Technology

DJI expands into e-bikes and drive systems

Published

2 days ago

July 3, 2024

DJI expands into e-bikes and drive systems

DJI is expanding into electric bikes in a big way with its new Avinox drive system and Amflow e-bike brand. The company best known for its drones is launching its first e-bike — the carbon fiber Amflow PL electric mountain bike — before the end of the year, complete with the mid-drive Avinox motor and fast-charging battery. It has so many smart and powerful features packed into a relatively lightweight e-bike that it should catch the attention of competitors like Bosch and Specialized.

As a showcase for DJI’s new Avinox drive system, the Amflow PL e-bike features a very impressive 120Nm of max torque and 1000W of on-demand boost power to overcome even the steepest inclines. Otherwise, its “remarkably quiet” mid-drive motor is rated for 250W of nominal output with an 850W peak. Its removable 800Wh battery can fast-charge from zero to 75 percent in a speedy 1.5 hours when using Amflow’s 2A/508W GaN charger.

Despite all that power and battery capacity, the Amflow PL weighs just 19.2kg (just over 42 pounds), thanks in part to a 2.27kg carbon fiber frame and 2.52kg Avinox drive system.

The bike features a two-inch color OLED touchscreen display integrated into the frame and an Avinox app for wireless access to the bike and all the riding data. The bike will sound an alarm in case of trouble and alert you of its location in the app. It has four pedal-assist modes, including an auto mode that adapts power delivery based on riding resistance. Rounding out the highlights is a USB charging port for your phone or bike computer, a full suspension system from Fox, and a frame that can accommodate both 27.5-inch and 29-inch rear wheels.

“Our expertise in battery and motor technology accumulated in drones and camera stabilization systems, have led us to the creation of Avinox,” says Christina Zhang, senior director of corporate strategy at DJI. “It is a natural move for DJI to expand into this field as we have been mastering the technologies essential to an electric bike system, in terms of reliable motor development, battery management, mechanical design and engineering.”

The company has also been developing intelligent driving solutions for automobiles in China over the last few years, some of which can already be found in several car models. More recently, the company expanded into the large consumer battery market with the launch of its first power stations.

The Amflow PL is expected to ship in Q4. DJI tells me to expect a pricing somewhere between €7,000 and €12,000 ($7,500 and $12,850), which puts it into direct competition with premium electric sport bikes like Specialized’s Turbo series. DJI says the Amflow PL will be available from authorized dealers in Germany, the UK, and Australia “amongst others.”

Technology

At just over $20, Half-Life: Alyx is essential playing for VR headset owners

Published

1 hour ago

July 5, 2024

Press Room

At just over $20, Half-Life: Alyx is essential playing for VR headset owners

Now, Alyx is quite a unique game and experience. For starters, when it came out in 2020, it was the first time Valve returned to the world of Half-Life (the 26-year-old series that put it on the map) since 2007. It’s a prequel to Half-Life 2, starring supporting-character-turned-protagonist Alyx Vance. And, notably, you take control of her through her own eyes since Half-Life: Alyx is solely designed around VR and requires you to own a compatible headset. Much like previous Half-Life installments, it’s received near-universal praise for its excellent gameplay and exquisite setting.

It really is an absolute must-buy and must-play if you own a VR headset and have the means, as Valve really put thought and care into how you explore this world in virtual reality (no, it’s not a glorified tech demo only for Valve to boost Index headset sales). Also, for any of you PlayStation VR2 headset owners looking forward to Sony’s PC adapter that’s due out August 7th, you might want to pocket Half-Life: Alyx at this excellent price for safekeeping until then. The game is used as the poster child for the PSVR 2 adapter for a reason, and it only gets this cheap a few times a year.

Technology

Waabi's game-changing approach to self-driving trucks

Published

1 hour ago

July 5, 2024

Press Room

Waabi's game-changing approach to self-driving trucks

Imagine a world where big rig trucks drive themselves, navigating highways with the precision and intuition of seasoned human drivers. Sounds pretty crazy, right? Well, thanks to Waabi, the AI start-up and leader in the autonomous vehicle industry, this is about to become a reality very soon.

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Self-driving big rig (Waabi) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Meet Waabi: The new kid on the self-driving block

Founded by AI pioneer Raquel Urtasun in 2021, Waabi is shaking up the self-driving scene with its innovative “AI-first approach.” Unlike traditional autonomous vehicle companies that rely on rule-based systems and millions of real-world driving miles, Waabi is leveraging the power of generative AI to create a more efficient, scalable and safer solution.

Self-driving big rig (Waabi) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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The secret sauce: Waabi World

At the heart of Waabi’s technology is Waabi World, a closed-loop simulator that’s been dubbed “the ultimate school for self-driving vehicles.” This virtual environment allows the Waabi Driver (the AI brain of the system) to learn from countless scenarios without ever hitting the real road. It’s like giving a student driver unlimited practice in every possible driving situation – minus the heart-stopping moments for the instructor.

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Self-driving big rig (Waabi) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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The Waabi Driver: More than just a pretty algorithm

The Waabi Driver isn’t your average AI. It’s a next-generation foundation model that can perceive the world, create abstractions, and reason about its actions, much like a human driver would. This means it can handle unfamiliar situations with ease, a crucial ability for navigating the unpredictable world of long-haul trucking.

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Self-driving big rig (Waabi) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Trucking into the future

Waabi’s initial focus is on autonomous trucking, an industry ripe for innovation. With driver shortages, safety concerns and environmental impacts plaguing the sector, Waabi’s technology promises to be a game-changer. The company is already running commercial pilots in Texas and aims to launch fully driverless operations by 2025.

Self-driving big rig (Waabi) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Beyond trucking: The sky’s the limit

While Waabi is starting with trucks, Urtasun has bigger dreams. The technology has the potential to revolutionize various fields, from robotaxis to warehouse robotics and even humanoid robots. As Urtasun puts it, “This technology is extremely, extremely powerful.”

Diagram showing AI technology (Waabi) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Kurt’s key takeaways

Waabi’s approach to autonomous driving represents a significant step forward in AI technology. By combining the power of generative AI with a deep understanding of the complexities of driving, Waabi is paving the way for a safer, more efficient future on our roads. As we watch this technology unfold, one thing is clear: the future of transportation is not just autonomous. It’s intelligent, adaptable and closer than we might think. Buckle up, folks. The AI revolution is hitting the road, and Waabi is in the driver’s seat.

How do you feel about sharing the road with an AI-powered autonomous vehicle like Waabi’s self-driving truck? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Amazon’s Fire HD 10 tablet is nearly 50 percent off for Prime members

Published

8 hours ago

July 5, 2024

Press Room

Amazon’s Fire HD 10 tablet is nearly 50 percent off for Prime members

Let’s face it: Apple’s slates seem to get all the attention when talking tablets (and understandably so). However, you don’t necessarily need to spend $1,000 on an iPad Pro or even $350 on an entry-level model if all you need is a cheap entertainment device for watching The Boys, reading, or burning through your latest audiobook. Amazon’s latest Fire HD 10 tablet will get the job done for a lot less — especially since it’s currently on sale for Amazon Prime subscribers for an all-time low of $74.99 ($65 off) in its ad-supported base configuration.

The 2023 Fire HD 10 isn’t going to blow you away with an OLED display or a laundry list of premium features, though it is a step up from some of Amazon’s low-end models. The inexpensive tablet features a modest octa-core processor, support for up to 1TB of microSD card storage, and 3GB of RAM, the latter of which should allow for plenty of tabs and some light multitasking should you need it. On the outside, you’ll find 10.1-inch 1920 x 1200 display that’s surprisingly sharp for the price (so long as you’re not in direct sunlight), as well as a USB-C port for charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio. The Alexa-enabled device is also compatible with Amazon’s detachable keyboard case ($49.99) and stylus ($34.99), though I’d argue neither of which is going to turn the budget tablet into a productivity machine.

Like all Fire tablets, the biggest drawback of the Fire HD 10 is that it requires you to spend an additional $15 to remove the lock screen ads and chains you to Amazon’s own Appstore — which is seriously lacking when compared to the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store. But, again, if all you want is to stream Prime Video content or read, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more capable tablet for the price.