as learn more about key issues affecting the industry. As with every trade show I’ve attended since writing for WDD, it didn’t take long for me to start identifying particular trends among the myriad…
Former Teacher Developing Alarm System To Detect Gunshots Inside Buildings
Stacy Jax is a former substitute teacher for the Baraboo School District in Wisconsin, who was so affected by the spike of school shootings that have occurred in recent years, she wanted to make a difference in preventing these tragedies from happening again. “Years ago I was praying for the victims of Sandy Hook and…
Video: Underwater Drones Traverse Venice Waterways
In Venice, Italy, an international team of scientists have launched an unprecedented exploration project in the waterways beneath the ancient city, using a fleet of autonomous underwater drones. Funded by the EU, this project designed three different bio-inspired robot species. The first is an aPad robot that floats on the water surface, an aFish swimming…
Nautical Drones Could Aid In Collecting Pacific Ocean Climate Data
Two seven-meter-long sailboats are returning to California this spring, after spending nearly eight months traversing the Pacific Ocean. These aren’t ordinary sailboats with human crews, but driverless semiautonomous drones equipped with sensors for probing the ocean. The drones were developed by a California-based marine tech startup called Saildrone, who closely collaborated with the National Oceanic…
IoT Network Using Prey-Animals To Protect Rhinos From Poaching
As part of their commemoration to World Rhino Day, which was held on September 22, technology conglomerate IBM, African telecommunications company MTN, researchers from Wageningen University, and IT provider Prodapt launched a “connected wildlife solution” to combat poachers in real-time. Currently in its trial testing stages, the program is being used at the Welgevonden Game…
Infographic: Are We Truly Ready For Brain Implants?
For decades, devices like brain implants or chips have captivated the imaginations of science fiction writers and their readers. This kind of technology has been perceived as both a means of enhancing the human body and putting humans in touch with extraordinary or enhanced bodily senses, along with being a potential tool for mind control…
What The 2018 Satellite Show Has In Store
Next week from March 12-15, the 2018 Satellite Show will take place in Washington D.C. The event will feature some of the most innovative satellite designs and accessories, from the latest craft models currently or scheduled to launch into space, to various types of communications and other operational equipment used on these crafts. Expect every…
Infrared Drones Being Utilized In Florida’s Fight Against Invasive Species
In almost every U.S. state, there is a threat of invasive species in some shape or form that threatens to destabilize regional ecosystems and disrupt native animal populations. These circumstances are especially prevalent in the Florida Everglades, where the Burmese python, a snake species that can grow over 20 feet long, has made the national…
Infographic: Using Satellites To Gather Industrial Fishing Data
Industrial fishing data is important to keep track of for reasons ranging from where vessels go, when, and how they fish, to how many of these ships can be out at a given time and the amount of energy they consume. In the past, researchers have relied on data from logbooks, observations at fishing ports,…
The Importance (And Perils) Of Maritime Industry Satellite Services
Every day, thousands of nautical vessels traverse our oceans, and heavily utilize satellite communications for many of their essential functions. The functions of satellite services to these vessels range from crew members communicating with family, monitoring infrastructure, production, weather conditions, and safety measures. The importance of these satellite-based services cannot be emphasized enough, and any…
Nano-Satellites Ready To Mitigate World’s Digital Divide
Although it’s 2018, large portions of our planet still remain without access to mobile phone signals or access to digital communications. This could soon change, due to shrinking satellite sizes and costs. Cheaper space-based mobile phone services will soon be a reality, with many companies and firms turning to nano-satellite fleets that will bounce your…