The Israeli app Green Wave tells drivers the ideal speed to drive at, in order not to have to stop at a red traffic light, and Intel Haifa’s RealSense is using Israeli 3D tech and the Israeli-developed Skylake microchip to give robots sight.

By: Michael Ordman

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Never hit a red light again

The Israeli app Green Wave tells drivers the ideal speed to drive at, in order not to have to stop at a red traffic light. Green Wave came third in Hyundai’s i-Way hackathon, winning 15,000 shekels. The app uses municipality data and a crowdsourced database.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-apps-promise-never-hit-a-red-light-again/

Technology to let robots “see”

Intel Haifa’s RealSense is using Israeli 3D tech and the Israeli-developed Skylake microchip to give robots sight. Intel bought Israel’s Omek in 2013 to help develop Intel’s 3D cameras and infrared lasers so that robots can interact with their environment.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/robots-and-drones-get-the-gift-of-israeli-machine-sight-via-intel/

Still nothing

I reported about Silentium’s Anti-Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology previously. Here is an update in a video from the CES 2015 event in Las Vegas.

Snoring? Not a problem

Another Israeli startup Silent Partner has developed a device that uses Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) – this time to reduce the sound of someone snoring. It works irrespective to the reason for the snoring. Silent Partner has raised over $210,000 of funds on Indiegogo (its target was just $40,000).
http://www.timesofisrael.com/silent-partner-makes-sure-everyone-gets-their-zzzs/
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/silent-partner-quiets-snoring-noise-like-magic#/

Monkey makes a spear

For the first time, a scientific study by Itai Roffman of the University of Haifa, has observed bonobos (an analogous race to chimpanzees) making and using tools to search for food. One bonobo even fashioned a spear from the branches of a tree and used it to threaten Mr. Roffman.
http://www.haifa.ac.il/index.php/en/9-english/1458-bonobos-documented-for-first-time-using-ancient-pre-agricultural-tools-breaking-bones-and-using-spears-as-attack-weapons

Finding the lowest prices

The Israeli app Pricez is helping the hundreds of thousands who have downloaded it to save money by directing them to the stores where the products they need are the cheapest. It uses location data, plus the database that Israeli stores must by law update automatically direct from their cash registers.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/looking-for-cheap-chicken-app-tells-you-where-to-find-it/

A green and sustainable new city

The town of Harish, east of Hadera is being developed into a major city. Buildings will be built according to official Israeli Standard 5281 for green, or sustainable, construction. The Israeli government has allocated NIS 9 million to build new schools.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/205556#.VoDzF1nn-Ug

Protecting airport runways

Israel’s Xsight has been busy since installing its Foreign Object Debris detection system at Ben Gurion airport in May 2013. RunWize / FODetect now operates at Seattle, Boston and Bangkok airports. Xsight has also installed FODspot at Paris Charles De Gaulle and launched BirdWize and SnowWize.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-tech-to-protect-planes-at-seattles-airport/
http://www.xsightsys.com/pressreleases.htm

Keep your pets healthy

Israel’s PetPace has developed a hi-tech pet collar to track the health of your pet cat or dog. Its non-invasive sensors monitor temperature, pulse, respiration, activity level, positions and calories. If the collar detects any abnormalities, an alert is sent in real-time to owners and veterinarians.

http://www.israel21c.org/new-high-tech-collar-tracks-the-health-of-your-pets/
http://petpace.com/

Revolutionary mobility scooter

“Be like everyone else” is the motto of Israel’s Moving Life – developer of the Atto, the world’s first trans-folding freedom scooter. This versatile scooter folds into a trolley to wheel or put in a car or plane, transforming the lives of the disabled, elderly or those who just have problems walking.

https://movinglife.com/

The street can tell you where to park

I have featured many apps where crowdsourcing or municipality data helps find a parking space. But Israel’s Spaceek uniquely uses road reflector sensors to detect one. It alerts relevant drivers and the first to “select” the space has a few minutes to reach the spot before the alert resumes.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/waze-of-parking-app-guides-drivers-to-a-free-space/

Click here for all of this week’s Good News from Israel.