Space Tourism, Autonomous boat docking and car racing and a Robotic Personal Trainer.

January 21

This week we will examine the recent developments in Space Tourism. We also look at an autonomous boat docking system and a robotic personal trainer. Finally we discover an autonomous car race and an autonomous boat for cleaning waterways.

Space Tourism

Blue Origin (Jeff Bezos’ space company) has successful launched and landed its New Sheppard spacecraft in preparation for tourist flights. The latest flight (the 14th in total) was unmanned however it did carry “Mannequin Skywalker” (the company’s test dummy) to measure the shock or pressure on the human body due to forces from acceleration and deceleration.

The capsule is outfitted with improved acoustics to dampen the roar, better interior temperature regulation, crew display panels, speakers with a microphone and push-to-talk button at each seat.

The flight will take passengers to the Karman Line, approximately 100 kilometers above the earth. This is the legally defined boundary between earth and space. Aircraft flying on earth and spacecraft flying in space are subject to different regulations and legal jurisdiction. The Karman Line (named after Theodore von Karman, a Hungarian/American engineer and physicist) is the line where the atmosphere becomes too thin to support aeronautical flight.

Virgin Galactic is also planning space tourism flights using a spaceplane that takes off under an airplane. The New Shepard however is more like a traditional Apollo launch where the passengers walk across a gantry into a capsule. The experience is complete with countdown and rocket powered takeoff and vertical landing.

Autonomous Boat Docking

One of the most stressful parts of any day on the harbor on a boat, is docking it once you return to the marina. Making a mistake can be expensive. Volvo has developed an Assisted Docking system to help alleviate that stress and avoid the expense.

In crowded Marinas, strong winds and rough currents mean the boat is never still. Moving in a straight line during foul weather is never easy. The Assisted Docking System uses GPS positioning, propriety inboard Performance Systems, electronics via the engine, propulsion systems and sensors for a much easier docking experience.

The system will automate the captain’s actions whilst adjusting for some dynamic variables such as wind and current. This makes it easier for the vessel to stay on its’ intended course. The system will be available in mid 2021 and can be retrofitted to existing Volvo Penta IPS powered boats. The system will also be sold to other boating manufacturers.

Robot Personal Trainer

Kuka, a German Robotics company, has released a Robotic Personal Trainer called RoboGym. The system brings several improvements to conventional training methods.

Conventional strength training devices only allow for linear loads with a constant weight. The Robogym allows entirely new motion geometries as well as focusing effort on individual muscle groups, specifically for each individual. A sensor system for force measurement makes it possible to control the load as well as the extent of movement for each exercise.

The system can adjust for the athletes’ height and weight automatically and every exercise is recorded for further analysis and adjustment to future training sessions. Better data allows for greater precision of the force applied and the movement during each part of the exercise. The system is particularly useful for rehabilitation where loads and motion need to be restricted to protect injured areas.

Initially targeted at professional athletes, Robogym will be released to the general market shortly.

Autonomous Cars and Boats

In 2020, Covid forced the Indy 500 to be run without spectators. In 2021, the Indy 500 will run a race without drivers. The whole field will be made up of autonomous cars. Each car will use the same Dallara chassis. On October 23, 39 teams from 11 countries and 14 states in the US will be racing for the glory over a 20 lap, 50 mile race on the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The prize purse is worth US$1,500,000.

Racing is about testing limits and technology. This won’t be a challenge to keep an autonomous taxi between the white lines on a freeway. Rather it is about testing autonomous cars to avoid unanticipated obstacles at high speed. Speeds are expected to be over 200 miles per hour (320 kph). Race car drivers develop anticipatory reactions, they can’t wait to see something happen. At the speeds these cars will be going they will need to be able to anticipate what will happen. This involves a greater complexity of decision making than many current autonomous systems. These learnings will filter down into the autonomous taxis that will be driving us all around in the next few years.

Whilst not quite as exciting, Hong Kong based startup, Open Ocean Engineering have developed an autonomous boat that will remove rubbish from local waterways. Clearbot will move autonomously back and forth across a predefined area, using its integrated computer vision system to spot and go after individual pieces of garbage floating on the waterway.

Each Clearbot can hold up to 200 liters of waste and clean a 1 square kilometer area in an 8 hour period. One charge of the battery will last 48 hours. A purpose built dock will hold up to 4 Clearbots at one time.

Mars Rover update

In the 18 July 2019 edition we talked about the Mars 2020 Rover that was about to be launched. There was a link to a NASA site that would allow you register your name and have it etched into a silicon chip and to virtually travel to Mars with the Rover. I registered and I know a couple of my more avid readers registered. The Rover arrives on Mars on 18 February 2021. You can watch the landing live here. If you need me, I will be on Mars.

Paying it Forward

If you have a start-up or know of a start-up that has a product ready for market please let me know. I would be happy to have a look and feature the startup in this newsletter. Also if any startups need introductions please get in touch and I will help where I can.

If you have any questions or comments please email me via my website craigcarlyon.com or comment below.

I would also appreciate it if you could forward this newsletter to anyone that you think might be interested.

Till next week.