Ever since the dotcom bubble burst a little over 20 years ago, our lives have never been
the same again.
Literally, every sector of the world’s economy has either benefited or suffered from the
fast-paced changes caused by science and technology.
One doesn’t even know what to expect anymore.
One day, you hear a Silicon Valley startup has just launched a robot that can talk, sing,
and maybe think like humans.
The next day, you are told Elon Musk is a couple of years away from colonizing Mars.
I’m not even bluffing!
The tech billionaire is actively trying to develop Mars so humans can live on it.
But while we wait for that time to come, robots are safeguarding borders, AI-backed programs
are writing codes, autonomous cars are learning how to drift, and many more interesting game-changing
tech inventions are happening around us already.
Join us as we discuss them.
Also, do well to stick around because, towards the tail end of this video, we’ll be looking
at the new electrical implants that will allow paralyzed people to walk again.
Without further delay, let’s get started….
US TESTING AUTONOMOUS ROBOTS ON ITS BORDER
Sometime in 2018, ex-President Donald Trump embarked on a controversial project to build
a supposed “impenetrable” wall along the US-Mexico border.
At the time, Trump described the long-stretched wall as the “Rolls Royce” of barriers.
But a few years down the line, we’ve realized that the multi-billion dollar wall is, in
fact, an overhyped steam-powered vehicle.
According to reports, the US-Mexico border wall has been breached over 3,000 times.
More than $2.6 million has been spent on repairs already and the US government is calling on
technology to come to its rescue.
That call has since been answered by a US-based robotics company and it’s not Boston Dynamic.
Actually, there’s another US-based company that makes great security robots, just like
Boston Dynamic.
It’s called Ghost Robotics.
And they are the ones providing the Department of Homeland Security with robot dogs to strengthen
patrol operations around the border.
These rugged 100-pound robots can patrol a predetermined route autonomously or controlled
manually.
They are fitted with cameras and sensors for surveillance and in some cases, rifles to
hunt down threats.
BOSTON DYNAMICS SUPERSTAR ROBOTS
While Ghost Robotics won the heart of the US government officials, Boston Dynamics is
quite popular for making some of the world’s most fascinating robots.
One of its biggest inventions yet, Spot is famous for participating in military drills
across the world.
However, in a one-of-a-kind occurrence, three Boston Dynamics robots - Atlas, WildCat, and
Spot featured in Sam Adams Super Bowl commercial, which aired in 13 TV markets.
That’s definitely more publicity than some celebrities have gotten in their lifetime.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WRITING CODES
Let’s face it, artificial intelligence is a subtle threat to all of us.
AI-backed writing programs are threatening human writers and self-driving cars are giving
human drivers a run for their money.
More recently, artificial intelligence is looking to outperform traditional programmers.
How is this even possible?
A tech company called Alpha Code is championing this course through its DeepMind project.
The software has been tested and found to be slightly behind as compared to the average
programmer.
But then, its success score rate of 54.3% is nothing short of amazing.
As you would expect, Alpha Code is not alone on this mission.
OpenAI’s Codex natural-language coding program is another project that’s threatening to
send programmers on exile.
But thankfully, they haven’t done that just yet.
But, there’s nothing to suggest that the change of guard won’t happen anytime soon,
possibly in the next five to ten years.
WIRELESS EV CHARGING ROADS
Elon Musk through his car manufacturing startup, Tesla, has laid the foundation for an electrified
automobile industry.
Right now, there are tons and tons of other companies trying to build on that legacy and
expand the possibilities.
One of those companies is Electreon, an Israeli tech startup that’s actively building wireless
vehicle charging road networks in different cities and countries across the world.
As we speak, a 20-meter stretch of this inductive charging road has been built, and there are
talks to set up more routes in Italy, China, Germany, Sweden, and Indiana.
During this past month, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a project to the tune of
$1.9 million to build a 1,600 meter stretch of this innovative road network.
When completed, this road, like other EV charging routes located across the world, will use
magnetic induction to charge electric vehicles while they’re parked or in motion.
JOBY AERO TAXIS
Electric self-driving taxis are already a thing in some parts of the world and pretty
soon, electric flying taxis will dominate our skies.
Is Superman launching an aero taxi service?
Nah, not yet.
It’s actually Joby Aviation, a California-based aero company that has spent the last decade
developing air taxis.
After months of waiting, the company is ready to show the world what it feels like to ride
in an electrified flying taxi.
Last year, the company completed several successful trials, including one that saw a Joby’s
electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle travel 155 miles.
To officially kick start its ridesharing service, the company will begin a full-scale air taxi
operation in South Korea and Japan.
For now, the six electric motor-powered taxis will only travel between two terminals in
South Korea, however, we are told that expansion plans are currently underway.
Customers in Japan will have to wait a little longer though as Joby says it is still doing
some groundwork before the service is launched.
STARLINK PREMIUM
Elon Musk is not one to be left out of the party.
In the midst of all these technological advancements, he’s managed to chip in with his own contribution.
What is that exactly?
Is Musk launching a new company?
No, he’s not.
He probably doesn’t even have enough time for all his existing companies.
Well, it does seem like he has enough time to upgrade them, though.
Hold your hats because Elon Musk’s popular satellite internet service just got faster
and….much more expensive.
Starlink premium, as it is called, will deliver internet speeds of up to 500 megabits per
second as compared to the non-premium service, which offers between 100 to 200 megabits per
second.
The upgrade will also come with better performance even during harsh weather conditions as well
as round-the-clock priority support for customers.
For existing customers of Starlink’s internet service, the decision to switch to the premium
plan won't be an easy one.
Mostly because the premium service is four times more expensive than the standard service
cost.
Right before we move on to the last section, if you've made it this far, make sure to like
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ROBOBEE Created by the robotics team at Havard and
optimized by the scientists at MIT, it's quite interesting to see this perching robot pass
through two of the best Universities in the world without gaining admission.
As if that's not enough, the flying RoboBee weighs less than one-tenth of a gram and can
function underwater as well.
It can also operate independently or as part of a colony.
DRIFTING AUTONOMOUS CARS
It seemed like we were only introduced to autonomous vehicles yesterday, and now they're
about to steer the wheel better than most average drivers.
How's this even possible?
Well, somewhere in Los Altos, California, engineers are trying out customized self-driving
Supra sports that can drift around barriers.
Could this be the beginning of a new crazy automobile sport?
You certainly cannot rule out that option.
However, Toyota says the trials are part of efforts to improve the safety features of
autonomous vehicles.
HIGH-TECH IMPLANTS
Over the years, science and technology have been the driving force behind several medical
advancements.
The latest of these innovations is an implant device announced by Grégoire Courtine, a
neuroscientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL).
According to Grégoire, this implant will help medical patients with paralysis to regain
mobility in their hands, legs, as well as other parts of their bodies.
So far, nine people have benefited from the technology, and the reviews are absolutely
heartwarming.
“I stand up, walk where I want to.
I can walk the stairs.
It’s almost a normal life,” Michel Roccati, one of the beneficiaries of the technology,
told BBC.
Now tell us, which of these inventions warmed your heart the most?
Be sure to check out this video over here.