Technology

Judge orders X ban in Brazil

Published

3 hours ago

August 30, 2024

A judge in Brazil has ordered the suspension of X after owner Elon Musk failed to designate a new legal representative for the country, according to a report from Bloomberg.

Earlier this month, Musk closed X’s offices in Brazil, saying Brazilian Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes threatened to arrest the company’s legal representative for not complying with “censorship orders.” Brazil’s Supreme Court notified X on Wednesday that if it didn’t appoint a new legal representative within 24 hours, it would be banned.

Musk and Moraes have been feuding for months. The Brazilian justice opened an investigation into X in April after Musk said he reactivated accounts that X was ordered to block over the spread of misinformation. As reported by The New York Times, many of the accounts Moraes ordered X to block are linked to supporters of the right-wing former President Jair Bolsonaro.

“We are absolutely not insisting that other countries have the same free speech laws as the United States,” X said in a Thursday evening post from its global government affairs account. “The fundamental issue at stake here is that Judge de Moraes demands we break Brazil’s own laws. We simply won’t do that.” In that post, X also said it would publish “all of Judge de Moraes’ illegal demands and all related court filings.”

Brazil requires major platforms to have a legal representative in the country. It has briefly banned other major social platforms in the past as well, including Telegram and WhatsApp.

Starlink, part of another Elon Musk-affiliated company, SpaceX, said Thursday that Moraes also gave an order that froze Starlink’s finances. “This order is based on an unfounded determination that Starlink should be responsible for the fines levied — unconstitutionally — against X,” according to Starlink.

Technology

eVTOL prototype promises 150 mph city-to-city hops

Published

3 hours ago

August 30, 2024

Press Room

eVTOL prototype promises 150 mph city-to-city hops

Vertical Aerospace, a U.K.-based company in the aerospace industry, has recently unveiled its latest full-scale eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) prototype, the VX4.

This development marks a significant milestone in the company’s journey toward creating sustainable urban air mobility solutions.

The VX4 is the most advanced eVTOL aircraft developed by Vertical Aerospace, featuring proprietary technology and components from strategic partners.

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VX4 prototype (Vertical Aerospace)

The technology behind VX4

The VX4 is an eVTOL UAM (urban air mobility) aircraft designed to carry one pilot and four passengers. It features a cruise speed of 150 mph and a range of 100 miles, making it ideal for quick urban commutes. The aircraft can handle a payload of 992 pounds and is supported by eight low-noise propellers and eight electric motors.

Large windows and a skylight enhance the passenger experience, providing spectacular views during flight. The VX4 features a high gull wing configuration with flaps and ailerons, and its wing ends serve dual purposes as winglets and anhedral surfaces. The tail is configured in a V shape with rudders, and under the tail, VHF antennas offer aerodynamic benefits at high angles.

The VX4 has a wingspan is 49 feet, 2 inches. Its length is 42 feet, 8 inches. And its height is 13 feet, 1 inch. Its retractable tricycle-wheeled landing gear ensures smooth landings and takeoffs.

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VX4 prototype (Vertical Aerospace)

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A technological leap in eVTOL design

The VX4 prototype represents a major advancement in eVTOL technology, showcasing a 20% increase in power-to-weight ratio compared to its predecessors. The VX4 is the first prototype to incorporate Vertical’s proprietary battery technology, which was developed at the Vertical Energy Centre. This new battery system is the most powerful and the lightest produced by the company to date.

Vertical Aerospace has collaborated with several global aerospace partners, including GKN Aerospace, Honeywell and Leonardo, to integrate advanced technologies into the VX4. Approximately 60% of the aircraft’s components come from these strategic partners, which has been crucial in enhancing the aircraft’s overall performance.

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VX4 prototype (Vertical Aerospace)

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The VX4 is designed for safety

Safety is paramount in the VX4’s design. It incorporates Distributed Electric Propulsion, which provides redundancy for enhanced safety. With multiple propellers and motors, the aircraft can safely land even if one or more components fail. The use of electric batteries and motors, with fewer moving parts, makes the VX4 not only less complex but also more reliable than traditional petroleum-fueled aircraft. This focus on safety and efficiency positions the VX4 as a leading contender in the future of urban air mobility.

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VX4 prototype (Vertical Aerospace)

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How the VX4 could transform your daily commute

The VX4 is designed to offer a luxurious and sustainable travel option that could soon be accessible to you and me. Its goal is to offer a quieter, more efficient alternative to traditional helicopters and ground transportation, potentially reducing travel time and congestion in busy urban areas. What this means for you is the possibility of swift, eco-friendly daily commutes across your city.

Vertical Aerospace’s collaboration with major airlines and operators, such as Virgin Atlantic and American Airlines, indicates that you might soon have the opportunity to experience eVTOL flights as part of your travel itineraries. This integration into existing airline networks could make eVTOLs a common feature in the travel landscape, offering a seamless and efficient way to reach your destination.

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VX4 prototype (Vertical Aerospace)

The company’s path to certification and commercialization

We reached out to Vertical Aerospace about this article, and Chief Technology Officer Michael Cervenka offered this statement: “Our new most advanced and powerful full-scale VX4 prototype is now undergoing piloted flight testing at our Vertical Flight Test Centre in the Cotswolds, UK. And we are making good progress towards certification, which will ultimately lead to seeing the VX4 in UK skies as well as around the world.

“We are in a position where eVTOLs are going from exciting, but distant, prospect to emerging reality for people. They offer a solution to many of the problems faced by people in urban areas – pollution, congestion, noise – and we think there will be a significant appetite for them. As with any new form of transport, we know there will be questions from the public about safety, but our eVTOL will be held to the highest safety standards in the world – the same as commercial airliners.”

VX4 prototype (Vertical Aerospace)

Vertical Aerospace soars with $6 billion in pre-orders for VX4

Vertical Aerospace has already secured 1,500 pre-orders for the VX4, valued at an impressive $6 billion. These orders come from major airlines and operators across four continents, including Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines and Bristow Group. The strong interest from these industry leaders underscores the trust and confidence in Vertical’s innovative approach to urban air mobility.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Imagine a world where your daily commute is not only faster but also environmentally friendly. This is the promise of the VX4, offering a luxurious and efficient alternative to traditional travel methods. With its quiet operation and advanced design, the VX4 is poised to transform urban mobility, making it accessible and appealing to everyone.

When eVTOL options like the VX4 become available, are you ready and willing to embrace this new mode of urban transportation for your daily commutes? 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

How to use iOS’s Live Text feature

Published

10 hours ago

August 30, 2024

Press Room

I’m something of a hoarder when it comes to interesting facts — I’ll see something online or in a photo, and a small voice in my brain says, “You’ll be able to use that reference somewhere, somehow. Save it so you can find it later!” Which is fine if it’s just a line or two of text, but what if that info is within an image — a photo, say, or even a drawing?

Luckily, back in 2021, Apple introduced a feature in iOS 15 called Live Text, which makes it possible for iPhone users to grab text, email addresses, phone numbers, and more from images. Live Text works with both handwritten and typed text and supports a variety of languages.

Once you’ve captured text from an image, you can paste it into a document, an email, a text message, etc., just as you would any copied text. (A suggestion: you might want to proofread it before you send or post it, especially if you’ve copied handwritten text — Live Text is pretty good, but it’s not perfect.) Just press on the selected text and choose Copy. You can also select Translate if you want to translate it to another language or Look Up to get more information.

You can use Live Text with your camera app or directly from Photos or Safari. Here’s how to capture the text in these three apps.

Capture text using the camera app

One of the handiest ways of using Live Text is on documents or objects that are around you in real time. If you have an iPhone XS or later, you can use the camera app to quickly grab some text — say, the name on a product label, or of a book you want to remember to buy — and drop it into another app. You don’t even have to snap a photo. It’s very easy:

Open the camera app and point it at the text you want to copy. You’ll see a faint outline around the text, and a live text button will appear in the corner of the viewfinder.
Hit the button, and you’ll get a pop-up with the text inside. Highlight the part of the text you want to copy (or hit Select All) and choose Copy.
If there is an email address, phone number, or link, you will be given the option of interacting with it directly.

When you point the camera at some text, it will be outlined; use the symbol in the lower right corner to grab it.

Screenshot: Apple

If the text has an email address or phone number, you can use it to send an email or a text message.

Screenshot: Apple

Capture text from photos

If you’re viewing any pictures with text in the Photos app, you can select and interact with text there. It works just like selecting actual text anywhere else on iOS: tap and hold on the text in an image and you’ll see the familiar-looking blue highlights pop up.

The search bar in Photos will also search for text within images in your photo library, which is handy if you know you took a screenshot or photo of a receipt and just aren’t sure when. Once you find it, you can copy it using the steps above.

You can capture text from photos….

Screenshot: Apple

…or from screenshots

Screenshot: Apple

Capture from web images in Safari

Text can also be selected directly from images on the web in Safari. To grab text, just highlight the text in the image as you would any text, and hit the Copy button.

Update, August 30th, 2024: This article was originally published on July 1st, 2021, and has been updated to account for changes in the OS.

Technology

The 6-wheeled robot that checks out dangerous situations so humans don’t have to

Published

10 hours ago

August 30, 2024

Press Room

The 6-wheeled robot that checks out dangerous situations so humans don’t have to

At first glance, you might think you’re looking at something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but what you’re actually seeing is PIPE-i, a remarkable six-wheeled robot designed for real-world challenges.

Developed by Beca, a leading engineering firm in New Zealand, PIPE-i is a robotic survey vehicle that boldly ventures into hazardous and confined spaces like culverts and tunnels.

This innovative robot not only enhances safety by keeping humans out of dangerous environments but also boosts the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of asset surveys.

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PIPE-i inspection robot (Beca)

The story behind PIPE-i

So, how did PIPE-i come to life? Well, it all started back in June 2022 when a group of structural engineers at Beca faced a daunting task. They were called in to survey a severely cracked and deformed culvert located beneath a busy highway.

Unfortunately, they quickly discovered that no commercially available tools could adequately tackle this inspection. Instead of throwing in the towel, these engineers decided to roll up their sleeves and create a solution of their own. Fast-forward a year, and PIPE-i was born, a robot designed to take on the unique challenges of confined space inspections.

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PIPE-i inspection robot (Beca)

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Design and features of PIPE-i

Let’s look at what makes PIPE-i so special. First, its design blends advanced engineering and smart materials. The robot features a 3D-printed body made from a combination of polycarbonate and carbon fiber. This not only gives it incredible strength but also keeps it lightweight, which is perfect for maneuvering through tight spaces.

Equipped with six individually suspended wheels, PIPE-i can tackle uneven terrain with ease. And when it comes to lighting, this little powerhouse has four 850-lumen LED panels to illuminate even the darkest corners of stormwater culverts. But that’s just the beginning.

At the heart of PIPE-i’s capabilities is a sophisticated suite of sensors and imaging technologies. It features a pan/tilt forward-facing camera and a lidar sensor, allowing it to create a detailed spatial map of its environment. Plus, the onboard Leica BLK360 3D scanner is cleverly tucked away in a lidded compartment until it’s time to gather data. When needed, it flips up to capture stunning 3D scans of the culvert surroundings.

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PIPE-i inspection robot live video feed (Beca)

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Real-time operation and future enhancements of PIPE-i

What’s really cool about PIPE-i is how it operates. Right now, it’s controlled via real-time radio signals, giving users a live video feed from the robot’s camera. This means operators can monitor conditions inside the culvert as the inspection happens – pretty neat, right?

But that’s not all. PIPE-i also has some autonomous functions, like proximity sensing, to help it navigate tricky environments. And here’s the exciting part: Beca has plans to integrate artificial intelligence algorithms into PIPE-i, which will take its autonomy to the next level. Imagine a robot that can think for itself while inspecting hazardous areas. That’s the future they’re aiming for.

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PIPE-i inspection robot (Beca)

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Comprehensive data analysis

Now, let’s talk about the data. After conducting an inspection, PIPE-i allows users to generate a 3D point cloud model of the culvert. This detailed representation provides invaluable insights into the culvert’s condition, helping engineers spot issues that might be invisible during a live video feed. And if you want to capture a complete view, there’s an optional omnidirectional camera that can be added for 360-degree video. Talk about thorough.

PIPE-i inspection robot (Beca)

Adaptability and suspension features

One of the standout features of PIPE-i is its adjustable suspension system. This clever design allows the robot to change its height, making it incredibly versatile. Whether it needs to navigate around overhead obstacles or rise higher for better scanning, PIPE-i can do it all. This adaptability is crucial when dealing with the unpredictable conditions often found in stormwater culverts.

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PIPE-i inspection robot (Beca)

Kurt’s key takeaways

PIPE-i is truly a game-changer in the world of infrastructure inspection. This incredible six-wheeled robot not only keeps humans safe from hazardous environments but also delivers top-notch accuracy and efficiency. With its innovative design and future enhancements on the horizon, we can’t wait to see how PIPE-i continues to revolutionize the way we approach inspections.

After reading about PIPE-i and its innovative approach to infrastructure inspection, what other areas do you think could benefit from robotic technology? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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