Month: December 2022

If you’ve ever seen a film about sports, you’ve seen it. It’s that moment that occurs two-thirds of the way through the story, when the inevitable victory of the protagonists suddenly seems a lot less certain. Maybe the inspirational mentor ends up in the emergency room muttering motivational quotes from a hospital bed. Perhaps the unorthodox coach wins the team only to be fired from management for thinking too outside the box. The star lacrosse player may be having a crisis of faith and realizing he wants to be an acapella singer rather than an athlete.

For the three co-founders of Protect3D, a real-life version of that moment happened between the second and fifth game of the Duke University football season a few years ago, when the company’s founders were engineering students. The team’s starting quarterback received a particularly hard sack during a game. He went down hard and stayed down. Things were looking bleak.

“It was our senior year,” Kevin Gehsmann told Digital Trends. “Our quarterback, Daniel Jones, who now plays for the Giants and who was a classmate of ours and a close friend, suffered a collarbone injury.”

Luckily for Jones, his friends had a way of getting him back in the game.

break the shape

The normal solution, Gehsmann said, would usually be to heat a piece of thermoplastic and mold it onto Jones’ torso, creating a makeshift prop. But that would also have been extremely restrictive, making it difficult for him to make the necessary throwing movements. Luckily — and here comes the moment of Hollywood-style redemption — Gehsmann and fellow students Tim Skapek and Clark Bulleit had been working on an innovative project that used 3D scanning and 3D printing technology to create braces, as well as other assistive devices , which was incredibly quick to prototype and print. The only problem? It hasn’t been properly tested yet.

Protect3d

“The medical staff came to us and said, ‘If there’s ever a time to apply our 3D technology to a specific medical use case, it’s to protect that collarbone injury on our starting quarterback because it might allow him to get back to the Space to get onto the field quicker and stay healthy if he gets hit,’” Gehsmann recalled.

The engineering students took a 3D scan of Jones and used that data to design and print a brace that fit him – and only him – perfectly. Think of it as the rusty version of Cinderella’s glass slipper. “We were able to use rapid prototyping along with 3D printing to give him an optimal solution that allowed him to pull through [the necessary] full throwing motion without restriction,” says Gehsmann.

Protect3d

A few weeks later, during Jones’ comeback game, Duke managed to beat Virginia Tech 31-14. Jones remained healthy throughout the remainder of the season, leading the Duke football team to a bowl game victory and finally being drafted sixth overall in the 2019 NFL draft by the New York Giants, for whom he is currently starting as quarterback.

For Jones, it was the end of a classic sports film—but for Gehsmann, Skapek, and Bulleit, it was just the beginning.

The democratization of sports technology

Protect3d

Jump forward a few years (albeit few, as the founders of PROTECT3D – pronounced “Protected” – are only in their early 20s) and the Duke research project has grown into a full-fledged startup. The company’s goal is to use this promising technology to transform the way medical or protective devices for athletes are manufactured. Instead of an expensive, time-consuming process, the company’s app allows athletic coaches to quickly scan athletes in under a minute using a smartphone or tablet. This information is then uploaded to the cloud and sent to a team of design engineers who use the data to create custom devices for athletes, which are then printed and shipped.

“We’re based in North Carolina,” Skapek told Digital Trends. “For example, if we get a 3D scan on a Monday, we can design and 3D print that product [right away]ship it on a Tuesday, and a customer on the west coast of California has the perfect products by Wednesday to get started.”

It’s an example of the democratization of sports technology in action. “In the most elite circles in athletics, there have been bespoke solutions for all types of injuries or equipment for many years,” Skapek continued. “The key to our approach, and what we’re really trying to revolutionize the industry, is that these custom solutions have traditionally required a lot of manual work. They require hand molding, plaster casting, things that are tedious and require a great deal of skill. Our whole mission has been to not only create great custom devices, but [also] Make the process of manufacturing custom equipment so much smoother, more efficient, more accessible, and more scalable — to make it accessible to collegiate athletics, high school athletics, amateur athletics, and truly everyone, everywhere.”

The future of sports equipment

Protect3d

While many of the company’s devices are designed to help people treat injuries, Skapek also focuses on developing preventative products to keep uninjured athletes healthy, Skapek says. Products to date have included pads to protect against direct impact to injured areas, as well as a variety of “splints and braces” for hand and wrist injuries. To date, PROTECT3D has surpassed 500 shipped devices, although the co-founders acknowledge that growth has slowed during the pandemic.

Protect3d

“Everybody’s sports budget was frozen and they weren’t allowed to invest in new technology or anything like that,” Gehsmann said. Thankfully, as the world gradually returns to normal, the numbers are rising again — along with support from everyone from the NFL to college football teams.

“[Pricing is] a bit complex because we’re a small startup,” Gehsmann said. “It changes all the time. But the way we work with universities and professional soccer teams is to license software and then charge for each product directly. But ultimately, as we grow and reach a certain scale, we hope that 3D printing will continue on its way to where… our fully custom products are comparable to those off the shelf [standardized] Products.”

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Few could have predicted the economic and geopolitical landscape that the mobility sector would face in 2022. As the industry still suffers from material shortages – particularly for semiconductor chips – caused by COVID-19 lockdowns, the invasion of Ukraine has further tested the sector’s resilience.

This has led to companies scrambling to wean themselves off Russian oil. The result of this is a strong focus on renewable energy, including conservation, optimizing operational efficiencies and electrification, topics that will cut across all areas of mobility in 2023.

But there’s a lot more we can expect from the industry next year, and here are some of those predictions.

Higher subsidized public transport

Get your tickets for TNW Valencia in March!

The heart of technology comes to the heart of the Mediterranean

In 2022 countries like Spain and Germany subsidized public transport and these initiatives will continue until 2023.

France has banned short-haul domestic flights, reducing the cost of train tickets. We will likely see more countries investing in public transport to reduce citizens’ dependence on petrol.

Solar Electric Vehicles (sEVs) are hitting the streets for the first time

This is the Sono Motors Sion car.

We can expect great things for solar EVs in 2023. Sono Motors’ €25,000 solar-electric hatchback Sion is expected to go into production in the second half of the year. According to CEO Laurin Hahn, the company will then start processing pre-orders within the EU. Although the company is going through some troubles.

Lightyear’s €250,000 Model ‘0’ solar electric vehicle being developed in the Netherlands is likely to hit the road alongside the Squad Solar City. Over in California, Aptera may also release its two-seat solar electric vehicle.

According to Hahn, CEO of Sono Motor, the availability of technologically advanced, safe and energy-generating solar electric vehicles – as opposed to simple energy-consuming electric vehicles – represents a major leap forward in the electric vehicle industry to date.

He added: “Each of these companies is a pioneer in an emerging industry committed to realizing the dream of truly zero-emission mobility that has eluded us for too long.”

Bi-directional charging to have your moment

Bi-directional charging is your car battery’s ability to draw energy from the grid and share the electricity generated.

Currently, bi-directional EV charging is a nice feature, but in 2023 it will become far more popular.

EV owners will want to reduce energy bills at home and in the office, and using their EV as an alternative energy source could be just the ticket.

Bi-directional charging usually requires a hardware investment. But according to Hahn, Sion could be one of the first European car manufacturers to offer consumers the option of charging other vehicles or feeding energy back into a public or private network (e.g. home network) – without additional hardware.

E-bikes are at a turning point

2022 was a great year for e-bikes as hardware in the US is even surpassing cars. In large parts of Europe, they are becoming the ubiquitous means of transport for city dwellers.

Cowboy co-founder and CTO Tanguy Goretti predicts broader adoption among families who will continue to ditch their second car as it becomes too expensive to operate. E-bikes offer families “a more affordable, convenient transportation option that the whole household can share.”

TNW has reviewed many great e-bikes for their great design and utility, but there’s also a significant amount of software innovation that Goretti expects will grow in 2023.

He believes e-bikes will have their iPhone moment, explaining that two significant hardware moments have happened in the last 10 years: electrification and connectivity. He continued, “That’s exactly what happened with the iPhone or Tesla; Hardware differences became less relevant and software became the main element and soon the e-bike industry will follow suit.”

Micro-mobility will proliferate but struggle with profitability

2022 was another big year for micro-mobility as operators focused on expanding their fleets and entering new markets. But the challenge of profitability has grown, leading to the layoffs we’ve seen across the tech ecosystem. This year, major operators of shared micro-mobility services like Voi, Bird, and Tier have all downsized significantly.

A Lime escooter is driven through Paris.

There is also speculation that Paris may ban e-scooters in response to parking problems and accidents, despite a surge in both ownership and ridership. The city’s contracts with Lime, Dott and Tier are all up for renewal in February 2023. So expect the dangers of e-scooters to dominate the French media.

Parking and driving on sidewalks remain notable vulnerabilities, so expect more attention to be paid to the technology managing Escotoers’ driving and parking. Docking (and charging) solutions can become a critical part of urban infrastructure in some public spaces to reduce clutter.

And then there is Berlin. From January 1st, bicycles, e-scooters, scooters and motorbikes (rental or otherwise) can be parked free of charge in the regular parking lots. While I like the elevation of their status in the parking lot food chain, I’m just waiting for the hordes of angry car owners to run over them.

There is also good news in the UK, where the Department for Transport is extending test drives for hired e-scooters until May 2024. This will be a litmus test of whether providers can improve driving behavior and increase user numbers. However, the ban on private escooters, which are currently restricted to private land use, is unlikely to be lifted.

The Rise and Rise of Circular Design

I predicted last year that circular design would be a key feature of 2022 – and it will remain so.

As a reminder, Circular Design completely reimagines product development, from the original blueprints to various life cycle stages and what happens to each element after it has served its original purpose.

Next year will see the expansion of global regulations for batteries and the origins of critical but not infinite materials like cobalt and lithium.

New EU battery regulations have created a set of mandatory incremental requirements. These are forcing battery manufacturers (and users such as automakers) to consider the battery life cycle, from research and development to mining of feedstocks, closing material recycling loops and battery end-of-life management.

In practice, in 2023 we will see car and bike manufacturers focus on a closed loop, reusing end-of-life parts to create new designs. We can also expect an expansion of research and development in battery innovation from material design to the development of reusable and repairable batteries.

Stronger production of sustainable materials

In 2023, innovation in the materials used to build our vehicles will continue to increase.

Volvo’s first fossil-free steel electric trucks are now being delivered to customers.

This year, Swedish Volvo became the world’s first truckmaker to start using fossil-free steel in its electric trucks. The steel is produced using a completely new technology with green electricity and hydrogen. The result is a significantly lower climate impact and an important step towards a net-zero emissions value chain.

The material innovation also extends to bicycles. Cycling Industries Europe, the industry association, will be fully focused on materials traceability and innovation in 2023.

Also, startup Roetz is working on a modular bike called Life, made up of interchangeable parts. Modules are repaired or refurbished, ready for the next life cycle. The Roetz modular e-bike will be launched in 2023.

Also, the German company igus and the Dutch company MTRL have joined forces to develop igus:bike and what makes it so special is the fact that it is made from 90% recycled plastic waste, including the frame, bearings, brake levers, pedals and straps.

So there we have it, just a few predictions for 2023. We know that despite challenges, the mobility sector is constantly improving and evolving its product offerings, changing the way we move people and products for the better.

A drone can be loads of fun or very useful for work depending on what you use it for, but either way, they’re super cool. And in the recent past, drones have become so popular and accessible that drone prices are actually falling. Affordable drones are now within the reach of most people and no longer just a toy for those with lots of expendable income. These days you can find good drones for less than $500 (or even less) if you snag one while it’s on sale. To make this easier, we’ve rounded up the best drone deals currently available.

Today’s best drone deals

Hiturbo Foldable FPV Drone with 1080P Camera – $76 was $90

Great for aspiring pilots of all ages, this drone is suitable for a variety of activities from photography and sightseeing to some fun in the air. It has a built-in 1080P HD camera. Features include voice control, gesture support, an altitude hold mode, one-button launch, and 3D flips and maneuvers. It comes with two batteries that you can swap out for extra flight time, each providing 12 minutes of fun.

Holy Stone HS440 Foldable FPV Drone with 1080P WiFi Camera – $107 up from $139

The built-in 1080P WiFi camera in this drone has a 112 wide-angle lens for amazing shots. The modular battery also offers up to twenty minutes of flight time, which is pretty good. It comes with the remote control, a carrying case and of course the drone. It also supports voice and gesture control, has an auto-hover mode, and makes it super easy for even beginners and novices to fly the system.

Syma X500Pro GPS FPV Drone with 4K UHD Camera – $174 was $280

If you want to capture ultra high-definition 4K quality footage, this drone is a great choice. The brushless motor is relatively quiet yet powerful, and the system offers up to 50 minutes of flight time thanks to two upgraded batteries that are included. GPS assisted and smart flight options are available, with some additional modes like auto return home, follow me, custom flight route, point of interest and more.

DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo Quadcopter with Remote Control – $510, was $600

In the drone space, DJI needs no introduction with its exceptional designs, and the Mini is no exception to that rule. It is lightweight and portable, yet strong enough to fly in force 5 winds or at a maximum altitude of 4,000 meters. The 3-axis gimbal supports the camera and enables stabilized shots, whether you’re shooting a 12MP still image or 4K quality video at 30fps. This bundle includes the drone, three spare batteries, spare propellers, a gimbal protector, a two-way charging dock, a shoulder bag, and more. It’s everything you need to get started and more.

DJI Air 2S Fly More Drone Combo with Remote Controller – $1,110, was $1,300

DJI is back with this powerful and large drone that is phenomenal for aerial photography. You get intelligent HDR, photos in RAW format for high-resolution recording results and a 1-inch image sensor that can record 5.4K video at 30 frames per second or 4K video at 60 frames per second. The package includes batteries, a carrying case, a remote control, the drone, and more.

How to choose a drone

The right drone for you depends on what you want to do. A drone — especially ones under $250 or so — offers the fewest features and may lack some features that may not make it the best fit for you.

In general (and this is not a hard and fast rule), a drone will typically offer 720p video and a relatively low frame rate, typically 30 frames per second. While this will be fine for most of us, the video will lack that cinematic smoothness. If you upgrade to a mid-range drone (usually in the $250-$750 range), you’ll get 1080p video and often 60 fps, resulting in higher video quality.

Most high-end modern drones offer 4K video, but you’ll probably have to spend upwards of $1,000 to get 4K video at 60 fps. If video quality is a primary concern, you’ll have to pay more.

A drone also lacks other useful features, including tracking capabilities and video and drone stabilization. In ideal flight conditions this is not a problem. However, you will need these features if you are flying in a variety of conditions or want to allow operation without much user input.

We’ve also found that many cheaper drones either don’t have obstacle avoidance or aren’t as good as more expensive drones. If you fly in wide spaces, you won’t have much trouble here. However, if you plan to fly in areas with nearby obstacles, you should make sure that the drone you choose has sufficient obstacle avoidance capabilities.

Do drones make noise?

All drones make noise. Most describe it as a buzzing sound, similar to that of a bee. The propellers spin at extremely high speeds, and that’s what makes this noise. It’s most noticeable when you’re closest to the drone, but you’ll hardly hear it once it’s higher in the air.

Can you fly a drone at night?

Most drones can be flown at night, although we wouldn’t recommend this until you’ve gained a lot of experience. We recommend keeping your drone in sight when flying at night – and drones that can operate at night come equipped with lights so they can be seen when flying at night.

Keep in mind that most drones do not have night vision capabilities, so the video you capture during night flight will only be illuminated by available ambient lighting such as moonlight, streetlights, etc.

Can you fly a drone in the rain?

Most drone manufacturers advise against flying your drone in the rain. Most drones are neither waterproof nor water resistant, so even a small amount of water could damage your drone, especially the motor and battery. The moisture will cause a short circuit that will cause your drone to stop working with little or no warning. As a general rule, do not fly your drone in rain, fog, or overly humid conditions.

If these conditions surprise you, land as soon as possible and take your drone to a dry place, disconnect the battery and let it dry. You may also want to shake the drone itself slightly to remove water from the inner casing and let it dry as well. Use similar wet phone drying techniques to dry your drone and the first time you fly it after that, take some time to test the drone at low altitude before flying it normally again.

Do drones have to be registered?

The Federal Aviation Administration requires that you register your drone based on how you intend to fly it and tag your drone with your provided registration number. Any drone that weighs more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) and less than 55 pounds must be registered, which covers almost every drone currently sold on the market. This registration must be renewed every three years.

In addition, you must carry proof of registration with you at all times when flying and, under the terms of the license, are not permitted to fly for commercial purposes. Drone flights are only allowed under 400 feet altitude and Class “G” or uncontrolled airspace. It is your responsibility to follow these rules.

Some states require drone pilots to follow additional regulations. Before you take off, be sure to check the laws of the state you are flying in.

Do you need a license to fly a drone?

No license is currently required for recreational or hobbyist drone pilots. However, flying for commercial purposes may require additional certifications.

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