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Solar-powered blimp could bring high-speed internet to your area

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Solar-powered blimp could bring high-speed internet to your area

Have you ever felt the frustration of losing internet access while camping, hiking or living in a remote area? Whether you’re trying to connect with family, access important information or simply enjoy your favorite streaming service, losing internet access can be a real bummer. For many, this is a daily struggle. However, new technology from a company called Sceye could be the answer to these connectivity woes, offering a solution to the digital divide that leaves so many people in the dark.

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Sceye HAPS (Sceye) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Enter the Sceye HAPS: A blimp-like aircraft with a mission

The Sceye HAPS is not your average aircraft. This 213-foot-long uncrewed helium-filled behemoth is designed to soar to stratospheric heights, hovering between 60,000 and 65,000 feet above the Earth’s surface. What makes it truly special is its ability to beam high-speed internet to areas that traditional infrastructure cannot reach.

Solar-powered blimp could bring high-speed internet to your area

Sceye HAPS (Sceye) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

IS THIS 656-FOOT AIRYACHT THE LUXURY TRANSPORTATION OF THE FUTURE?

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Solar-powered stratospheric sentinel

One of the most impressive features of the Sceye HAPS is its power source. The aircraft is covered in a “solar cape” made of gallium selenide and gallium arsenide solar cells, allowing it to harness the sun’s energy to stay aloft for months at a time. This sustainable power approach enables the HAPS to perform its critical tasks continuously, from providing internet access to monitoring environmental conditions.

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Solar-powered blimp could bring high-speed internet to your area

Sceye HAPS (Sceye) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

THIS FLYING ELECTRIC VEHICLE BREAKS RECORD WITH 523-MILE NONSTOP FLIGHT

Breaking records and bridging divides

The Sceye HAPS is already making waves in the real world. It set a long-range record by maintaining a data connection across a distance of over 87 miles, far exceeding the typical LTE range. This achievement has significant implications for bridging the digital divide, especially in areas like the Navajo Nation, where the HAPS is part of a project to provide universal broadband access. By demonstrating its ability to connect over such vast distances, the Sceye HAPS is proving its potential to revolutionize internet access in remote and underserved communities.

Solar-powered blimp could bring high-speed internet to your area

Sceye HAPS (Sceye) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

NASA’S DRAGONFLY DRONE CLEARED FOR FLIGHT TO SATURN’S MOON, TITAN

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More than just internet

While providing internet access is a key function of the Sceye HAPS, its capabilities extend far beyond that. The aircraft is also being used for climate and environmental monitoring, disaster response, forest fire detection, and tracking and measuring methane emissions as part of an EPA study.

Solar-powered blimp could bring high-speed internet to your area

Sceye HAPS (Sceye) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Recent milestones and future plans

The Sceye HAPS continues to impress with its technological advancements. In a recent flight, it demonstrated its ability to charge its batteries during the day and use that power to stay airborne overnight, a crucial step towards long-duration missions. With 20 test flights under its belt and commercial deployment planned for 2025, the future looks bright for this stratospheric innovation.

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Solar-powered blimp could bring high-speed internet to your area

Sceye HAPS (Sceye) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Kurt’s key takeaways

The Sceye HAPS is shaking things up in the world of global connectivity. Think of it as a high-tech blimp that’s on a mission to bring the internet to places that have been left in the digital dark ages. By floating way up in the stratosphere, this clever contraption is tackling problems that have stumped tech experts for years. This flying innovation could be a game-changer in making our world more connected and better prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws our way. Sure, there are still some kinks to work out. But the way things are going, it looks like the Sceye HAPS is proving that when it comes to solving big global problems, sometimes the best solution is to aim high, really high.

Do you have any concerns about high-altitude aircraft like the Sceye HAPS floating in the stratosphere? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Amazon is ‘winding down’ some of its DEI programs

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Amazon is ‘winding down’ some of its DEI programs

As we head toward the end of the year, I want to give another update on the work we’ve been doing around representation and inclusion. 

As a large, global company that operates in different countries and industries, we serve hundreds of millions of customers from a range of backgrounds and globally diverse communities. To serve them effectively, we need millions of employees and partners that reflect our customers and communities. We strive to be representative of those customers and build a culture that’s inclusive for everyone.

In the last few years we took a new approach, reviewing hundreds of programs across the company, using science to evaluate their effectiveness, impact, and ROI – identifying the ones we believed should continue. Each one of these addresses a specific disparity, and is designed to end when that disparity is eliminated. In parallel, we worked to unify employee groups together under one umbrella, and build programs that are open to all. Rather than have individual groups build programs, we are focusing on programs with proven outcomes – and we also aim to foster a more truly inclusive culture. You can read more about this on our Together at Amazon page on A to Z. 

This approach – where we move away from programs that were separate from our existing processes, and instead integrating our work into existing processes so they become durable— is the evolution to “built in” and “born inclusive,” instead of “bolted on.” As part of this evolution, we’ve been winding down outdated programs and materials, and we’re aiming to complete that by the end of 2024. We also know there will always be individuals or teams who continue to do well-intentioned things that don’t align with our company-wide approach, and we might not always see those right away. But we’ll keep at it.

We’ll continue to share ongoing updates, and appreciate your hard work in driving this progress. We believe this is important work, so we’ll keep investing in programs that help us reflect those audiences, help employees grow, thrive, and connect, and we remain dedicated to delivering inclusive experiences for customers, employees, and communities around the world.

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Chinese auto giant wants to make flying cars your next commute option

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Chinese auto giant wants to make flying cars your next commute option

GAC Group, a prominent automotive manufacturer from China, is making waves in the transportation sector with the launch of its new eVTOL brand, Govy. 

This development reflects GAC’s commitment to sustainable air travel, as the company taps into its extensive automotive expertise and innovative technology to create fresh solutions for urban mobility.

With Govy, GAC is not just entering the flying car market; it’s setting the stage for a new era in how we think about commuting and connectivity in our cities.

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Flagship aircraft of Govy named AirJet. (Govy)

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Introducing the AirJet

The flagship aircraft of Govy, named AirJet, is a revolutionary composite-wing flying car designed to operate as an air taxi for distances of up to 124 miles. This innovative vehicle combines the efficiency of fixed-wing aircraft with the flexibility of multi-rotor systems, allowing for vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. 

The AirJet is constructed with over 90% carbon fiber composite materials, making it remarkably lightweight — just one-third the weight of a conventional car of similar size. This lightweight design not only enhances performance but also enables longer electric flights.

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chinese aircraft 2

Flagship aircraft of Govy named AirJet. (Govy)

EVTOL PROTOTYPE PROMISES 150 MPH CITY-TO-CITY HOPS

Performance and features of the AirJet

In terms of performance, the AirJet is powered by GAC’s proprietary electric drive system, which allows it to reach impressive speeds of up to 155 miles per hour. The current model boasts a range exceeding 124 miles, with ambitious plans to extend this range to 249 miles through the development of future solid-state battery technology. Additionally, the AirJet can be recharged in just 30 minutes, ensuring quick turnaround times for operations.

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The AirJet is designed with both luxury and safety in mind. It features a spacious cabin with a “1+1+X” seating arrangement that provides flexibility for passengers. The aircraft is equipped with autonomous flight capabilities, allowing for seamless operation without human intervention. Safety is paramount in the design of the AirJet. It includes advanced safety systems such as redundant power and control systems, real-time monitoring, and obstacle detection to ensure secure flights.

chinese aircraft 3

Flagship aircraft of Govy named AirJet. (Govy)

AN ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT THE MILITARY HAS ITS EYES ON CAN TAKE OFF WITH ONLY 150 FEET OF RUNWAY

The robo-air taxi system

GAC’s vision extends beyond individual aircraft to encompass a comprehensive Robo-AirTaxi system that integrates ground and aerial transport for end-to-end smart mobility solutions. This system will utilize the Govy AirCar for short urban trips under 12.4 miles and the AirJet for mid-range travel up to 124 miles. A key aspect of this vision is the creation of a “40-minute Greater Bay Area life circle” in China, which aims to facilitate efficient intercity travel and significantly reduce transit times and costs.

chinese aircraft 4

Flagship aircraft of Govy named AirJet. (Govy)

THIS FLYING ELECTRIC VEHICLE BREAKS RECORD WITH 523-MILE NONSTOP FLIGHT

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Future plans and commercialization

Looking ahead, GAC has outlined an ambitious roadmap for Govy. By 2025, the company aims to achieve airworthiness certification for its flying cars, establish production lines, and begin taking pre-orders from customers. Furthermore, GAC plans to launch demonstration operations in two to three Greater Bay Area cities of China by 2027.

chinese aircraft 5

Flagship aircraft of named AirJet. (Govy)

Kurt’s key takeaways

With the introduction of Govy and its flagship AirJet, GAC Group is positioning itself at the forefront of urban aerial transportation. By combining innovative technology with a comprehensive ecosystem approach, GAC aims to transform urban mobility into something smarter, safer, and more sustainable. As we move toward a future where aerial vehicles become an integral part of our transportation networks, GAC’s initiatives could play a pivotal role in shaping how we navigate our cities and connect with one another.

Would you feel comfortable using flying cars like the Govy AirJet for your daily commute, and why or why not? 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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Drone takes out Super Scooper fighting Los Angeles wildfires

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Drone takes out Super Scooper fighting Los Angeles wildfires

An aircraft helping to fight wildfires that are raging across Los Angeles was struck by a civilian drone on Thursday. The collision damaged the wing of the aircraft — a CL-415 “Super Scooper” capable of scooping up 1,600 gallons of ocean water to drop onto nearby blazes — according to a statement by the LA County Fire Department posted on X, putting it out of service until it can be repaired.

Cal Fire spokesman Chris Thomas told The New York Times that grounding the aircraft will likely set back local firefighting efforts. Super Scoopers can typically refill in about five minutes. But even if it takes ten, that’s six water drops that are lost each hour according to Thomas. “So whose house is not going to get that water to protect it?” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says the Super Scooper landed safely after the drone impact, and that the incident is now under investigation.

Temporary flight restrictions have been implemented in the Los Angeles area that prohibit drones and other aircraft from flying without FAA authorization in an effort to protect firefighting efforts.

According to LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, the drone was not assigned to help tackle the Palisades fires, and was destroyed in the collision. Marrone told the LA Times that the FBI is now planning to implement so-called “aerial armor” in the area to prevent further interference from drones.

Several people online have violated the FAA-enforced flight restrictions, posting viral drone photos and video footage across social media showing the devastation from what appears to be prohibited airspace. Fire response agencies are often forced to ground their own aircraft to avoid collisions when dummies fly drones near wildfires for online clout.

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“It’s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands,” the FAA said in a statement. “Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations. The FAA treats these violations seriously and immediately considers swift enforcement action for these offenses.”

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