Technology Landmarks – Foundations for the future

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BIOGAS FROM CACTUS

Biogas from cactus is a TechnologyLandmark for use in an OmegaMap. The information is derived from an article written by Sean Fleming on March 22, 2019 and presented by the World Economic Forum.

Since 2016 a new form of biogas has been used in Mexico to power agricultural equipment. Rogelio Sosa López, is a farmer and tortilla producer from Zitácuaro. He was always searching for new ways to keep operating costs down. Working with a colleague, Antonio Rodríguez they pulped cactus to make biogas.

It is now being used by the city of Zitacuaro to fuel a fleet of its vehicles. The fuel is made by a company called Nopalimex. The fuel has a number of advantages. Its functionality is improved – it costs about $0.65 per litre which is about one third cheaper than gasoline or diesel. It is said to burn much cleaner than conventional fuel. It is derived from a biological source, the prickly pear, commonly called the nopal and more formally Opuntia. This source grows prolifically to a height of seven or eight metres. Furthermore the nopal grows in areas not used for the cultivation of food.

Biogas from cactus contributes to the functionality of Process-Energy. Its position in the Functionality Grid is illustrated below. Its level of maturity is estimated at a technology readiness level of TRL 7. This level is described as: “System prototype demonstrated in operational environment”.

Technical terminology is covered in: Van Wyk, Rias, (2017) Technology: Its Fundamental Nature, Beau Bassin, Mauritius, LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, (http://amzn.to/2Avsk3r)
For descriptions of:

Technology Landmark; pp. 83-84, Diagram 11.1, Stage 3
Principle of operation; p. 20
Functionality; pp. 24-25
OmegaMap; pp. 92-93
Functionality Grid; pp. 29-32
Technology readiness levels; pp. 22-23

ARTIFICIAL GLACIERS FOR ARID AREAS

A new way of creating water reserves in arid areas could contribute to greater water availability.

Artificial glaciers in high mountain areas, such as the Himalayas, are regarded as a #TechnologyLandmark for use in an #OmegaMap.

The information presented here is based on an interview with engineer Sonam Wanchuck on the website Mashable, August 23, 2020.

The locus of innovation is a new Principle of Operation. Water is sourced from streams during the wet months and stored in pipes that build gravity pressure. In the dry months the water is released, shoots up and freezes immediately into cones of ice. These cones, called stupas, are 100 feet high. Because of their shape they do not melt until late spring and provide water for half of the arid times. Sonam Wanchuk plans to build 20 more artificial glaciers. The research was funded by a grant from the Rolex Foundation

The effect of this innovation is to improve the Functionality : Process-Matter. Its position is indicated on the Functionality Grid. (See diagram below).

The dominant Functional Performance Metric is an increase in the ratio; months with water availability to arid months.

The Technology readiness level on a scale of 1 to 9 is estimated at TRL 5: i.e., “Technology validated in relevant environment”.

Technical terminology is covered in: Van Wyk, Rias, (2017) Technology: Its Fundamental Nature, Beau Bassin, Mauritius, LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, (http://amzn.to/2Avsk3r)
For descriptions of:

Technology Landmark; pp. 83-84, Diagram 11.1, Stage 3
Principle of operation; p. 20
Functionality; pp. 24-25
OmegaMap; pp. 92-93
Functionality Grid; pp. 29-32

SALTY WATER PURIFIED IN MINUTES

The rapid purification of salty or brackish water could become a most popular technology in the coming years.

Rapid and inexpensive purification is regarded as a Technology Landmark for use in an Omega Map. The information presented here is based on an article “Scientists Create a Material That Makes Salty Water Safe to Drink in Minutes” written by David Nield in Science Alerts on 15 August 2020. A further source are the comments of Prof. Huanting Wang, Monash University, Australia, in an article “Breakthrough technology purifies water using the power of sunlight” in EurekAlert!, 10 August 2020, as well as further sources by the same author.

The technology is based on a new Principle of Operation that uses metal-organic framework compounds (MOFS). Under dark conditions they remove impurities from the water in just half an hour. A freshwater yield of 139.5 litres per day would be achieved. This yield would be accomplished with an energy consumption of 0.11 Wh per litre to desalinating 2,233 ppm of brackish water. But then: “After just four minutes of exposure to sunlight, the material releases all of the salt soaked up from the water, and is ready to be used again.”

The effect of this innovation is to improve the Functionality: Process-Energy. Its position is indicated on the Functionality Grid. (See diagram below.)

The dominant Functional Performance Metric to be watched for is a decrease in the time taken to produce a volume of clean water. Future metrics could see an improvement in the amount of MOF material (one kilogram) required to produce a daily output of clean water (139.5 litres).

The Technology Readiness Level on a scale of 1 to 9, is estimated at TRL 3: i.e. “Experimental Proof of Concept”.

Technology Landmark; pp. 83-84, Diagram 11.1, Stage 3
Principle of operation; p. 20
Functionality; pp. 24-25
OmegaMap; pp. 92-93
Functionality Grid; pp. 29-32
Technology readiness levels; pp. 22-23

SELF HEALING GLASS

Self healing glass is considered a Technology Landmark for use in an Omega Map

The information contained in this post is taken from an article written by Antonio Vilas-Boas and published by the World Economic Forum cooperating with the Business Insider on 22 December 2017. The research was done at the University of Tokyo. The diagram shows two pieces of glass fused together with slight pressure. The fusion line is visible.

The locus of innovation is a new Principle of Operation. Previous systems for bonding glass required independent adhesives. Here the bonding of glass requires slight pressure

The effect of this innovation is to improve the Functionality : Process-Matter. Its position is indicated on the Functionality Grid. (See diagram below).

The dominant Functional Performance Metric is an increase in the ratio; material output to external energy input. As the external energy requirement is almost zero, the functional performance metric tends to infinity.

The Technology readiness level on a scale of 1 to 9is estimated at TRL 3: i.e., “Experimental proof of concept”.

Technology Landmark; pp. 83-84, Diagram 11.1, Stage 3
Principle of operation; p. 20
Functionality; pp. 24-25
OmegaMap; pp. 92-93
Functionality Grid; pp. 29-32
Technology readiness levels; pp. 22-23

GIGANTIC ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGES OWN BATTERY

Regenerative battery charging is regarded as a TechnologyLandmark for use in an OmegaMap.

The information presented here is based on an article; “The World’s Largest Electric Vehicle Is a Dump Truck” written by Courtney Linder and published in Popular Mechanics, August 21, 2019.

The locus of innovation is a new Principle of Operation. Earlier principles of operation required an external energy source to charge the battery, in this case the device uses an internal regenerative charging principle. The truck is used to haul material from a mountainside in Switzerland and to transport it to a cement factory. The truck weighs 45 tons empty. When it is filled it weighs 65 tons. It then descends a gradient of 13 percent and employs a regenerative braking system to refill the battery.

The effect of this innovation is to improve the Functionality : Process-Energy. Its position is indicated on the Functionality Grid. (See diagram below).

The dominant Functional Performance Metric is an increase in the ratio; energy output to external energy input. As the external energy requirement is almost zero, the functional performance metric tends to infinity.

The Technology readiness level on a scale of 1 to 9 is estimated at TRL 7: i.e., “System prototype demonstration in operational environment”.

Technology Landmark; pp. 83-84, Diagram 11.1, Stage 3
Principle of operation; p. 20
Functionality; pp. 24-25
OmegaMap; pp. 92-93
Functionality Grid; pp. 29-32
Technology readiness levels; pp. 22-23

FIFTH GENERATION TRANSMISSION

Fifth generation transmission is evolving rapidly and could become the dominant technology in the next few months

5G is is regarded as a TechnologyLandmark for use in an OmegaMap. Mobile 5G is evolving rapidly as an immaterial electro-magnetic transmission system that could challenge existing materially based transmission systems.

The information presented here is based on an article; “1G, 2G, 3G, 4G & 5G Explained” published by Adam Fendelman (Reviewed by Jon Fisher) in Lifewire on June 17, 2020. The locus of innovation is a new Principle of Operation. Earlier principles involved material channels. Recent evolution favours immaterial channels using mobile devices and similar devices.

According to the source cited;

1G was Voice Only. It is dated circa 1980. Its maximum speed was 2.4 Kbps.
2G was for SMS and MMS. It was launched in 1991and took cell phones “from analog to digital communications” The maximum speed was 50 Kbps with some enhancement in special cases.
3G was for More Data, Video Calling and Mobile Network. The maximum speed is “2Mbps for non-moving devices and 384 Kbps in moving vehicles”.
4G is The Current Standard. “It supports mobile web access, gaming devices, HD mobile TV, video conferencing, 3D TV” The speed is 1Gbps for low mobility communication, and 100Mbps fo moving devices.
5G is the Next Standard. The anticipated theoretical speed is up to 20 Gbps.

In contrast the maximum speed of Fiber Internet is over 1Gbps.

The effect of this innovation is to improve the Functionality : Transport-Information. Its position is indicated on the Functionality Grid. (See diagram below).

The dominant Functional Performance Metric is an increase in the ratio; bits of information transported per unit of time. However three challenges to functional performance should be borne in mind. (1) There is an enormous infrastructure required by way of 5G towers. These towers are being erected instantaneously throughout the world. (2) It appears that the towers are erected by unconventional authority. (3) There is a health challenge to microwave transmission that needs to be understood.

The Technology readiness level on a scale of 1 to 9 is estimated at TRL 7: i.e., “System prototype demonstration in operational environment”.

Technology Landmark; pp. 83-84, Diagram 11.1, Stage 3
Principle of operation; p. 20
Functionality; pp. 24-25
OmegaMap; pp. 92-93
Functionality Grid; pp. 29-32
Technology readiness levels; pp. 22-23

REUSABLE LAUNCH SYSTEMS

Falcon heavy side boosters landing during 2018 demonstration mission

Reusable launch systems are regarded as a Technology Landmark for use in an OmegaMap. They could become the standard for space flight launches or for aerial transportation.

The information presented here is based on various references in Wikipedia –accessed on June 26, 2020. The locus of innovation is a new Principle of Operation.“A reusable launch system is a launch system that includes the recovery of some or all of its stages”. “The SpaceX’s Falcon rocket has a reusable first stage and capsule… and expendable second stage”. “As of May 2020, the only operational reusable orbital class launch systems are the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy“. SpaceX has also demonstrated precise vertical landing on movable floating bogies.

The effect of this innovation is to improve the Functionality : Transport-Matter. Its position is indicated on the Functionality Grid. (See diagram below).

Two Functional Performance Metrics are noted. (i) An increase in the ratio matter times distance travelled to matter input required. Translated into cost figures this improvement amounts to a cost saving of roughly fifty percent per launch over non-reusable systems. “SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said that if one can figure out how to use rockets like airplanes then the cost of access to space will be reduced by as much as a factor of a hundred” (ii) A reduction in the amount of trash left in the environment after the event. In the case of the most modern systems trash is reduced to almost zero.

The Technology readiness level on a scale of 1 to 9 is already TRL9 : i.e., “Actual system proven in operational environmen”.

Technical terminology is covered in: Van Wyk, Rias, (2017) Technology: Its Fundamental Nature, Beau Bassin, Mauritius, LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, (http://amzn.to/2Avsk3r)

For descriptions of:

Technology Landmark; pp. 83-84, Diagram 11.1, Stage 3
Principle of operation; p. 20
Functionality; pp. 24-25
OmegaMap; pp. 92-93
Functionality Grid; pp. 29-32
Technology readiness levels; pp. 22-23

DNA AS GENERAL DATA STORAGE

DNA data storage is regarded as a Technology Landmark for use in an OmegaMap. It is estimated that 160 zettabytes per year storage capacity will be required worldwide by 2025.The information presented here is based on an article “The Rise of DNA Data Storage” written by Megan Molteni and published in Wired on June 26, 2018. This article cites many sources, but focuses on the work of Hyunjun Park at Catalog Technologies.

The locus of innovation is a new Principle of Operation embodied in a system using the code for of DNA (symbolised by the letters C G A and T) as well as the carrier for this code as well (four nitrogen containing nucleobases (cytosine, guanine, adenine, and thymine). This is a step beyond present data storage devices such as magnetic tape, silicon chips, hard disc drives and flash memories. In these cases the code and the carrier are two separate elements.

The effect of this innovation is to improve the Functionality : Store-Information. Its position is indicated on the Functionality Grid. (See diagram below).

Three Functional Performance Metrics are recorded. (i) Data stored per unit of space. At present hard disc drives store approximately 30 million gigabytes per cubic metre, while the potential for DNA is 600 billion gigabytes in the same space. (ii) Duration of storage. Hard disc drives need to be refreshed once in five years, tape has to be replaced after ten years, while DNA is stable over millennia. (iii) Energy used to store a unit of information. Details are not available but present data storage centers require as much electricity as a medium sized country. The functional performance metric for DNA storage is orders of magnitude less.

The Technology readiness level on a scale of 1 to 9seems to be TRL3 : i.e., “Experimental proof of concept”.

Technology Landmark; pp. 83-84, Diagram 11.1, Stage 3
Principle of operation; p. 20
Functionality; pp. 24-25
OmegaMap; pp. 92-93
Functionality Grid; pp. 29-32
Technology readiness levels; pp. 22-23

BIRDS PATROL VESSELS AT SEA

Seabirds carrying radar detectors are regarded as a Technology Landmark for use in an OmegaMap. Widespread use could limit illegal ship activity.

The information presented here is based on an article “They’re Stealthy at Sea but They Can’t Hide From the Albatross” written by Katherine Kornel and published in the New York Times on 27 January 2020. This article comments on the work of Dr. Henri Weimerskirch a marine ecologist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research in Chize, France.

The locus of innovation is a new Principle of Operation combining the flight patterns of Albatrosses and data logging devices fitted to the birds. This makes it possible to pinpoint the locality of vessels engaged in illegal or nefarious activities. They switch their Automatic Identification System transponders off to avoid detection.

The effect of this innovation is to improve the Functionality : Transport-Information. Its position in the techno-sphere is indicated on the Functionality Grid. (See diagram below).

Two Functional Performance Metrics characterise the innovation: (i) Coverage – surveying larger areas of ocean with less effort. (ii) Accuracy – positioning targeted vessels more precisely in a given expanse of ocean.

The Technology readiness level on a scale of 1 to 9 isTRL6 : i.e., “Technology demonstrated in relevant environment”.

Technical terminology is covered in: Van Wyk, Rias, (2017) Technology: Its Fundamental Nature, Beau Bassin, Mauritius, LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, (http://amzn.to/2Avsk3r)

For descriptions of:

Technology Landmark; pp. 83-84, Diagram 11.1, Stage 3
Principle of operation; p. 20
Functionality; pp. 24-25
OmegaMap; pp. 92-93
Functionality Grid; pp. 29-32
Technology readiness levels; pp. 22-2

CHEAPER LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES

Cheaper Lithium-ion batteries are regarded as constituting a Technology Landmark for use in an OmegaMap. Its widespread use would contribute significantly to making renewable energy storage more popular.

The information presented here is based on an article “A Behind the Scenes Take on Lithium-ion Battery Prices” written by Logan Goldie-Scot and published in Bloomberg NEF, on March 5, 2019. Prices are anticipated to fall at a rate of 18% per annum to the year 2030.

The locus of innovation is a combination of new Principles of Operation causing higher energy densities and cycle lives, as well as larger production runs.

The effect of this innovation is to improve the Functionality : Store-Energy. Its position in the techno-sphere is indicated on the Functionality Grid. (See diagram below).

As mentioned above, two Functional Performance Metrics are referred to: (i) Energy density – kilowatt-hours per unit of weight or space. (ii) Number of recharge cycles. This source does not provide information on these.

The Technology readiness level, on a scale of 1 to 9, is TRL9 : i.e., “Actual system proven in operational environment”.

Technology Landmark; pp. 83-84, Diagram 11.1, Stage 3
Principle of operation; p. 20
Functionality; pp. 24-25
OmegaMap; pp. 92-93
Functionality Grid; pp. 29-32
Technology readiness levels; pp. 22-23

LIQUID SOLAR FUEL

Bottled solar fuel is regarded as a Technology Landmark for use in an OmegaMap. Its widespread use would contribute significantly to making solar energy storable and transportable.

The information presented here is based on an article “Scientists can now bottle solar energy, turn it into liquid fuel” written by Robby Berman and published in bigthink.com on November 11, 2018. This article cites an article entitled “Emissions-free energy system saves heat from the summer sun for winter” that appeared in Chemistry and Engineering of Chalmers University in Sweden. The research team at Chalmers is headed by Prof. Kasper-Moth Poulsen.

The locus of innovation is a new Principle of Operation embodied in a system called “Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage (MOST)”. It consists of two components: (i) A compound that is a combination of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen. When it is exposed to sunlight it forms an energy storing liquid isomer. (ii) A cobalt-based catalyst.

When the isomer is passed through the catalyst the stored energy is released as heat.

The effect of this innovation is to improve the Functionality : Store-Energy. Its position in the techno-sphere is indicated on the Functionality Grid. (See diagram below).

Three Functional Performance Metrics are recorded. (i) Watt-hours multiplied by time, per kilogram of compound. A value of 250 watt hours for 18 years is reported. (ii) Number of storage and release cycles. A minimum of 125 cycles is on record. (iii) Energy waste released to the environment. This is zero.

The Technology readiness level on a scale of 1 to 9 seems to be TRL3 : i.e., “Experimental proof of concept”.

Technical terminology is covered in: Van Wyk, Rias, (2017) Technology: Its Fundamental Nature, Beau Bassin, Mauritius, LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, (http://amzn.to/2Avsk3r)

For descriptions of:

Technology Landmark; pp. 83-84, Diagram 11.1, Stage 3
Principle of operation; p. 20
Functionality; pp. 24-25
OmegaMap; pp. 92-93
Functionality Grid; pp. 29-32
Technology readiness levels; pp. 22-23