IoT Today: Elon Musk’s Neuralink Implants First Brain Chip in Human, GM Cuts Cruise Self-Driving Car Spending by $1B
The latest edition of IoT Today is here with the latest news in emerging technologies! Read about Elon Musk’s brain implant startup Neuralink successfully implanting its first brain chip in a human, as well as 通用汽车 ’ decision to cut Cruise ’s self-driving car spending by $1 billion.??
Plus, read about Tesla ’s recall of 200,000 vehicles for camera problems, and the flying taxi company tapping 霍尼韦尔 for navigation sensors.
Musk Neuralink Implants First Brain Chip in Human
Elon Musk has announced his brain implant startup, Neuralink, has successfully completed the first chip implant into a human brain.?
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Musk said the patient was recovering well, and that initial results showed a “promising neuron spike.”
He also noted in a separate post that Neuralink’s first product would be called Telepathy.
“Enables control of your phone or computer, and through them almost any device, just by thinking,” Musk wrote. “Initial users will be those who have lost the use of their limbs. Imagine if Stephen Hawking could communicate faster than a speed typist or auctioneer. That is the goal.”
GM to Cut Cruise Self-Driving Car Spending by $1 Billion
General Motors has confirmed it will reduce spending on Cruise, its troubled autonomous driving subsidiary, by a billion dollars this year.
The admission came from chief financial officer Paul Jacobsen in a call with analysts, following the dramatic chain of events that led Cruise to suspend all operations across the United States.
The figure is larger than first indicated, with Jacobsen saying in November that the cuts could stretch to “hundreds of millions of dollars,” but failing to provide an exact figure.?
The news does not mark the end of Cruise, however, with CEO Mary Barra saying the company would be undergoing a strategy overhaul in preparation for re-launch.
“Our planned 2024 investment in Cruise reflects our more deliberate and cadence go-to-market strategy, and we are developing new financial targets and a new road map. We will continue to invest in the people who are advancing the software, specialized hardware and AI capabilities.”
Tesla Humanoid Robot Optimus: A Bare-Bones Look
A video update of Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, was shared by Elon Musk this week.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the Tesla CEO wrote “going for a walk with Optimus.”
In contrast to previous videos of the robot, Optimus is shown stripped of its external casing, instead displaying its wiring and gears.?
The demonstration is the latest in a series of regular updates on Optimus’ mobility. This one comes on the heels of Tesla’s recently released video showing Optimus folding laundry.
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Both videos show the second generation of Optimus, which Tesla shifted from its earlier prototype last December, in what the company said was a significant step forward for its robot design.
The video comes hot on the heels of a Tesla earnings call, during which Musk told reporters there was a good chance the first units of Optimus would be shipped to customers this year.
Flying Taxi Company Picks Honeywell for Navigation, Sensors
Electric aerial vehicle (EAV) maker, Eve Air Mobility, has selected Honeywell for navigation, sensors and lighting systems for its flying vehicles.
Eve Air said it plans to use Honeywell’s GPS-aided attitude and heading reference systems and inertial reference systems in its eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle to aid the pilots while navigating the EAV.?
Eve Air also plans to use Honeywell systems for landing, taxi and anti-collision lighting.
“Honeywell has decades of experience engineering and manufacturing high-performance navigation and sensor products for commercial, defense, industrial and space applications,” said David Shilliday, vice president and general manager, Advanced Air Mobility, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “These products are also critical to enabling the next generation of electric aircraft, and we’re excited to help build the future of aviation and advance Eve Air Mobility’s goal to make air travel more sustainable.”
Tesla Recalls 200,000 Vehicles for Rearview Camera Problems
Tesla is recalling nearly 200,000 vehicles over concerns with the rearview camera sensing system.?
The recall cites software instability, which may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying while in reverse, decreasing driver visibility and increasing crash risk.?
The recall impacts 199,575 vehicles and includes 2023 Model S, 2023 Model X and 2023 Model Y vehicles.
The news follows a recall earlier in January where Tesla had to recall more than 1.6 million vehicles in China to address concerns over its Autopilot driver-assistance tech, as well as a December recall of more than 2 million vehicles in the United States to effectively address the same problem.
Flying Taxi Company Expands for Pilotless Aerial Sightseeing
A Chinese eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle maker is expanding to develop passenger-carrying aerial sightseeing in pilotless flying vehicles.
EHang Holdings formed a strategic partnership with the Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports of Luohu District, Shenzhen municipality, to grow its electric aerial vehicle (EAV) business in the cultural, commercial and tourism sectors.
As part of the agreement, multiple urban air mobility operation centers will be constructed to serve as hubs for both aerial sightseeing and public transportation.
EHang’s EH216-S EAV previously received a standard airworthiness certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the first of its kind globally for an EAV.
“As the EH216-S obtained the world's first type certificate and standard airworthiness certificate of its kind of pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL, EHang has strategically laid out operation centers across Shenzhen,” said Xin Fang, chief operating officer of EHang. “Moving forward, the EH216-S will expand its presence to more landmarks within Shenzhen to gradually explore an increasing number of new models.”