Category Archives: Technology

Which technology is right for your fleet? I cant answer that question for you. And, in fact, it's possible you cant even answer it for yourself at this point.

I suspect that for many fleets the answer about any new technologybut particularly powertrain technologiesis not going to be just one thing. Determining which technologies to invest in is a serious decision. Choose wrong and it can reduce your fleets efficiency and/or cost you money. However, not investing in any new technologies is not an option, either, as failure to modernize will put you at a competitive disadvantage and will hamper your driver recruiting and retention efforts.

See also: How focusing on driver needs can aid retention and recruitment

So, how do you determine which technologies make sense for you? The first thing you need to do is change your mindset. It's not an all-or-nothing proposition. The next step is to start gathering data. Begin lookinginternallyat your own operations and what your various duty cycles are. Things may have changed with your customers because of COVID-19 and because of other market changes, so make sure to check in with them to review whether the way you are serving them is still working.

Once you have the data from your customers, do an internal audit of your existing assets to see how they align with what you need to meet customer demand. Also look at the fuel efficiency of each vehicle. Are your assets as efficient as they can be? If not, start gathering information on some of technologies that are availableaerodynamic devices, tire pressure monitoring, idle reduction, solar, etc.to determine where the total cost of ownership equation works in your favor.

But beyond existing technology, it's now time to start looking at alternative power sources for your future truck orders. From time to time, I hear people saying that NACFE is pushing electric vehicles. While we do see the future as electric, we also know that today electric is not right for every application. However, based on the data from Run on LessElectric (we will publish a detailed report on what the data told us in the spring), there are several applications where electric vehicles are working well. This includes vans and step vans, terminal tractors, medium-duty box trucks, and even some heavy-duty regional haul.

See also: Run on LessElectric demonstrates significant potential for CO2 reduction

You wont know where alternative-fueled vehiclesincluding battery-electric oneswill make sense without looking at the data. It's no different than the process you go through when looking at changing vehicle specs. The answer is in the data, and when it comes to battery-electric vehicles in commercial applications, there are a number of fleets that have been willing to share their data with the industry.

While there are still some challenges with commercial battery-electric vehiclesunclear residual value and concerns over charging infrastructure, to name twothe data is telling me that more fleets need to begin analyzing which power sources make sense for them.

This is one of those times when there is more than one right answer. The data will tell you what you should do. Study it and rely on it. Were here to help.

Michael Roeth has worked in the commercial vehicle industry for nearly 30 years, most recently as executive director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency. He serves on the second National Academy of Sciences Committee on Technologies and Approaches for Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles and has held various positions in engineering, quality, sales, and plant management with Navistar and Behr/Cummins.

Read more:

Evaluate the data when making technology decisions - Fleet Owner

TEL-AVIV, Israel, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Powermat Technologies, Inc., the global leader in advanced wireless power technology, today announced a significant investment as part of a US $25 million Series B round, by Foxconn Interconnect Technology ("FIT", SEHK stock code: 6088), leading in global connectivity solutions developer, and Hudson Sustainable Group, a founding shareholder of Powermat.

Powermat's innovative wireless power technology is a critical enabler of the smart mobility, autonomous robotics, industrial drones, medical devices, telecom, and internet of things (IoT) industries, where Powermat is experiencing exponential growth. The current Series B funding round, led by FIT and Hudson, will be used to fund the company's increased growth and penetration in key customer segments, including automotive, micromobility, and autonomous robotics. The strategic partnership with FIT will also involve FIT and Powermat partnering on go-to-market strategies to further the companies' shared goals of capturing new and emerging markets for wireless power.

"This investment by FIT and Hudson Sustainable Group will allow Powermat Technologies to capitalize on the huge demand for wireless power solutions, to better solve customers' future product challenges, and to lead the evolutionary cycle of wireless power technology in the autonomous and IoT sectors," said Powermat Technologies CEO Elad Dubzinski. "We look forward to building on our relationship with FIT as a strategic investor and partner, which will enable both companies to cement their leading positions in the market."

"Access to power on a wireless basis is an essential element to the new mobility ecosystem, which is a business area of increasing focus for FIT," said Thomas Fann, special assistant to the chairman, FIT. "OEMs and technology companies are looking for reliable, high performing, and cost-efficient wireless power solutions. Powermat delivers wireless technology solutions to OEMs with an unmatched level of service that ensures the successful implementation of their reference designs and technologies. We view our investment in Powermat as another step in a mutually beneficial partnership that will help enable the future success of FIT's business and lead to deeper penetration of Powermat's revolutionary technologies across the world's most innovative industry segments."

"Having worked with Powermat Technologies since 2012, we have a strong conviction in the progress of the company and its position as one of the leading players in the wireless power space," said Neil Auerbach, CEO and managing partner of Hudson Sustainable Group. "In addition to its superior technology offering and longevity in the space, Powermat's management team has demonstrated remarkable adeptness in steering the company towards emerging high growth markets where there is a high demand for wireless charging and power solutions."

As the first company to bring wireless charging technology to consumers, Powermat develops advanced Qi-certified and proprietary wireless power technology solutions for various industries and use-cases based on magnetic induction, also known as inductive charging. Currently, the company's solutions can be found in over 800 million smartphones, 40 million embedded accessories, and 8 million cars worldwide, in partnership with leading high-tech and mobility partners including FIT, Flex,General Motors, Harman International, Kyocera, and Samsung.

About Foxconn Interconnect Technology

Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT) is a leading global solutions developer and manufacturer cultivating connectivity for a better world. With unsurpassed capabilities in development, research, manufacturing engineering and design, production, supply chain, and go-to-market planning for world-class brands and private label products spanning B2C and B2B categories, FIT is at the forefront of worldwide technological trendsdelivering compelling user experiences at scale. With offices and manufacturing sites located in Asia, the Americas and Europe, FIT is a global leader in the manufacturing of high precision interconnect components.For more information, visit FIT's website: fit-foxconn.com.

About Hudson Sustainable Group

Hudson Sustainable Group is focused on investing in the sustainability sector globally, with an emphasis on renewable energy, resource efficiency, and other aspects of sustainable technology. Founded in 2007, Hudson acts as both a principal investor and investment manager, and has made 20 investments to date in 26 countries. For more information, visit http://www.hudsonsustainable.com.

About Powermat Technologies

Powermat Technologiesprovides advanced Qi-certified and proprietary wireless charging platforms for IoT, telecom (5G), automotive, robotics, consumer electronics, medical devices, and industrial applications. The company's wireless power platforms and IP licensing program enable global businesses to incorporate advanced wireless power technology into their products and customize solutions for unique use cases. Global market leaders including Foxconn Interconnect Technology, Flex, General Motors, Harman International, Kyocera, and Samsung are already leveraging Powermat's Technology, and its solutions can be found in over 800 million smartphones, 40 million embedded accessories, and 8 million cars worldwide.

Media Contact:Annika Harper Antenna Group for Powermat Technologies[emailprotected]

SOURCE Powermat

Read the original post:

Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT) and Hudson Sustainable Group Invests in Wireless Power Leader, Powermat Technologies and Forms Strategic...

It is not surprising that many of us have been suffering from digital overload during the pandemic, and taking care of our digital wellbeing has become a common theme. Social media, online shopping, making reservations, and even necessary chores like paying bills have meant that technology has pervaded every aspect of our lives.

Whether home schooling or working from home, our mobile phones have never been far from our side. We've even embraced video communication technology for keeping in touch with friends and loved ones, whether they live locally or thousands of miles away.

To be frank, it can be very hard to imagine how we can just decide to cut it off. And the constant pressure to always be available and reply immediately can be overwhelming.

1. Lock it away

By far the most efficient way to get the most out of the experience is to lock your phone, laptop and tablets away.

However, it is quite a task to turn off notifications for certain groups of apps, and with your phone still in your pocket there's always an excuse to check Facebook or Instagram, to reply to an email, or upload a photo. This approach means you could still scroll through your phone, and muscle memory means you can open apps without even realising it.

You could consider limiting your phone usage time. For example, one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening. But our study found that soon you would spend much longer without realising it and find more excuses to be online.

So, the best solution is to go cold turkey and lock your phone in a box or hide it somewhere. This removes the challenges of turning off notifications or limiting your phone time.

At first it might be a bit overwhelming. But after a while you will start to feel the benefits, and will hopefully feel more liberated, freer, or like a weight has been lifted. You may even find that you want to stay disconnected for longer.

2. Don't forget to planIt's very difficult not to unwind in the countryside. There, you don't need to worry about navigating city streets and the overwhelming digitalised infrastructure of cities (such as apps for booking restaurants, cinema tickets and public transport). So if you can get away, it will make the detox feel much more natural.

But prior planning is essential. Turn on your out-of-office message, let your colleagues, clients and boss know that you are away. Inform your loved ones and friends so you won't be stressed about them trying to reach you.

You should also print booking confirmations and train, plane and other travel tickets and get a paper map so you can leave your digital devices behind. If you find the preparation too much of a fuss, you can book your experience with a digital detox holiday provider who will help with the planning and adjustment to a week or two without sensory overload.

3. Find the positivesAs technology is considered the default in our lives, you might experience some difficulties disconnecting cold turkey from a world where we are connected 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

At first, disconnecting might throw up some considerable emotional challenges such as feeling stressed, anxious or frustrated.

We suggest trying to re-frame the struggles in your mind as positive by looking at the experiences as rewards rather than punishments. For example, not being able to use digital apps or websites to navigate around and find highly-rated restaurants can be frustrating but it can also create a sense of excitement from having the opportunity to explore the unknown, experience unexpected encounters, or master new skills in using paper maps and perhaps even a compass.

You might find hidden gems or more opportunities to talk to locals.

Yes, you won't be able to share your experience instantly on social media, but you will have more quality time with your companions rather than checking likes and replying to comments on your posts.

The digital detox experience opens up opportunities to reconnect with long forgotten nostalgic childhood memories, and the old times you probably haven't thought about for a long time. Sometimes humming an old tune or simply playing some childhood games can be enough to take you back.

4. ReflectionThe most important tip is to reflect on the digital detox experience. Everyone has their own unique relationship with technology, and you would benefit greatly from finding the best way to achieve a healthier relationship with it.

Try to use the experience as an opportunity to reflect on how the digital detox makes you feel, and what would you like to do after returning to the busy connected world to help prevent digital overload from setting in again.

(This article is syndicated by PTI from The Conversation)

Follow this link:

Four ways to take a break from technology and digital detox yourself? - Economic Times

Ultimately, the andenes, stockpiles and quipus helped the Inca to steadily expand an empire that eventually dominated a great swath of South America, encompassed 12 million people and produced majestic citadels such as Machu Picchu.

But the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th Century triggered the overthrow of the Inca and the decline of the andenes. Colonial violence, epidemics of European diseases and forced displacement devastated the indigenous populations of the central Andes. European crops and agriculture practices were introduced and quickly spread throughout the region.

Yet while many andenes were abandoned or fell into disrepair, they never disappeared completely. Drawing on knowledge passed down over the generations, many Andean farmers continue to use them today, and though often overlooked by travellers, they remain a common sight in places such as Isla del Sol and the wider Titicaca region, the Sacred Valley near Machu Picchu, and the Colca Canyon in southern Peru, a fissure twice the depth of the Grand Canyon.

In recent years, there has also been renewed academic interest in andenes as a form of sustainable agriculture that could help the world cope with the climate crisis, water scarcity and soil erosion. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, for example, describes traditional Andean culture as "one of the best examples of the adaptation and knowledge of farmers to their environment", and highlights its sustainable approach to land usage, water management, soil protection and crop biodiversity.

Four and a half thousand years after they first emerged, the terraced fields of the Andes appear to be ahead of their time.

Ancient Engineering Marvels is a BBC Travel series that takes inspiration from unique architectural ideas or ingenious constructions built by past civilisations and cultures across the planet.

--

Join more than three million BBC Travel fans by liking us onFacebook, or follow us onTwitterandInstagram.

If you liked this story,sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newslettercalled "The Essential List". A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Worklife and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday.

Read more from the original source:

The innovative technology that powered the Inca - BBC News

A new material developed by the University of Central Florida may one day mean people could be pouring a drink for their car. Thats because UCF researchers are developing an alcohol-based power source for cars and other technology.

The power source an ethanol fuel cell is a renewable energy alternative to fossil fuels and uses less fuel and produces less emissions compared to a combustion engine.

This is because ethanol is used as a fuel to generate electricity rather than heat generated by combustion as in an engine. As a bonus, the approach requires no recharging time like is needed for battery-based electric vehicles, meaning consumers will have more options for alternatives to fossil fuels.

The fuel cell would be replenished similar to refilling a gas tank in a car, but instead of gasoline, ethanol would be used. Ethanol can be generated through fermentation of biomass such as corn and other plants.

The new technology is described in this months edition of the journal Nature Energy.

Our research enables direct ethanol fuel cells to become a new player to compete with hydrogen-fuel cells and batteries in various sustainable energy fields, says Yang Yang, an associate professor in UCFs NanoScience Technology Center and study co-author.

The development of ethanol fuel cells has been hindered in the past by sluggish internal reactions that hamper their performance, he says.

UCF researchers are overcoming this problem by adding the element fluorine to the palladium-nitrogen-carbon catalysts that spur electrical production in the fuel cell.

Our lab has continued to work on fluorine-doped materials for energy and sustainability, Yang says. We spent more than two years on this project, we never stop because we believe this invention will change the world.

Yang says the fluorine works to increase the effectiveness of the ethanol fuel cell by enhancing catalytic activity and decreasing corrosion.

The researchers found their designed catalyst achieves a maximum power density of 0.57 watts per centimeter square and more than 5,900 hours of operation in direct energy ethanol fuel cells. This has several times more power and operation time than previously developed ethanol fuel cells.

Yang says the technology is ready for commercialization now, and the research team is working on reducing the raw materials used and to reduce the manufacturing cost of the developed catalysts.

Study co-authors at UCF were Jinfa Chang, a postdoctoral researcher with UCFs NanoScience Technology Center; Guanzhi Wang and Wei Zhang, doctoral students with the NanoScience Technology Center and UCFs Department of Materials Science and Engineering; and Nina Orlovskaya, an associate professor in UCFs Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

Yang holds joint appointments in UCFs NanoScience Technology Center and theDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, which is part of the universitysCollege of Engineering and Computer Science. He is a member of UCFsRenewable Energy and Chemical Transformation (REACT) Cluster. He also holds a secondary joint-appointment in UCFsDepartment of Chemistry. Before joining UCF in 2015, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Rice University and an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany. He received his doctorate in materials science from Tsinghua University in China.

Read the rest here:

UCF Researchers Ethanol Fuel Cells Offer New Alternative to Power Cars, Technology - UCF

Photo Submitted

From left: Ranil Wickramasinghe, co-founder, advisor; Xianghong Qian, co-founder, advisor; and Davar Sasongko, principal investigator, co-founder.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. SIEV Technologies, a catalytic membrane reactor design company started by University of Arkansas researchers, has been awarded a $256,000 Small Business Innovation Research Grant from the National Science Foundation to develop technology that improves biofuel production.

The grant will enable SIEV to continue developing its business model as well as its catalytic membrane technology. This technology takes lignocellulosic biomass or other carbohydrate-rich feedstock, such as corn fiber or agricultural waste, and converts it into marketable products, like biofuels and bio-based products. SIEV will initially focus on ethanol production.

The federal Small Business Innovation and Research award program incentivizes small businesses to pursue research and development with the potential for commercialization. The goal is for businesses to reach their technological potential and to create a pathway to profitability through commercialization.

The U.S. generates an estimated 386 million tons of biomass waste a year, most of which is either burned or sent to landfills, representing a potentially vast amount of viable feedstock for biofuels and other uses. The companys initial focus on ethanol production will enable production plants to convert the cellulosic corn fiber byproduct they currently sell as low value animal feed into the more lucrative cellulosic ethanol, a biofuel.

The company is based on several patents held by Ranil Wickramasinghe, distinguished professor of chemical engineering, and Xianghong Qian, a professor of biomedical engineering. The company is led by their former undergraduate student, Davar Sasongko.A subaward of $81,839 from the larger SBIR grant will go to Wickramasinghe and Qian to validate their catalytic membrane technologys ability to convert corn fiber to biofuels.

While there are only around 200 ethanol production plants in the country, Wickramasinghe described it as a beachhead market, representing the shortest path to commercialization for the company. With SIEVs bolt-on technology, existing equipment can be adapted onsite to convert its corn fiber byproduct into cellulosic ethanol, a more profitable product. This also means more ethanol can be produced from the plants existing corn feedstock. There are no other transportation costs or other refining facilities involved.

Sasongko also noted that, in addition to earning more money off the byproduct of ethanol production, ethanol companies that adopt SIEVs reactor system can generateLow Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits part of amarket-based incentive program designed to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels within participating states, such as California. These LCFS credits can then be sold for additional revenue.He also stated thatSIEV can use the ethanol industry as a springboard into other markets and applications utilizing bio-based platform chemicals.

Importantly, Qian emphasized that their preferred feedstocks dont compete with food. You can utilize cellulose, food and agriculture waste, which you cant make use of. All of it can be turned to biochemicals. This includes things like almond shells, rice hulls and woody biomass.

Assuming successful completion of Phase I, SIEV anticipates having at minimum a viable product by the end of Phase II, which would begin summer of 2022.

The researchers were previously assisted by both gap and commercialization funding from the universitysChancellors Fund.The SIEV cofounders also participated in the NSF I-Corps program.

About the University of Arkansas:As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than$2.2 billion to Arkansas economythrough the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity.U.S. News & World Reportranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world atArkansas Research News.

Read more from the original source:

Local Startup SIEV Technologies Earns $256000 Small Business Award - University of Arkansas Newswire

CAMBRIDGE, England, Dec. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Darktrace, a global leader in cyber security AI, today reported that the information technology (IT) and communications sector was the most targeted industry globally in 2021, as uncovered by Darktrace's security researchers.

Darktrace's data is developed by 'early indicator analysis' that looks at the breadcrumbs of potential cyber-attacks at several stages before they are attributed to any particular actor and before they escalate into a full-blown crisis. Darktrace's findings show that its artificial intelligence autonomously interrupted an average of 150,000 threats per week against the sector in 2021.

The IT and communications sector includes telecommunications providers, software developers, and managed security service providers, amongst others. Darktrace also defends several backup vendors and has observed a growing trend of hackers targeting backup servers in an attempt to deliberately disable or corrupt backup files by deleting a single index file that would render all backups inaccessible. Attackers could then launch ransomware attacks against the clients of the backup vendor, preventing recovery and forcing payment.

In 2020, the most attacked industry across Darktrace's global customer base was the financial and insurance sector, showing that cyber-criminals have shifted their focus over the last 12 months.

"Over the last 12 months, it is clear that attackers are relentlessly trying to access the networks of trusted suppliers in the IT and communications sector. Quite simply, it is a better return on investment than, for example, going after one company in the financial services sector. SolarWinds and Kaseya are just two well-known and recent examples of this. Sadly, there is likely to be more in the near term," commented Justin Fier, Darktrace Director for Cyber Intelligence and Analysis.

The findings of this research mark one year since the compromise of U.S. software company SolarWinds rattled the security industry. This landmark supply-chain attack made thousands of organizations vulnerable to infiltration by inserting malicious code into the Orion system. Over the last 12 months, there has been a continued spate of attacks against the IT and communications sector, including the high-profile attacks on Kaseya and Gitlab.

Threat actors often use software and developer platforms as entry points into other high-value targets, including governments and authorities, large corporations, and critical infrastructure. Darktrace found that the most common attempted break-in method was through email, with organizations in the sector receiving an average of 600 unique phishing campaigns a month in 2021. Contrary to popular belief, the emails sent to these organizations did not contain a malicious payload hidden in a link or attachment. Instead, cyber-criminals used subtle and sophisticated techniques sending 'clean emails' containing only text attempting to coax recipients into replying and revealing sensitive information. This method is effective because, by compromising these email accounts, hackers can then exploit the trusted relationship between the software supplier and the intended targets.

These methods easily bypass legacy security tools that rely on checking links and attachments against blocklists and signatures. AI can stop these emails from reaching employees' inboxes by identifying the full range of anomalies, including even the most subtle indicators.

"The reality is that attackers are patient and creative. They will usually go right through the front door by compromising trusted suppliers in the IT and communications industry. To downstream customers, it appears as business as usual and is just another application or piece of hardware from a trusted supplier," continued Fier. "There is no magic solution to finding attacks embedded in your software suppliers, so the real challenge for organizations will be to operate while accepting this risk. Getting a sense of what is normal for the software you are trusting will be paramount. AI is perfectly suited for this job; spotting the subtle changes presented by a piece of software that has been compromised will be key to fighting this problem in the future."

About DarktraceDarktrace (DARK.L), a global leader in cyber security AI, delivers world-class technology that protects almost 6,000 customers worldwide from advanced threats, including ransomware, and cloud and SaaS attacks. The company's fundamentally different approach applies Self-Learning AI to enable machines to understand the business in order to autonomously defend it. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, the company has 1,600 employees and over 30 offices worldwide. Darktrace was named one of TIME magazine's 'Most Influential Companies' for 2021.

See the original post:

Darktrace Reports Information Technology and Communications Sector Most Targeted by Cyberattackers in 2021 - DARKReading

Ensuring confident homeownership and adding value to the client experience underpin the latest innovative features in home inspection. Buyers who are more informed about the home theyre considering, are more likely to be comfortable with their decision in both the short- and long-term. Even in todays often overheated market, the opportunity for client education should not be overlooked.

Virtual tours are a growing part of the buying and selling experience for good reason. But what if the concept of a virtual tour is applied to the home inspection to create an enhanced virtual visual inspection record? Areas of concern indicated during the home inspection can be highlighted visually so clients are able to clearly see and understand conditions that need to be addressed. These visuals can also be easily shared with qualified professionals for estimating recommended repairs. You will also save time by reducing the need to make repeated visits to the property.

Expanded client knowledge about a home is good for them and good for you. Knowledgeable clients have greater peace of mind which reflects well on you, too. Applying new technology in the home inspection and reporting helps clients with their buying decision and provides information and resources they can use now and long into the future.

All of us at Pillar To Post Home Inspectors wish you a happy and healthy holiday season! To learn more about how you and your clients can benefit from the newest home inspection technology visit pillartopost.com.

Follow this link:

How Technology Is Transforming the Home Inspection - RisMedia.com

D-Fend Solutions, the leader in radio frequency (RF), cyber-based, counter-drone takeover technology, today announced that its flagship product,EnforceAir, helped safeguard Pope Francis, 90 bishops, 500 priests and anestimated crowdof 60,000 worshippers during Holy Mass inSlovakia.

The Ministry of Interior ofSlovakiacooperated with D-Fend Solutions to protect the Pope, his retinue and attendees from the threat of rogue drones throughout multiple events inSlovakiafromSeptember 12-15, 2021, culminating in an open-air Mass in atn, a town that is home to the National Marian Shrine.

EnforceAir was deployed with itsGround-Level Tacticalkit, to provide 360-degree coverage.

In addition to the overflowing crowd, there were several counter-drone security challenges, including many antennas and communications systems in the area, with an associated high radio frequency (RF) interference environment. Several drones were identified near the event, but the local police immediately identified them as authorized and friendly. EnforceAir recognizes and permits authorized drones to operate in the airspace, even while mitigating rogue drones.

A previously unseendo-it-yourselfdrone was detected by EnforceAir during the Mass. The police decided to mitigate the potential threat and considered using a jammer-based solution. They quickly decided against it, as jammers could potentially disrupt communications systems operating in the area and they were concerned about halting media transmissions surrounding the Popes address during the Mass, as well as disrupting security base stations, which could be a security risk.

EnforceAir fended off the rogue drone, sending it back to its original takeoff position, far away from the large crowd.

Protecting such a high-profile event is of the utmost importance, so we wanted to utilize a counter-drone technology that is best suited for crowded events and sensitive situations, said a representative of the office responsible for the Popes protection during his stay inSlovakia. EnforceAir took control of the rogue drone that threatened the potential safety of the Pope, the crowd and the VIPs in attendance, quickly and easily.

It is an honor to be trusted with safeguarding such important events and to assist our homeland security and law enforcement customers, said Zohar Halachmi, D-Fends Chairman and CEO. The best practices we have learned from having clients use our technology to protect VIPs at massive events worldwide have been incorporated into EnforceAir, facilitating a seamless, end-to-end drone incident lifecycle.

About D-Fend Solutions

D-Fend Solutionsis the leading counter-drone takeover technology provider, enabling full control, safety and continuity during rogue drone incidents across complex and sensitive environments, to overcome both current and emerging drone threats. With hundreds of deployments worldwide, EnforceAir, the companys flagship offering, focuses on the most dangerous drone threats in military, public safety, airport, prison, major event and critical infrastructure environments. D-Fend Solutions technology has been chosen as best-in-class and is in deployment at high-tier U.S. government agenciesincluding with U.S. military, federallaw enforcement and homeland security bodies as well as major international airports globally. EnforceAir autonomously executes RF, cyber-takeovers of rogue drones for a safe landing and outcome, ensuring the smooth flow of communications, commerce, transportation, and everyday life.

Read more:

D-Fend Solutions' Counter-Drone Technology Protected Airspace During the Pope's Visit and Holy Mass - sUAS News

Many bank branches in Mercer County and surrounding areas have recently closed or plan to close. MercerMe wondered why, so we asked Mercer County Commissioner, Nina Melker, who is a banker in her day job.

She shared:, PNC closed a branch in Hamilton and Investors plans to close four or five branches in the coming year in Hamilton, Robbinsville, and Lawrence. According to Melker, the reasons for these closings are primarily financial and technological.

Banks are merging and consolidating, which is the reason for closing branches, Melker explained describes, It is a general trend, and many larger banks are reviewing geographically to determine needs, as many branch locations (which belong to the same bank) are in close proximity to each other. By closing branches, larger banks anticipate still serving the same customers in an area but doing so with less upkeep. These banks and other ones will likely continue to close physical branches depending on need.

Financials are not the only reason for these recent closings, however. Melker explained, COVID showed banks that customers can bank online. Mobile banking and use of ATMs have reduced the traffic in branches, which reduces the need for actual branch locations. Put simply, this recent trend is a sign of the times with changes due to expanding technology.

So, will new physical bank branches replace old ones? Melker believes this is a likelihood even with expanding technology.

New bank branches are a possibility if a bank has no locations in an area and is expanding. For instance, Melker cites William Penn Bank, a Pennsylvania and South Jersey bank, as an example. William Penn Bank is expanding into Mercer and opening a branch in Hamilton; taking over a closed PNC location, said Melker. Thus, despite new technology changing the banking industry, physical branches will likely continue to be accessible in the future.

To keep the news coming, we rely on support from subscribers and advertising partners.Hyperlocal, independent, and digital MercerMe has been providing Hopewell Valley its news since 2013.Subscribe today.

The rest is here:

Recent bank closings a sign of expanding technology - MercerMe