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‘World’s first 3D printed fiber reinforced polymer footbridge paves way for circular composites’, say designers

July 9, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

The world’s first lightweight 3D printed fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) footbridge will be installed at Kralingse Bos park – the green heart of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.

Its designers say the construction will herald the transition towards “the next generation of bridges, offering high performance with extreme versatility, circularity and sustainability”.

Science and technology company DSM and the City of Rotterdam are to collaborate in the designing and building of the new “circular composite footbridge” – “circular” usually refers to recycled or recyclable. [Read more…] about ‘World’s first 3D printed fiber reinforced polymer footbridge paves way for circular composites’, say designers

Fetch Robotics partners with Build With Robots and Albuquerque airport to launch autonomous disinfecting robot

June 18, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Fetch Robotics, a warehouse robotics and automation company, has partnered with Build With Robots and the City Of Albuquerque to launch the “Breezy One” disinfecting autonomous mobile robot. (See video below.)

Designed to protect Albuquerque Sunport airport employees and passengers from both harmful pathogens and cleaning agents, Breezy One can quickly, safely and effectively decontaminate spaces over 100,000 square feet in 1.5 hours with a patented, environmentally safe disinfectant.

Breezy One was co-developed with the City of Albuquerque’s Aviation Department, where it autonomously sanitizes the Sunport’s facilities every night in the ongoing fight against Covid-19. [Read more…] about Fetch Robotics partners with Build With Robots and Albuquerque airport to launch autonomous disinfecting robot

Arctic pollution: Air quality monitoring at 40°C below zero

June 12, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Most people think of the Arctic as a highly pristine clean environment, but this is not always the case. During the long dark Arctic winter, the urban atmosphere can become extremely polluted.

Indeed, at some point during the year, the remote Alaskan city of Fairbanks turns into the most polluted city in the whole of the US.

This is due to the very cold Arctic winter when emissions of gases and particles (such as from wood-burning stoves, traffic, power stations) can become trapped locally at ground level due to the very stable meteorological conditions, with poor vertical mixing. [Read more…] about Arctic pollution: Air quality monitoring at 40°C below zero

Peachtree Corners launches ‘world’s first fleet of self-driving e-scooters’ as part of styling itself as a smart city

May 21, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Peachtree Corners, a tiny city in the state of Georgia, USA, is launching what it believes is the “world’s first fleet of self-driving e-scooters” as part of styling itself out as a smart city.

Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners is on a mission to solve many of the technology issues facing cities and municipalities around the country. For many, the term “smart city” is an unclear concept.

For Peachtree Corners, Georgia, it’s about empowering the latest in emerging technologies to solve real-world problems. [Read more…] about Peachtree Corners launches ‘world’s first fleet of self-driving e-scooters’ as part of styling itself as a smart city

Smart building automation and the future of property development in cities

March 22, 2020 by Polly Leave a Comment

As cities continue to grow and evolve, with more people than ever wanting to live and work from within them, so to do the tactics used to house and control this city growth, without being detrimental to the quality of life or the environment.

Here are some of the ways that buildings are modernising and evolving in 2020 and beyond into the new decade, followed by some general information on the property companies involved in these sorts of developments, and then a deeper dive on home automation from a consumer level.

Smarter build techniques – Perhaps one of the immediately noticeable differences in modern property developments is that they have new materials, strategies and techniques, allowing them to be as efficient, sleek and affordable as possible, with technology interweaved for the future.
Automation in the “smart building” – The smart building is one that, again, is interweaved with overall technology from the beginning, that can be remotely controlled and accessed, perhaps even in tandem with multiple different apartment clusters or even buildings of the same type.

This is incredible for energy efficiency, like heating, lighting, and more can all be controlled by a remote operator, as and when required. [Read more…] about Smart building automation and the future of property development in cities

City of Fremont and Pony.ai launch autonomous vehicle commuter pilot program

February 26, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

The City of Fremont and autonomous technology company Pony.ai have launched a pilot program offering rides for a group of City employees via Pony.ai’s shared, on-demand, autonomous last-mile service.

The participating employees will ride in Pony.ai autonomous vehicles from Fremont’s Amtrak/ACE Station to City Hall and City of Fremont Development Services Center.

Fremont Mayor Lily Mei says: “By partnering with a local autonomous technology firm Pony.ai, the City of Fremont is acting as a test bed for a transportation solution that has the potential to alleviate congestion, reduce carbon emissions, decrease the number of traffic accidents, and optimize vehicle and land usage. [Read more…] about City of Fremont and Pony.ai launch autonomous vehicle commuter pilot program

Toyota to build prototype ‘City of the Future’

February 11, 2020 by Mai Tao Leave a Comment

Toyota has revealed plans to build a prototype “City of the Future” on a 175-acre site at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan.

Called the Woven City, it will be a fully connected ecosystem powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

Envisioned as a “living laboratory”, the Woven City will serve as a home to full-time residents and researchers who will be able to test and develop technologies such as autonomy, robotics, personal mobility, smart homes and artificial intelligence in a real-world environment. [Read more…] about Toyota to build prototype ‘City of the Future’

New ITU case study shines spotlight on ‘smart city’ journey

December 17, 2019 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

The City of Pully, Switzerland, reports experience with ‘Key Performance Indicators for Smart Sustainable Cities’

A new ITU case study offers an evaluation of the Key Performance Indicators for Smart Sustainable Cities developed by the United for Smart Sustainable Cities Initiative (U4SSC), an initiative supported 16 United Nations bodies.

U4SSC develops practical tools to support cities’ application of digital technologies to become smarter and more sustainable, with the aim of achieving SDG 11: “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.

Pully, a Swiss municipality home to some 18,000 residents, has reported its experience applying the U4SSC Key Performance Indicators to help meet the objectives of its “smart city” strategy. [Read more…] about New ITU case study shines spotlight on ‘smart city’ journey

First patients treated in robotic arrhythmia treatment at Kansas hospital

December 16, 2019 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Stereotaxis, a developer of robotic technologies for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, says HCA Midwest Health – the largest healthcare system in the Kansas City region – has launched a new robotic arrhythmia care program based at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

Installation of the Stereotaxis Robotic Magnetic Navigation System was recently completed, and the first patients have been successfully treated using the technology at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

Stereotaxis’ partnership with HCA Midwest Health brings new, leading-edge treatment options for patients who have a cardiac arrhythmia. [Read more…] about First patients treated in robotic arrhythmia treatment at Kansas hospital

Bosch and Mercedes-Benz start automated ride-hailing service in San José

December 10, 2019 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Bosch and Mercedes-Benz’s joint project to develop urban automated driving has now entered a new stage.

Their pilot project for an app-based ride-hailing service using automated Mercedes-Benz S-Class vehicles has now been launched in the Silicon Valley city of San José.

Monitored by a safety driver, the self-driving cars shuttle between West San José and downtown, along the San Carlos Street and Stevens Creek Boulevard thoroughfares. [Read more…] about Bosch and Mercedes-Benz start automated ride-hailing service in San José