Rising labor costs and rents worldwide are driving retail establishments toward a mechanical future, potentially leaving 66 million human workers in jeopardy.
Cool Tech
Ice-Bot Cometh: Building Self-Reliant Unmanned Systems
Last June, a massive dust storm engulfed Mars and immobilized the most famous robots in the galaxy, Opportunity and Curiosity. This is not the first time that Martian dirt has prevented Opportunity from recharging its solar panels. Its creators originally predicted that the planet’s harsh weather conditions would limit the rover’s mission to ninety sols (the […]
Disney Launches New Era Of Autonomy With Gravity-Defying Stickmen And More
Ever since the première of “Steamboat Willie” in 1928, The Walt Disney Company has pushed the envelope of imagination. Mickey Mouse is still more popular worldwide than any single human actor. In fact, from that one cel an entire world of animated characters was birthed. The entertainment powerhouse demonstrated last week a new generation of […]
WAZE For Drones: Expanding The National Airspace
Sitting in New York City, looking up at the clear June skies, I wonder if I am staring at an endangered phenomenon. According to many in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) industry, skylines across the country soon will be filled with flying cars, quadcopter deliveries, emergency drones, and other robo-flyers. Moving one step closer to […]
Drones As First Responders
In a basement of New York University in 2013, Dr. Sergei Lupashin wowed the room of one hundred leading technology enthusiasts with one of the first indoor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) demonstrations. During his presentation, Dr. Lupashin of ETH Zurich attached a dog leash to an aerial drone while declaring to the audience, “there has to be […]
This Startup Provides the Best Deal Since the Dutch Purchased Manhattan
Peter Minuit is credited with spearheading the purchase of the island of Manhattan for the Dutch from the Native Americans in 1626 in exchange for 60 guilders. Accounting for inflation, that price equates to $967 in today’s dollars. An incredible deal in a city where real estate is changing hands at an average of $1868 […]
Making Unmanned Systems More Energy Efficient
Last Tuesday, I chaired a UJA Tech Talk on “The Future Of Autonomous Cars” with former General Motors Vice-Chairman, Steve Girsky. The auto executive enthusiastically shared his vision for the next 15-25 years of driving – a congestion-free world of automated wheeled capsules zipping commuters to and from work. Girsky stated that presently, the connected cars with […]
Labor and Automation’s Symbiotic Relationship
President Barack Obama’s parting words “Be Kind & Be Useful” struck a chord with me and my daughter. This morning, it led me to buy a homeless man gloves and rethink how we adopt technology. I would like to controversially suggest that Asimov’s fictional laws be amended to include this sentiment. The adage could be a guiding […]
Sewing A Mechanical Future
The Financial Times reported earlier this year that one of the largest clothing manufacturers, Hong Kong-based Crystal Group, proclaimed robotics could not compete with the cost and quality of manual labor. Crystal’s Chief Executive, Andrew Lo, emphatically declared, “The handling of soft materials is really hard for robots.” Lo did leave the door open for future consideration by […]
CES 2018 Recap: Out Of The Dark Ages
As close to a quarter million people descended on a city of six hundred thousand, CES 2018 became the perfect metaphor for the current state of modern society. Unfazed by floods, blackouts, and transportation problems, technology steamrolled ahead. Walking the floor last week at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), the hum of the crowd buzzed celebrating […]