How to start an investment conversation?

Weekly Investment Conversation Starters No. 135

Thanks for reading this newsletter, this week we talk about a new AI-powered safety for lithium-ion batteries, a shape-morphing wheel and automated cargo solution.

Three ideas to start a thematic investment conversation

1. ‘Hear’ when a lithium-ion battery is catching fire ????

AI algo used to detect sound of gas leaks and predict lithium-ion battery fire risks.

2. A wheel allowing wheelchairs to climb stairs ????

Researchers developed a shape-shifting wheel to navigate obstacles effectively.

3. A “conveyor-belt” road between Tokyo and Osaka ????

Japan launches automated cargo route with robotic pallets.

1?? ‘Hear’ when a lithium-ion battery is catching fire

• Researchers have developed a method to detect when lithium-ion batteries are about to catch fire.
• They trained AI to detect the click-hiss of escaping gases.

Why you should know?

1. This could serve as early warning in homes, offices, and garages.
2. Lithium-ion batteries power many devices and if overheated or damaged, can lead to fires.
3. Lithium fires start quickly, with little smoke, and are difficult to detect with traditional alarms.

How does it work?

• As a battery is about to fail, safety valves breaking make a sound similar to a soda bottle opening.
• The AI algorithm was trained with over 1,000 unique sounds.
• It achieves a high accuracy, detecting overheating 94% of the time.

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???? Investment Theme: Clean Air & Carbon Reduction

Population growth and urbanisation across the globe are driving the need for decarbonisation innovations, such as renewable energy and safe energy storage, as levels of carbon emissions are rising.

2?? A wheel allowing wheelchairs to climb stairs

• Researchers created a wheel that changes shape to overcome obstacles like curbs and stairs.
• This 'morphing' wheel could transform human lives and use of robots...

Why you should know?

1. Applications range from wheelchairs being able to climb obstacles to unmanned delivery vehicles climbing stairs.
2. It could also Improve movement for two and four-legged robots in industrial uses.
3. Airless tires wheels can’t overcome obstacles as effectively.

How does it work?

• The new wheel structure is inspired by water droplets.
• A chain hoop and spoke wires allow the wheel to morph from solid to fluid form.
• The stiffness can be adjusted automatically by sensors.

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???? Investment Theme: Automation & Robotics

Robots and automation are driving the fourth industrial revolution and are transforming the future.

3?? A “conveyor-belt” road between Tokyo and Osaka

• Japan is launching this ambitious automated cargo route to address its truck driver shortage.
• This new concept features a robotic pallet for continuous cargo transport.

Why you should know?

1. 90% of Japan’s cargo (4.3bn tons) moves by road.
2. The project will reduce labor needs, simplify workloads and cut carbon emissions.
3. If successful, this model might extend to other routes in Japan.

How does it work?

• Automated pallets are moving 24/7 (equivalent to 25'000 truck drivers daily).
• They use a three-lane road between highways: two for traffic and one for buffering.
• Automatic forklifts load/unload at logistics bases, while drivers cover the last-mile deliveries.

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???? Investment Theme: Smart Mobility

Regulatory changes, consumer preferences and technological advances will likely lead to even greater electrification and automatisation of means of transport.

About Investment Conversation Starters

Hand-picked for relationship managers and investment advisors,?Weekly Investment Conversation Starters?is a series of ideas to start a conversation with clients, spark their curiosity and gauge their appetite for thematic investments.

If you liked these, you can:

• Find the 3 "most read" ideas of the week in my LinkedIn Newsletter, or
• Receive it directly by email, by pressing "View my newsletter" on my profile above.

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