Israel invests NIS 100 million in research into quantum computing; European Research Council grants 14 million Euros to Israel to build shoebox-sized satellites; Israel’s Convexum develops new anti-drone technology; and more! 

By Michael Ordman

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Israel aims to be a Quantum superpower

I reported previously (see here) on Israeli research into Quantum computing. The Israeli government is now investing NIS 100 million in a research fund focused on quantum computing, which potentially can solve problems that current technology cannot.
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-joins-the-race-to-become-a-quantum-superpower-574510

Europe funds Israeli micro-satellites

The European Research Council has granted 14 million Euros to Israel to build 10 shoebox-sized satellites for analyzing small clouds and their role in the climate. The mission is named CloudCT, inspired by medical CT (computed tomography) used to map the interior of a patient.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/chemistry/ct-clouds-fleet-micro-satellites-will-see-smallest-clouds
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3752340,00.html

Another Israeli anti-drone system

Israel’s Convexum (Latin for drone) has developed a product that takes over drones flying in urban areas lands them safely in a pre-determined area.
http://www.israelhayom.com/2018/12/23/israeli-anti-drone-technology-comes-to-forefront-as-gatwick-chaos-ends/   https://convexum.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxabjzXuehg

Discovering co-existence in physics

Israeli and Danish scientists have managed to engineer magnetic forces between two non-magnetic materials. It has great technological potential for developing electronic devices that require magnetic and conductivity to co-exist. An entire new scientific area called Spintronics has been opened.
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/on-campus/bar-ilan-discovery-paves-the-way-for-novel-electronic-devices/2018/12/19/  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-018-0363-x

Smarter images from space

I reported previously (Feb 2017) that Ben Gurion University scientists were developing high resolution cameras for space-based imaging. They have now advanced to Synthetic Marginal Aperture with Revolving Telescopes (SMART) combining partial images from multiple nanosatellites.
http://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/new_imaging.aspx
https://www.osapublishing.org/optica/abstract.cfm?URI=optica-5-12-1607

Images from the Sun

I reported previously (25th Nov) about the image sensor of Israel’s TowerJazz onboard the NASA Parker Solar Probe spacecraft. NASA has now received the first images of the corona taken by the probe – the closest any spacecraft has orbited the Sun.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/nasa-captures-first-image-from-suns-atmosphere-with-help-of-israeli-technology/  http://parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/Show-Article.php?articleID=115

27 of the best Israeli products at CES

22 Israeli companies are in the Israeli pavilion at CES Las Vegas.  But there are many more Israeli products on display.  The Israel21c article describes 27 of them.
https://itrade.gov.il/hongkong/2018/10/05/israeli-pavilion-ces-2019/ https://www.israelatces.com/
https://www.israel21c.org/from-flying-cars-to-robots-that-fold-laundry-the-israeli-techs-causing-a-stir-at-ces/

Use Eve to set up your new hardware

I reported previously (Jul 2017) on Israel’s TechSee which uses an  Artificially Intelligent smartphone service called “Eve” and your smartphone camera to help you resolve technology problems. TechSee has just raised $16 million to expand business and move into sales. Great video.
https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/11/techsee-nabs-16m-for-its-customer-support-solution-built-on-computer-vision-and-ar/

Saving lives on the road

I reported previously (18th Nov) on Israel’s NoTraffic that allows cars with smart sensors to optimize flow through traffic lights. This video shows that the system has a much more important benefit – preventing accidents with other automobiles and pedestrians.

Car and driver work as a team

Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) can now handle 99% of the driving but when it comes to complex situations a human must make the decision.  The AV platform from Israel’s Ottopia, uses a remote human teleoperator to guide the vehicle in these cases, but the car’s safety features are still in control.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ottopia-closes-3-million-to-bring-remote-assistance-to-autonomous-vehicles/

More on the flying car

I reported previously (25th Nov) on Israel’s New Future Transportation (NFT) and its prototype electric car with wings that aims to solve congestion, while being affordable at $50,000. It will take-off and land vertically, is fully electric with a driving range of 100 miles and flying range of 300 miles.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/husband-and-wife-duo-sets-sights-on-flying-cars-over-san-francisco-next-year/

Irrigating Africa

South Africa’s AECI subsidiary Nulandis has signed an agreement with Israel’s SupPlant to market SupPlant’s technology in South Africa and 14 other countries in Africa. SupPlant’s sensor-based system autonomously waters crops, optimizes water consumption and alerts farmers of the state of crops, soil, air etc.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3752846,00.html

Healthy shrimps to feed the world

Israel’s ViAqua develops a particle-based method for orally administering antiviral medication to combat deadly viruses in shrimp – a global market worth some $18 billion. ViAqua has just received investment from Singapore’s VisVires New Protein Master Fund.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3752021,00.html https://www.viaqua-t.com/

Plants can hear

Tel Aviv University scientists have found that the evening primrose flower (oenothera drummondii) can hear the approach of pollinating bees and hawk-moths and produces extra and sweeter nectar in response. They also replicated the sounds synthetically and produced the same response.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-scientists-say-they-found-flower-that-can-hear-approaching-bees/

The next generation of AR

I reported previously (Oct 2014) on Israel’s Fieldbit and its leading-edge augmented reality (AR) smart glasses app. Fieldbit 5.0 has just been launched, with its advanced AR allowing support engineers to guide end users through problem resolution without expensive field visits.
https://www.fieldbit.net/news/fieldbit-releases-next-generation-of-augmented-reality-for-technical-services/

CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK’S GOOD NEWS FROM ISRAEL ARCHIVE.