Month: July 2020

SELF HEALING GLASS

Photo: University of Tokyo

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”.

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

GIGANTIC ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGES OWN BATTERY

ElektroDumper – eMining AG

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”.

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

FIFTH GENERATION TRANSMISSION

Duckduckgo.com Free picture

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”.

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