Beta Bytes: Week of January 30th
Photo by Kelvin Ang on Unsplash
Snippets of breaking news calibrated to science, technology, and engineering topics as well as our clients’ interests.
BMW Takes First Steps into the Quantum Computing Revolution
BMW is rolling into quantum computing, the German automaker said Wednesday, using a Honeywell quantum computer to find more efficient ways to purchase the myriad components that go into its vehicles.
BMW's experiment with quantum computing is among the first real-world uses of the nascent technology.
In the early stages, BMW will test quantum computing speed and ensure small-scale computations match results from classical machines. In about 18 to 24 months, however, quantum computers could tackle optimization problems no classical computer can handle.
From Cnet
Peloton Bike Plus: An Upgrade At a Crucial Time
Last year in the middle of the pandemic, Peloton announced two new products into its e-bike lineup - the pricier Bike Plus and a less expensive treadmill called the Tread.
The most obvious change with the Bike Plus is the new 23.8-inch HD touchscreen, as the prior model included a 21.5-inch HD touchscreen with thick bezels on all sides.
Peloton also launched a new class format, called Bike Bootcamp, to coincide with this bike’s release. The Bootcamp is designed to give cyclers a chance to do it all — bike and strength train within the same class — without having to complete two separate workouts.
From The Verge
$500,000 Grant Funds Creation of Institute to Advance AI for Materials Science
An NSF grant will help create the AI-Enabled Materials Discovery, Design, and Synthesis (AIMS) institute, an interdisciplinary effort to leverage AI for materials discovery, design, and synthesis.
The focus of the NSF-funded project is on accelerating materials design and synthesis methods that would take years or even decades of effort through traditional means.
The planning project will organize a seminar series, workshops, and idea labs to further develop the vision, initiate interdisciplinary research at the nexus between AI and materials science, identify the AIMS infrastructure needs, develop education and outreach plans, establish cohesive partnerships and develop the requisite organizational structure and processes for realizing the AIMS vision.
From Penn State News
General Atomics Advances SeaGuardian Systems
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has revealed that it has completed the development and testing of self-contained anti-submarine warfare (ASW) package, the first such equipment for an unmanned aircraft system (UAS).
The ASW capability is being developed for the SeaGuardian configuration of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian, which can carry up to four SDS pods under its wings.
The SeaGuardian is intended to perform as a stand-alone maritime patrol asset or to act with traditional maritime patrol aircraft as part of a manned-unmanned team.
From AINOnline
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