Autonomous Vehicles
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,239
A Russian air raid on a shopping centre and market in Dobropillia, eastern Ukraine, killed at least two people, wounded 22 others and caused widespread damage on Wednesday, the regional governor, Vadym Filashkin, said. Filashkin said the building was struck by a 500kg (1,100-pound) bomb at 5:20pm (14:20 GMT). Russia launched 400 Shahed and decoy drones, as well as one ballistic missile, on Wednesday night, the Ukrainian air force said. The strikes targeted the northeastern city of Kharkiv, the central city of Kryvyi Rih, Vinnytsia in the west, and Odesa in the south. A Ukrainian drone killed one person and injured six others in the Russian city of Belgorod, and injured one person in a village northeast of the city, the regional governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said.
Robots in China are riding the subway to make 7-Eleven deliveries
Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Subway commuters in Shenzhen, China, may soon need to make room for a fleet of chunky, snack-carrying delivery robots. Earlier this week, more than three dozen autonomous, four-wheeled delivery robots boarded and exited active subway trains, and eventually delivered packages to several 7-Eleven convenience stores. Although this demonstration was only a preliminary test and took place during off-peak hours, the company behind the subway-riding robots believes they could soon help stock shelves at around 100 7-Eleven locations. The initiative is part of a broader effort in China and other countries to normalize the presence of delivery robots operating in public spaces.
Teslas Robotaxi fare increases from 4.20 to that other number Elon Musk likes
Tesla CEO Elon Musk may have the sense of humor of South Park's Terrance and Phillip, but one has to acknowledge his consistency. After expanding the Robotaxi service area in Austin to an area that looks like a giant penis, Tesla also increased the ride fare. Originally, no matter the distance of the ride, the Robotaxi fare was a flat 4.20, a reference to weed culture. The new fare, of course, is 6.90, a reference to sex that probably goes better with the Robotaxi geofence area's intentionally provocative shape. On X, Musk called the new price "princely."
Drone surveillance catches kids in dangerous high-speed stunt atop moving subway train in New York City
An NYPD drone captured four minors between the ages of 12 and 16 riding on top of a train in the Bronx Thursday as it passed multiple stations at a high speed. Three teenagers and one 12-year-old boy were apprehended by police after an NYPD drone captured them riding on top of a train in New York City Thursday passing through multiple stations at a high speed. NYPD drone footage obtained by Fox News Digital shows the four subway surfers -- between the ages of 12 and 16 -- climbing up the side of the moving northbound 6 express train as it passed beneath the Westchester Avenue Bridge. The minors can then be seen standing up and forming a line, some of them jumping up and down and spreading their arms. NYPD drone footage obtained by Fox News Digital shows the four subway surfers -- between the ages of 12 and 16 -- climbing up the side of the moving northbound 6 express train as it passed beneath the Westchester Avenue Bridge.
Uber teams up with China's Baidu on global robotaxi rollout
Uber and Baidu plan to launch robotaxis on the ride-sharing platform in several markets outside of the U.S. and mainland China through a multiyear partnership. Baidu's autonomous vehicles will be available on the Uber app in Asia and the Middle East later this year, the companies said in a statement Tuesday. Thousands of vehicles will be deployed as part of the partnership, the companies said. Future rollouts will also include Europe and Oceania, an Uber spokesperson said. Shares of Uber rose as much as 1.4% after markets opened in New York.
Cartel drones pose 'dangerous' drug trafficking risk in border state, official warns
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes explains how drones are frequently used at the southern border to transport drugs, raising concerns from both sides of the aisle. As reported crossings have dropped dramatically at the border, there is still work to be done on matters of stopping drugs from making their way into the United States, especially in the border state of Arizona, a top state official says. One of the ways that cartels transport drugs is by using drones, a tactic that gained attention after bipartisan legislation signed in the Grand Canyon State gave law enforcement the power to shoot down the small aircraft. "I think what has changed is that we have gotten more control over people crossing over the border, but unfortunately what has not changed is we still have a huge amount of fentanyl that is coming across our border here in Arizona, and that is being flown over the by the Mexican drug cartels with drones," Democratic Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said. Fentanyl is being delivered across the border by cartels on drones.
World's largest known turtle nesting site found in the Amazon
Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Researchers from the University of Florida have uncovered the largest known nesting site for the threatened giant South American river turtle (Podocnemis expansa). How did they find over 41,000 nesting reptiles? The turtles were found gathered along the Amazon's Guaporé River between Brazil and Bolivia. This innovative use of drones opens up new avenues for conservationists, as detailed in a study recently published in the Journal of Applied Ecology.
Teslas expanded Robotaxi geofence in Austin has a very distinct shape. OK, its a giant penis.
When Tesla kicked off its Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, last month, it started with a reported 10-20 cars and a fairly small geofenced area in South Austin. Now, that area has grown, and its shape is a not very subtle message to Tesla's competitors. As revealed on Monday by Tesla's official Robotaxi account on X, the new area where Tesla's Robotaxis operate is shaped like a giant penis. To make absolutely sure everyone's in on the joke, Tesla CEO Elon Musk chimed in with a reply: "Bigger, longer, and uncut," he wrote. Tesla's Robotaxi account on X shared the image of the new area with the caption: "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger."
Will Patriots promised by Trump boost Ukraine's defence against Russia?
Kyiv, Ukraine – Heavy thuds that resemble fast hip-hop beats fill the night air when MIM-104 Patriots, air defence systems made in the United States, get to work. Each Patriot surface-to-air launcher can shoot up to 32 missiles within seconds – and hit Russian ballistic missiles closing in on their targets. The missiles fly at supersonic speeds, and the collision triggers a bright, split-second blast followed by a thunderous shock-wave. "That's the kind of explosion that makes me feel safe," Ihor Lysenko, a 17-year-old in the capital Kyiv told Al Jazeera. He believes that the "technology is pretty reliable".