Tag Archives: MNG

Australian Army Pushes Metal 3D Printing to Extremes in Latest Field Trial

DARWIN, Australia, Aug. 21, 2020 — Building on the success of its world-first field trial in June this year, a "WarpSPEE3D" 3D metal printer has again deployed and been put through its paces by the Australian Army during a two-week field exercise in the extreme heat and humidity of the Northern Territory.

WarpSPEE3D is the world’s first large-format metal 3D printer to use patented cold spray technology that enables significantly faster and more cost-effective metal part production than traditional manufacturing. Developed by SPEE3D, Australian award-winning manufacturer of metal additive manufacturing technology, the printer is capable of printing large metal parts up to 40kg at a record-breaking speed of 100grams per minute.

The printer arrived in Darwin in early June and forms the backbone of the Army’s developing 3D printing capability.

Having received a number of upgrades and modifications in the two months since its first deployment, the WarpSPEE3D print cell deployed, as part of 1 CSSB’s larger Brigade Support Group, to various field locations in temperatures up to 38 degrees Celsius and 80% humidity, whilst printing and machining genuine military metal parts.

SPEE3D printers make metal parts the fastest way possible, leveraging metal cold spray technology to produce industrial quality metal parts in just minutes, rather than days or weeks. This process harnesses the power of kinetic energy, rather than relying on high-power lasers and expensive gasses, allowing 3D metal printing in the field, at affordable costs.

The Australian Army announced a $1.5 million investment in a pilot of SPEE3D technology in February 2020 with a 12-month trial designed to test the feasibility of deploying 3D metal printers both on-base and in the field. SPEE3D partnered with the Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (AMA) and Charles Darwin University (CDU) to deliver the program with soldiers from the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade training in 3D printing at CDU since February.

The program aims to significantly increase unique parts available to the Army compared to what the regular supply chain can provide.

SPEE3D CEO Byron Kennedy said, "This second field deployment proves our technology is a genuine solution for expeditionary metal 3D printing. This two-week trial demonstrates the WarpSPEE3D is a robust workhorse that is capable of printing real parts and solving real problems in the field. It also proves that soldiers can take control of the whole workflow of creating the spare parts they need, from design to printing and post-processing, right here where they need them."

About SPEE3D

SPEE3D, based in Darwin and Melbourne, Australia, is an innovative supplier of metal-based additive manufacturing technology. SPEE3D focuses on the development, assembly, and distribution of machines and integrated system solutions based on the patented supersonic 3D deposition (SP3D) technology. The products enable significantly faster, lower-cost, and more scalable production than traditional metal printing techniques for copper and aluminium.

Media Contact:
Byron Kennedy

SPEE3D
Telephone: +61 410 656 936
Byron.kennedy@spee3d.com
www.spee3d.com
Australia

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Tactical 3D printing by the Australian Army
Australian Army Lance Corporal Sean Barton, from the 1st Combat Service Support Battalion, prepares the WarpSPEE3D printer for part assembly during Exercise Buffalo Run at Mount Bundey Training Area, NT.

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https://www.spee3d.com/

/C O R R E C T I O N — Infineon/


In the news release, "Accurate, anonymous, contactless: Infineon’s radar-based entrance counter solution for public buildings, retail stores, restaurants or corporate spaces", issued on July 28, 2020 by Infineon over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that the dimension of the discrete rada board mentioned in the first paragraph should be 20mm x 15 mm instead of 250mm x 150 mm, corrected release follows:

Accurate, anonymous, contactless: Infineon’s radar-based entrance counter solution for public buildings, retail stores, restaurants or corporate spaces

MUNICH, July 31, 2020 — Governmental regulations all over the world created an urgent need for solutions to secure social distancing in public buildings in order to support slowing down the spread of Covid-19. Within three months, Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX / OTCQX: IFNNY) developed a solution that counts people while entering and leaving buildings or rooms and ensures social distancing at the same time. The Smart entrance counter solution is a miniaturized, discrete radar board (20 mm x 15 mm) that accurately and anonymously counts people with one single 60 GHz radar sensor and integrated software. A traffic light system informs about if an entry is allowed or not.

The smart entrance counter solution is a miniaturized, discrete radar board (20 mm x 15 mm) that accurately and anonymously counts people with one single 60 GHz radar sensor and integrated software.
The smart entrance counter solution is a miniaturized, discrete radar board (20 mm x 15 mm) that accurately and anonymously counts people with one single 60 GHz radar sensor and integrated software.

 

"We aimed at quickly creating an effective solution that allows everyone of us to securely move within public spaces, in offices, airports or restaurants according to the regulations of the so-called new normal," says Andreas Urschitz, Division President Power & Sensor Systems Infineon Technologies. "Our Smart entrance counter solution is a closed system. On the one hand, it prevents overcrowding, on the other hand, it enables businesses to keep their operations running. And most importantly, due to the use of radar technology, personal data are 100 percent protected. The system counts a person, but does not know who it is."

The expected volume for this kind of solution amounts to 90 million units globally. Infineon’s Smart entrance counter solution with XENSIV™ 60 GHz radar sensor works contactlessly and can easily be installed on the side or ceiling of an entrance or exit. It can be implemented in all kinds of building types, such as public buildings, retail and grocery stores, restaurants, schools or corporate spaces, e.g. canteens, offices, and the like. Furthermore, Infineon is already working on the next generation that will include further features.

Availability
The Smart entrance counter solution (KIT BGT60TR13C EMBEDD) with integrated software is available now for evaluation. The second generation will be available in September 2020. For more information: www.infineon.com/smart-entrance

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Recon Technology, Ltd. Announced Receipt of Official Hazardous Waste Operating Permit and New Order on Oily Sludge Treatment

BEIJING, July 30, 2020 — Recon Technology, Ltd. (NASDAQ: RCON) ("Recon" or the "Company"), today announced that its 51% subsidiary, Gan Su BHD Environmental Technology Co., Ltd ("Gan Su BHD"), received the official 3-year hazardous waste operating permit on July 27, 2020 issued by the Environmental Protection Bureau of Gansu Province.

In addition, Gansu BHD has received a new order from the North China Branch of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation ("Sinopec") to dispose 1,680 tons of oily sludge in Gansu Pingliang work zone. The value for this order is about RMB3.6 million ($0.5 million).

As previously disclosed by the Company, Gansu BHD purchased 50 year land use rights of a piece of 26,235 square meter land to construct a comprehensive disposal treatment facility to mainly serve the oilfield sewage treatment needs of Yumen Oilfield Company, China’s first petroleum production base and a PetroChina Co., Ltd. ("PetroChina") subsidiary. The construction completed in January 2020. The comprehensive disposal treatment project has an annual processing capacity of 60,000 tons of oily waste, and is one of the most advanced and the only such automated treatment facility located in Gansu Province so far. As of today, Gansu BHD also provides services and treatment solution to Sinopec’s Gansu branch.

Mr. Guangqiang Chen, co-founder and CTO of Recon, stated, "With the official permit, Gansu BHD can eventually provide large scale treatment service to clients. Affected by Covid-19, Gansu BHD’s operation was postponed temporally. By far, we have resumed its operation. We have transported about 5,000 tons of oily sludge to our factory disposal site and are ready to process it so it can meet the requirements of national environmental laws and regulations. We have also received the major part of the services fees for this project from the client, demonstrating the trust and the confidence from our clients on Gansu BHD’s treatment advantage and capacity. We believe Gansu BHD’s performance will be reflected in our financial results gradually from mid-2020 and we expect more development on this disposal business."

About Recon Technology, Ltd.                                       

Recon Technology, Ltd. (RCON) is China’s first non-state-owned oil and gas field service company listed on NASDAQ. Recon supplies China’s largest oil exploration companies with advanced automated technologies, efficient gathering and transportation equipment and reservoir stimulation measures for increasing petroleum extraction levels, reducing impurities and lowering production costs. Since 2017, the Company has expanded its business operations into other segments of the broader energy industry including electric power, coal chemicals, renewable energy and environmental protection in the energy and chemical industries. Through the years, Recon has taken leading positions on several market segments of the oil and gas field service industry. Recon also has developed stable long-term cooperation relationships with its major clients, and its products and service are well accepted by clients. For additional information please visit: www.recon.cn.

IR Contact:

Liu Jia, Chief Financial Officer
Recon Technology, Ltd.
Tel: +86-10-8494-5799
Email: info@recon.cn

Related Links :

http://www.recon.cn/

Frost & Sullivan: Intelligent Pumps with Analytics Capabilities are Expected to be the New Norm

A large portion of pump OEMs’ growth will be driven by services in the next 5 years

SANTA CLARA, California, July 3, 2020 — Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis, 2025 Vision: Future of Pumps in a Connected World, finds that an average of 50% to 60% of pump original equipment manufacturers’ (OEMs’) revenue is expected to be generated from services-related activities, such as real-time monitoring and reliability services. This will result in the pump industry transitioning from a product-based to a service-based model in the wake of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) in this digitalization era. Global pump revenue is estimated to reach $46.92 billion by 2025 from approximately $38.34 billion in 2019.

Future of Pumps
Future of Pumps

For further information on this analysis, please visit: http://frost.ly/47z

“In the next five years, a large portion of pump OEMs’ growth will be driven by services that leverage analytics to provide insights on improving pump reliability and lifetime,” said Kiravani Emani, Industrial Automation & Process Control Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. “Additionally, service-based business models are expected to become more predominant; as a result, pump OEMs are expected to diversify their revenues and deliver standalone services to unlock new revenue streams.”

Emani added: “Intelligent pumps with analytics capabilities are expected to be the new norm as customers require meaningful data insights on pump performance as opposed to a device that will merely display data. Further, the water and wastewater, chemicals, refining, and oil and gas production industries are expected to embrace IoT-based pump solutions as these industries are actively working towards digitalization.”

The advent of IIoT has unlocked innovative and profitable business models for pump vendors. The need to shift from a traditional business model (hardware) to services is presenting tremendous growth prospects for pump OEMs, including:

  • Expanding service capabilities with a focus on building innovative business models to unlock revenue opportunities.
  • Offering high-quality, reliable and precise services for customers by investing in IIoT-based technologies such as cloud computing and edge analytics.
  • Adopting an integrated approach by leveraging the strength of channel partners to enhance the customer experience.
  • Reducing energy consumption and controlling operational costs to boost the demand for energy-efficient pumps.

2025 Vision: Future of Pumps in a Connected World is the latest addition to Frost & Sullivan’s Industrial Automation & Process Control research and analyses available through the Frost & Sullivan Leadership Council, which helps organizations identify a continuous flow of growth opportunities to succeed in an unpredictable future.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

2025 Vision: Future of Pumps in a Connected World

K47A

Contact:
Jaylon Brinkley
E: jaylon.brinkley@frost.com
T: 210.247.2481

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Körber Unveils Next-Generation Sorter for Supply Chain Automation


Körber Crossbelt Sorter enhances depth and breadth of supply chain solutions with complete materials handling portfolio

HAMBURG, Germany, July 2, 2020 — Körber, the global supply chain technology leader from software to materials handling automation, today unveils the Körber Crossbelt Sorter. The latest addition to Kӧrber’s portfolio empowers businesses to create truly unified automation solutions to excel in today’s increasingly complex supply chain landscape.

Supply chains must handle more products, more suppliers and fulfill through various channels. Consumer expectations for choice, convenience and speed add to this complexity. To maintain a competitive edge, businesses need automation technologies to handle the evolving challenges of ecommerce and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG). However, many businesses lack a solid strategy and struggle with implementation, integration, and costs. Kӧrber overcomes all of this.

"Kӧrber has the goal of strategically aligning our supply chain technologies and expertise to the needs of our customers and the industry," says Stephan Gӧttsche, chief executive officer at Körber Supply Chain – Automation. "The Körber Crossbelt Sorter exemplifies this. One in three companies still manages supply chain processes manually. This is one of many initiatives we are taking to expand our portfolio and capitalize on our 30+ years of expertise in system integration to design automation systems for today and tomorrow’s demands."

The Crossbelt Sorter seamlessly integrates with any materials handling equipment (MHE) to create unified automation systems. Be it conveyors, shuttles, or beyond, the Crossbelt Sorter uniquely links the MHE of different functional areas – receiving, storage, multi-stage picking, or dispatch. Hence, the Crossbelt Sorter dynamically distributes goods based on any criteria to the proper destination at any stage in the process. Furthermore, the sorter’s modular design enables quick and simple integration with the existing system landscape. The result is a higher level of automation, enabling shorter reaction times, increased efficiency and higher throughput. Examples of success include transport of up to 14,000 containers per hour, carrier changeovers in only 10 minutes, and conveying speeds of 1.8 m/s.

"Conquering today’s supply chain complexities requires higher levels of automation," said Pieter Feenstra, chief sales officer for Kӧrber Supply Chain –  Automation. "Intelligently linking different material handling components is necessary to excel in today’s market. Körber offers the consulting, the solutions, the software and systems integration to make it a reality for businesses of any size."

The Körber Business Area Supply Chain is part of the international technology group Körber. This includes Aberle, Aberle Software, Cirrus Logistics, Cohesio  Group, Consoveyo, DMLogic, HighJump, inconso, Otimis, Langhammer, Riantics and Voiteq. Körber has proven success with thousands of companies worldwide.

About the Business Area Körber Supply Chain
Supply chain challenges are growing by the day. Körber offers a unique range of proven end-to-end logistics technologies – for every company size and business or growth strategy. The range of services includes not only software but also automation solutions, voice, robotics and transport systems – and brings together the know-how for comprehensive system integration under one roof. As a global partner, we meet today’s challenges as well as logistics’ constantly changing requirements. "Conquer supply chain complexity" – with Körber. The Business Area Supply Chain is part of the international technology group Körber. Find out more at www.koerber-supplychain.com

Contact:
Heather Smith
heather.smith@highjump.com

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Related Links :

http://www.koerber-supplychain.com

Recon Technology Announces Pricing of $2.1 million Registered Direct Offering

BEIJING, June 26, 2020 — Recon Technology, Ltd. (NASDAQ: RCON) (“Recon” or the “Company”) announced today it has entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain accredited investors on June 26, 2020 to purchase $2.1 million worth of its ordinary shares in a registered direct offering and warrants to purchase ordinary shares in a concurrent private placement.

Under the terms of the securities purchase agreement, the Company has agreed to sell 1.68 million ordinary shares. In a concurrent private placement, the Company has agreed to issue unregistered warrants to purchase up to 1.68 million ordinary shares. The warrants will be exercisable immediately upon the date of issuance and have an exercise price of $1.25. The warrants will expire 5.5 years from the date of issuance. The purchase price for one ordinary share and a corresponding warrant will be $1.25. In addition, the initial exercise price for previously issued unregistered warrants to purchase 911,112 ordinary shares has decreased from $2.25 per share to $1.25 per share. The gross proceeds to the Company from this registered direct offering and concurrent private placement are estimated to be $2.1 million before deducting the placement agent’s fees and other estimated offering expenses, assuming there is no exercise of any of the warrants. The registered direct offering and concurrent private placement are expected to close on or about June 30, 2020, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”) is acting as sole placement agent in connection with this offering.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes.

The securities described above are being offered by the Company pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form F-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dated November 13, 2019, and declared effective on November 26, 2019. A prospectus supplement related to the offering will be, filed with the SEC and available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov . Copies of the prospectus supplements relating to the offering may be obtained, when available, by contacting: Maxim Group LLC, 405 Lexington Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10174, by telephone: at (212) 895-3500.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

About Recon Technology, Ltd.

Recon Technology, Ltd. (RCON) is China’s first non-state-owned oil and gas field service company listed on NASDAQ. Recon supplies China’s largest oil exploration companies with advanced automated technologies, efficient gathering and transportation equipment and reservoir stimulation measures for increasing petroleum extraction levels, reducing impurities and lowering production costs. Since 2017, the Company has expanded its business operations into other segments of the broader energy industry including electric power, coal chemicals, renewable energy and environmental protection in the energy and chemical industries. Through the years, Recon has taken leading positions on several market segments of the oil and gas field service industry. Recon also has developed stable long-term cooperation relationships with its major clients, and its products and service are well accepted by clients. For additional information please visit: www.recon.cn .

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made herein are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “estimate”, “plan”, “outlook”, and “project” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Such forward-looking statements include timing of the proposed transaction; the business plans, objectives, expectations and intentions of the parties once the transaction is complete, and RCON’s estimated and future results of operations, business strategies, competitive position, industry environment and potential growth opportunities. These forward-looking statements reflect the current analysis of existing information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. As a result, caution must be exercised in relying on forward-looking statements. Due to known and unknown risks, our actual results may differ materially from our expectations or projections. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: there is uncertainty about the spread of the COVID-19 virus and the impact it will have on RCON’s operations, the demand for the RCON’s products and services, global supply chains and economic activity in general. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in the other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by RCON. 

Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact our expectations and projections will be found in our periodic filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019. RCON’s SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC’s website at  www.sec.gov . RCON disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

IR contact:
Liu Jia
Recon Technology, Ltd.
+86 (10) 84945799
info@recon.cn

Related Links :

http://www.recon.cn/

BAT Named in The Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 for 2020

BAT believes company transformation and focus on ESG has driven elevation to 21st position.

LONDON, June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — BAT has been recognised by Gartner in The Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 for 20201  ranking for the first time. The ranking identifies supply chain leaders and BAT has moved from outside the 25th position to 21st position in 2020. BAT believes this reflects the great progress in its supply chain maturity journey, its strong financial performance and the fact that ESG is front and centre of everything BAT does, particularly in relation to the company’s supply chain. 

Alan DavyBAT Group Operations Director, said:

“We are delighted to receive this recognition which I believe is confirmation of our efforts to deliver a world-class supply chain as part of our journey towards A Better Tomorrow. To us, it not only acknowledges the achievements of our colleagues who have succeeded in transforming our business, but also the partners, suppliers and communities we work alongside. 

“The supply chain integration and synchronisation steps taken over the last few years built greater Resilience and Agility. Furthermore, Sustainability is front and centre of everything we do – it sits at the heart of our supply chain, has driven many of the investment decisions we have made, and will be a key element of our plans for the future as we build on this success.”

In recent years, BAT has implemented a single ERP platform, has invested in building people’s capabilities, as well as increased automation of certain business processes.  Crucially, the quality of data the company now uses for decision making has been transformed. AI and Machine Learning based platforms have been used to improve how BAT’s transportation and logistics networks are managed. This has built additional resilience and much needed agility and has contributed to the way BAT continues to navigate the Covid-19 situation. Further improvements and efficiencies are planned for 2020 and beyond.

According to Gartner, “three key trends stand out this year for these leaders that are accelerating their capabilities, separating them further from the rest of the pack.”

Purpose-driven organisations

“Even before the pandemic occurred, supply chain teams at leading companies defined their work using the language of purpose. These companies recognize that solving the world’s largest problems only works through partnership with others in the broader community, as well as through their own radical transparency.”

Business model transformers

“One of the largest external forces impacting corporate supply chains is a dynamic competitive landscape that is driven by a combination of expanded customer expectations, new market entrants from existing industry ecosystems and the emergence of non-traditional competitors.” Further, “leading supply chains have positioned themselves as the disruptors to traditional business models, either through reinvention of their offerings and the ability to deliver them or by acquiring start-ups that offer the expertise and DNA necessary to compete in new and reinvented markets.”

Digital orchestrators

“Leading companies on the Supply Chain Top 25 are early, and frequent, adopters of digital technologies. More importantly, these investments enable business capabilities and outcomes that allow them to thrive in even the harshest economic conditions.”

The Gartner report states that:

“In our 16th edition of the Supply Chain Top 25, we have an impressive group of leaders with new lessons to share, including a diverse set of six new entrants.” It further mentions that, “with substantial portions of the economy closed due the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing unemployment and negative economic growth rates on a scale not seen since the early 20th century in some cases.” Further, “leaders need an agile, or adaptive, strategy that allows the supply chain organisation to sense and respond to changes in the business context as they happen.”

Regarding the Supply Chain Top 25 Methodology, Gartner states, “the ranking comprises two main components – business performance and opinion. Business performance, in the form of public financial and ESG data, provides a view into how companies have performed in the past. The opinion component offers an eye to future potential and reflects leadership in the supply chain community. These two components are combined into a total composite score. We derive a master list of companies from a combination of the Fortune Global 500 and the Forbes Global 2000. In an effort to maintain the list of companies evaluated at a manageable level, we apply a general annual revenue threshold of $12 billion.”

Gartner, “The Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 for 2020”, Mike Griswold et al, 19 May 2020

1.  Gartner subscription required

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Hublot Launches the BIG BANG e

NYON, Switzerland, June 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Hublot first released the Big Bang in 2005. Since then, this model has come to embody Swiss watchmaking in the third millennium.

In 2018, the first connected version of the Big Bang made its debut. And now, Hublot unveils the BIG BANG e.

The new incarnation of the brand’s Art of Fusion ethos: a fusion between tradition and innovation, cutting edge materials and the latest digital technology.

To mark the 2018 FIFA Football World Cup™ in Russia, Hublot presented their first connected watch model, the Big Bang Referee 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™. Equipped with the latest technological developments then available for wearable technology, this formidable tool was used both by referees on the pitch and by football fans, as a virtual stadium so they could join in with the competition. Two years later, Hublot returns with a new model: the BIG BANG e, a connected watch equipped with the latest technology that adopts all the iconic Big Bang codes.

To stay up-to-date, follow: @Hublot #Hublot #BigBangE #HublotLovesArt

“Electronic watches were created in Switzerland using quartz in the 1970s. Fifty years later, we are continuing in the same innovative vein by producing a second smart watch which boasts an extremely high level of technological sophistication, whilst embodying all the aesthetic values, technical features and excellence that have ensured the reputation of our Big Bang collection. Ever more faithful to our “Art of Fusion” motto, we wanted the BIG BANG e to unite Hublot’s highly advanced technical materials with the very latest innovations from today’s digital world.” – Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of HUBLOT

Full of sophistication and advanced technology, this piece fits in perfectly with Hublot’s watchmaking tradition. All the codes that have helped build the brand’s reputation thus far can be recognised instantly, by enthusiasts and the public alike.  A good pedigree always shines through! Its case is cut from materials such as black ceramic or titanium in a “sandwich” construction, an innovative style invented by Hublot in 2005. Extremely complex, it comprises 42 components, 27 of which are for the K Module alone, the “cage” which houses the digital heart of the watch. The design of the screws and pushers, the scratchproof sapphire crystal, and its rubber strap – with deployant buckle invented by Hublot in 1980 for the Classic model and the patented One Click system for easy interchangeability –  leave no-one in doubt: element by element, it is clear that this is a true Big Bang! 

The BIG BANG e is available in a 42 mm case, made from a choice of titanium or ceramic. The hour numerals are metallised underneath the scratchproof sapphire crystal, which is covered with an AMOLED high definition touchscreen. Just like a mechanical version of the Big Bang, its rotary crown with integrated pusher is used to activate the controls for its electronic module. Developed in partnership with other brands within the LVMH Group, the watch is adapted and perfected to meet Hublot’s requirements.

Transferring their traditional expertise into this new digital environment, the designers in Nyon have developed new watch functionalities. Apart from the “Time Only” analogue function, the BIG BANG e features exclusive interpretations of traditional watch complications, such as a Perpetual Calendar with an immaculately precise moon phase or a second GMT time zone, which presents the earth in a very realistic way. These functionalities have been revisited and enhanced to take advantage of the possibilities offered by the digital world. Despite this built-in technology, Hublot guarantees the watch is water-resistant to a depth of 30 meters.

Powered with Wear OS by Google™, the BIG BANG e enables customization to the smartwatch experience. The wearer can access apps on Google Play, get answers on the go with Google Assistant and make fast simple payments with Google Pay. For a more personal experience, easily swipe to helpful information and stay up to date with notifications and messages. In addition, dials specifically created by the talented Hublot ambassadors and Friends of the Brand will be gradually unveiled.

Available as soon as the BIG BANG e is released, the first edition is part of the #HublotLovesArt movement: a series of eight dials stemming from the imagination of storytelling artist Marc Ferrero. Every three hours, the dial changes colour, meaning eight creations are displayed in sequence over a 24-hour period. Each of these is based on a specific colour: Happy Yellow, Magic Blue, Orange Dynamite, All White, Lucky Green, Magic Red, Rainbow Spirit and Black Magic. And that is not all. Every full hour is marked with the appearance of an animation that lasts five seconds. A very #HublotLovesArt way of adding a touch of colour and rhythm to different moments throughout the day!

The BIG BANG e will be produced in two different editions: one in titanium and one in black ceramic. For the first time in Hublot’s history, this watch will be sold online on the brand’s website as well as on the Wechat network in China. It will then be available to purchase in boutiques and the traditional network.

Google, Google Play, Wear OS by Google, Google Pay and other marks are trademarks of Google LLC. 

BIG BANG e titanium
BIG BANG e titanium
BIG BANG e ceramic
BIG BANG e ceramic

 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Y1fMHJrI8  
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Aetina x SmartCow: Introduce Medical Assistant for Pandemic Environment Care

TAIPEI, May 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Healthcare system is the foundation of human being culture, every innovative medical research shows its supports and values to continue and expand. The world is suffering from COVID-19, AI developers seek a medical assistant to maintain the healthcare system. Aetina Corporation, a GPGPU and edge AI computing solution provider, and AI solution developer, SmartCow Co. Ltd. cooperated building an algorithm with six types of AI models that based on the edge computing platform.

Aetina x SmartCow: smart medical assistant for pandemic environment care, powered by edge AI computing platform
Aetina x SmartCow: smart medical assistant for pandemic environment care, powered by edge AI computing platform

Edgar, an AI-powered healthcare assistant built-up with Aetina AN110-NAO platform, developed for a safe work environment and patient care. In public, AI should build in original equipment or other machines most efficiently, AN110-NAO sized perfectly, with 87.4×67.4×46 mm (with fan). Various I/O support is an excellent way to build a tight and one single solution. The AN110-NAO platform, which is ready for common I/O, includes the I2S slot that brings audio out, which is suited for Edgar’s application environment, set for warning modules. Meanwhile, camera supports are the core visual AI solution. The platform supports MIPI CSI-II interface 1x 4k or 2x FHD cameras. Not only landed-ready but also fulfill demands from Edgar – high-resolution images bring accurate reality recognition.

Edgar supports six types of AI models, like social distance estimation, masks detection, and safe sneeze action classification. Among these functions, Edgar creates a safe environment in times of medical emergencies, assist the front-line medical staff in preventing the respiratory disease. For example, one of Edgar’s ability is face-mask recognition. It can be set up easily in access and provide guidance and direction to mask dispenser machines before differentiating the mask-wore to enter the premises. The types of face mask covered PPE, N95 and surgical. Another specialty of Edgar is social distancing detection; the device could combine with a policy network and keep public activity in 6 feet between 2 people.

In the data explosion era, security and privacy is the first concern. Edgar is GDPR compliant. Images will be processed and remain on the edge system; no data will transfer to the cloud. It is well-prepared for the public and ready to assist the market. Besides, Aetina Jetson series serve comprehensive, experienced R&D advise and edge AI ecosystem prop for AI development.

To reach more detail by visit Aetina website: www.aetina.com or contact them at sales@aetina.com.

Photo – https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200525/2812501-1?lang=0

Automated Farming: XAG Introduces Rice Seeding Drone to Mitigate Labour Shortage

GUANGZHOU, China, May 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — With the farming population decreasing and growing older, the global food system now faces great uncertainty especially when the covid-19 pandemic exacerbates labour shortages. Its potential havoc can somehow be avoided by the integration of automation technologies. To overhaul the labour-intensive rice farming industry, XAG is scaling up drone applications in China that enable night-time seeding at peak period.

XAG Drone JetSeed Module Conducts Direct Seeding on Rice Paddy
XAG Drone JetSeed Module Conducts Direct Seeding on Rice Paddy

Drones Sowing Seeds for Aging Farmers

On 13 April 2020, XAG organised the world’s first-ever rice direct seeding demonstration on the comparison between manual broadcasting and drone seeding. The operation was conducted in China’s ‘Happy Farms’, one of the largest modern agricultural parks as well as smart agriculture demonstration site in Guangdong province. Two workers were invited to spread 5kg of rice seeds, walking slowly through the waterlogged paddy field with their feet swamped in the mud. This was a laborious and lengthy process, which took them 25 minutes to cover 1,200 square metres of land.

Then XAG’s drone followed a pre-programmed route and dispensed rice seeds from the air. With JetSeed granule spreading system, it finished the same amount of work in only two minutes. One XAG agricultural drone can seed 50,000 square metres of land per hour, which would otherwise take 50 to 60 field workers to complete. Happy Farms has just introduced XAG’s autonomous drones to replace manual labour for seeding, fertilisation, and crop spraying.

Many other farms in China, however, are still haunted by the problem of labour dependence, which has increased their vulnerability to the aging farming population. According to National Bureau of Statistics, China’s rural population has substantially reduced by 23% in the past two decades, while those aged over 55 constitute one third of the agricultural workforce. When the older generation of farmers retire and young people pour into the cities for better employment, the future of food supply seems unsecure if counting on manpower.

Direct Seeded Rice Planted at Night

Direct seeded rice (DSR) refers to the process of sowing seeds directly into the fields without nursery cultivation and transplantation. As a more sustainable alternative to conventional transplanting, it avoids deteriorating soil health and intensive water use. However, DSR can only be conducted either by hand or use of large ground machinery in the past.

Unlike the large-scale agriculture economies, most Asian countries with rice as their staple crop cannot resort to large automated machinery such as driverless tractors, because of the complex terrains, small size of many farms and high costs. This is where the nimble, agile drones can unleash their full potential to empower the rice farmers toiling on the land. For example, XAG’s agricultural drone can not only be utilised to spray crops to ward off pests and diseases, but it can also distribute rice seeds directly into the paddy fields without seedling transplant.

JetSeed is an intelligent granule spreading system mounted on the bottom of XAG agricultural UAS, to endow the drone with new function of direct rice seeding. After simple parameter set-up on app, it generates high-speed airflow to project proper amount of seeds accurately into the targeted topsoil. Such mechanism is designed to maintain optimum spacing and uniform plant density. Compared with manual broadcasting and traditional sowing machine, drone seeding proves to achieve higher seedling rate and lodging resistance as important factors of a bumper harvest.

Chinese farmers also start embracing night-time drone seeding to resolve severe labour shortfall during the busy planting season. Li Qisheng, a drone operator in Anhui, China, has turned on night operation mode this May to meet the increasing demands for autonomous direct seeding. “There are two major advantages of seeding at night by drones. First, aerial spreading is more precise and even after sunset when it is usually less windy than during daytime. Second, by extending the operational period, it helps farmers avoid missing the planting season.” XAG agricultural UAS is the only drone in the industry which can operate safely days and nights.

Stabilise Food Security under COVID-19 Pandemic

XAG has made a great leap forward by taking drone seeding technology from experimental stage to commercial adoption across China’s main rice planting areas. Since April 2019, XAG’s drone direct seeding solutions have been applied to over 650 million square metres of rice fields in China’s 11 provinces. It is helping both smallholders and large farm owners to resolve common challenges such as operational inefficiency, aging crisis, and shortage of field workers.

When COVID-19 loomed over the spring planting season, XAG has mobilised farmers to adopt seeding drones as prompt response to rural workforce shortages. Despite the economic disruption, China’s agriculture has witnessed a robust performance with 3.5% year-on-year increase in the added value of the planting industry, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. To feed 1.4 billion people with enough staple food, China this year plans to cultivate 4.6 million hectares of early rice, raising by 0.2 million hectares from last year.

However, although the global food system remains well functioning at this moment, the lack of agricultural workforce might undermine future production and supply of food, warned by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Many countries are now struggling to mitigate their labour-deficit in seasonal migrant workers, for example, 80,000 farming jobs needs to be filled while that number in Germany reaches to 300,000. With such urgent labour challenges, the shift to automation, powered by smart agtech such as drone, becomes more imperative in the coronavirus age.

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