Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity
Toggle light / dark theme

Blog

Category: transportation – Page 6

Smart charging, real cash: Ava wants to pay EV drivers to plug in

Ava Community Energy just rolled out a new program in California that pays EV and plug-in hybrid drivers for charging their cars when electricity on the grid is cleaner and cheaper.

The new Ava SmartHome Charging program, launched in partnership with home energy analytics platform Optiwatt, offers up to $100 in incentives in the first year. And because the program helps shift home charging to lower-cost hours, Ava says drivers could save around $140 a year on their energy bills.

EV and PHEV owners who are Ava customers can download the Optiwatt app for free, connect their vehicle, and let the app handle the rest. The app uses an algorithm to automatically schedule charging when demand is low and more renewable energy is available, typically overnight or during off-peak hours.

Butterflies hover differently from other flying organisms, thanks to body pitch

Butterflies’ flight trajectories often appear random or chaotic, and compared with other hovering insects, their bodies follow seemingly mysterious, jagged, jerking motions.

These unique hovering patterns, however, can potentially provide critical design insights for developing micro-aerial vehicles (MAVs) with flapping wings. To help achieve these applications, researchers from Beihang University studied how butterflies use aerodynamic generation to achieve hovering. They discuss their findings in Physics of Fluids.

“Hovering serves as an essential survival mechanism for critical behaviors, including flower visitation and predator evasion,” said author Yanlai Zhang. “Elucidating its aerodynamic mechanisms provides fundamental insights into the evolutionary adaptations of butterflies’ flight kinematics.”

XAI’s Colossus Might Be Tesla’s Secret Weapon

XAI’s Colossus supercomputer is set to revolutionize AI technology and significantly enhance Tesla’s capabilities in self-driving, energy reliability, and factory operations through its rapid expansion and innovative partnerships.

Questions to inspire discussion.

AI Supercomputing.
🖥️ Q: What is XAI’s Colossus data center’s current capacity? A: XAI’s Colossus data center is now fully operational for Phase 1 with 300,000 H100 equivalents, powered by 150 MW from the grid and 150 MW in Tesla Megapacks.

Thousands Pre-Order World’s First Commercially Available Flying Car

San Mateo, Calif.-based Alef Aeronautics has unveiled the world’s first commercially available flying car, the Alef Model A.

A prototype model made a test flight on 19 February 2025 on a blocked-off road in California. According to Alef’s chief executive officer, Jim Dukhovny, the test was “the first documented verifiable flight of a flying car (an actual car, with vertical takeoff, non-tethered.)”

Much more than just a toy or a concept vehicle from science fiction, the Alef Model A has attracted significant interest and support, proving the validity and potential of its design. Its basic plan is that it can drive on the road like any car, have vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, and fly in a forward motion. The company also announced a goal for the vehicle to be “affordable for most people.”

Ferroelectric RAM performs calculations within memory

In a new Nature Communications study, researchers have developed an in-memory ferroelectric differentiator capable of performing calculations directly in the memory without requiring a separate processor.

The proposed differentiator promises energy efficiency, especially for edge devices like smartphones, autonomous vehicles, and security cameras.

Traditional approaches to tasks like image processing and motion detection involve multi-step energy-intensive processes. This begins with recording data, which is transmitted to a memory unit, which further transmits the data to a microcontroller unit to perform differential operations.

Tesla Delivers Huge Updates

Tesla is preparing to launch an innovative robo-taxi network in Austin next month, supported by a new affordable Model Y and favorable federal regulations for self-driving vehicles ## ## Questions to inspire discussion ## Tesla’s Robo Taxi Network.

🚗 Q: When and where is Tesla launching its robo taxi network? A: Tesla’s robo taxi network is set to launch in Austin, Texas in June, marking a significant milestone for the company’s self-driving technology.

🤖 Q: How will the robo taxi network impact Tesla’s valuation? A: The successful launch could potentially double Tesla’s stock valuation to over **$1 trillion, validating its unique approach to self-driving vehicles. Cost and Production Advantages.

💰 Q: How does Tesla’s self-driving system compare to competitors in terms of cost? A: Tesla’s AI-based self-driving system is significantly cheaper, with a per-mile cost of $0.10 compared to **$0.50-$1.00 for human-driven rides offered by competitors like Whim and Uber.

🏭 Q: What production advantage does Tesla have over competitors? A: Tesla’s mass production capability of 2 million cars per year gives it a significant advantage over competitors like Whim, which operates with a limited fleet of 1,500 cars. Marketing and Revenue Generation.

📈 Q: How will the robo taxi network benefit Tesla’s marketing efforts? A: The network will serve as a unique marketing channel, allowing customers to experience self-driving rides firsthand, making it easier for Tesla to sell its cars and reach scale.

Continue reading “Tesla Delivers Huge Updates” | >

Project Alicorn Revealed —Robotaxi Network Confirmed

Tesla is preparing to launch an affordable vehicle and a robo-taxi service, highlighted by the upcoming Project Alicorn software update and the new Model Y long-range, aimed at enhancing user experience and meeting market demands ## ## Questions to inspire discussion ## Tesla’s New Affordable Vehicle.

🚗 Q: What are the key features of Tesla’s upcoming affordable vehicle? A: Expected to launch in first half of 2024, it will be a lower, more compact version of the Model Y, possibly a hatchback, with a starting price of $44,990 in the US.

🏎️ Q: How does the new rear-wheel drive Model Y compare to previous models? A: It offers 20 miles more range, faster 0–60 time, and all-new features like improved speakers and sound system, making it a bargain at $44,990. Robotaxi Functionality.

🤖 Q: What is Tesla’s robotaxi project called and what features will it have? A: Called Project Alicorn, it will allow users to confirm pickup, enter destination, fasten seatbelt, pullover, cancel pickup, and access emergency help.

📱 Q: What additional features are coming to the robotaxi app? A: Upcoming features include smart summon without continuous press, live activities, trip summary screen, ability to close the trunk, rate the ride, and access outside service area help.

🚕 Q: How might Tesla expand its robotaxi service to non-driverless markets? A: The app includes a “call driver” button, potentially allowing non-driverless markets to join the ride-share network, though this strategy is unclear. CyberCab Production.

Continue reading “Project Alicorn Revealed —Robotaxi Network Confirmed” | >

Aerospace Perspectives Series: Shaping the Future of Aviation with GPU-Powered CFD for Faster, Cleaner Aircraft Design

Flexcompute’s Flow360, the most trusted GPU-native CFD solution for advanced aviation, accelerates the aerospace design process by optimizing evaluations, enhancing aerodatabase development, and reducing time-to-market while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. In collaboration with OEMs, companies like JetZero are using Flow360 to push the boundaries of efficiency and sustainability, advancing revolutionary designs such as blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft, hydrogen-powered, and advanced propulsion models. This strategic partnership is crucial to transforming air travel and achieving global sustainability goals, accelerating the next era of aviation innovation.

In this webinar, hear from Qiqi Wang on the latest advancements in high-fidelity CFD, joined by John Vassberg, Chief Design Officer at JetZero, as they explore the cutting-edge technologies driving the future of aviation. They will discuss how GPU-powered CFD is enabling faster, more sustainable aircraft design and how strategic collaboration is key to realizing the industry’s ambitious goals.