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BANGKOK , July 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackery, the leader in portable clean energy solutions, is thrilled to announce its participation in the International Engineering Expo, taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 24-26. Recognized as Thailand's premier B2B event for engineering innovations, the expo will serve as a platform for Jackery to showcase its latest lineup of portable energy solutions, including the Jackery Explorer 300 Plus and 1000 Pro Portable Power Stations, as well as the Jackery SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel.

Jackery to Present Advanced Energy Solutions at International Engineering Expo in Bangkok

The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus's durable LiFePO4 battery delivers exceptional longevity, while the ability to recharge via solar in just four hours or through a wall outlet in two hours provides unparalleled convenience.

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For those needing a more powerful and versatile energy solution, the Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro Portable Power Station is a prime choice. With a 1002Wh capacity and 1000W output, peaking at 2000W, it can power up to seven devices simultaneously, ensuring constant connectivity. It boasts rapid AC recharging in just 1.8 hours and features dual 100W PD fast charging ports for maximum efficiency. Offering three recharging options - solar, AC, and car - offers unparalleled flexibility. Built to last, this power station is engineered for weekly use across a decade.

Another must-see product at the expo is the Jackery SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel. With a high conversion efficiency of up to 23%, this lightweight and foldable panel is the perfect partner for outdoor adventures and unexpected power outages. Weighing only 9.1 lbs, it features an easy-carry handle and two kickstands for quick setup on any surface. Its durable, splash-proof ETFE-laminated case ensures longevity, while the IP65 water resistance protects against splashes. With USB-C and USB-A ports, users can directly charge their devices using solar energy.

In addition to showcasing its exceptional range of products, Jackery will also announce its partnership with ROCKTANK CORPORATION (THAILAND) COMPANY LIMITED as its distributor in Thailand. This partnership will make it easier for consumers in Thailand to access Jackery's pioneering energy solutions.

For more details, visit Jackery's booth B12 at the expo, or visit https://th.jackery.com/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@jackery.thailand.

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Jackery to Present Advanced Energy Solutions at International Engineering Expo in Bangkok - The Manila Times

In a move that blends ancient traditions with modern technology, Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched the trial operation of the worlds first electric abra (a traditional boat made of wood) manufactured using 3D printing technology.

The 20-passenger vessel was manufactured by Abu Dhabis global maritime organization Al Seer Marine in collaboration with Tasneef Maritime, Japans Mitsubishi, and Germanys Siemens and Torqeedo, according to an RTA press release on July 14.

The RTA said the abra was designed to retain its traditional identity while supporting Dubais 3D printing strategy, which aims to transform the UAE into a leading hub of 3D printing technology by 2030. This innovative approach is expected to reduce manufacturing time by 90 percent, slash costs by 30 percent, and cut operation and maintenance expenses by 30 percent.

The electric abra also aligns with RTAs environmental sustainability strategy for maritime transport, aiming to reduce Dubais carbon footprint.

Technically, the new abra boasts several notable features. It includes the longest monocoque structure (a design where the external skin supports the load) created using 3D printing technology, measuring 36 feet (11 meters) in length and 10.1 feet (3.1 meters) in width.

The vessel is powered by an electric propulsion system with two 10-kilowatt motors and lithium batteries.

Mattar Al Tayer, RTA Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, announced that the abra would begin trial operations at the Sheikh Zayed Road Marine Transport Station on the TR6 line. During this phase, we will monitor the abras performance and compare it with our current 20-passenger fiberglass abras, Al Tayer stated.

While the electric abra represents the future of Dubais water transport, RTA is also focusing on enhancing existing infrastructure. As part of its master plan to improve marine transport services, the authority is upgrading four traditional abra stations in Dubai Creek.

Two stations have been completed, with the remaining two set for completion by August 2025. Improvements include new floating docks, expanded waiting areas, and enhanced accessibility features, aiming to better serve the 14 million annual passengers while reducing maintenance costs.

Progress on the upgrades has been steady. In February 2023, RTA completed improvements to the Bur Dubai Marine Transport Station, followed by the Deira Old Souq Station in February 2024. The remaining two stationsDubai Old Souq and Al Sabkhaare scheduled for completion by August 2025.

The comprehensive improvement works include replacing floating docks to ensure passenger safety, providing retail spaces for enhanced customer services, and adding facilities for employees and operators. Bike racks will be installed to promote transport integration.

Passenger waiting areas will be expanded and improved, with priority seating and dedicated spaces for People of Determination. The project also involves widening docking spaces by 15 percent, increasing shaded waiting areas by 100 percent, and expanding commercial spaces by 27 percent. These changes will boost compliance with the Dubai Code by 87 percent.

The RTA said it will upgrade the stations using sustainable, low-cost materials, reducing annual maintenance costs by 10 percent.

These improvements, coupled with the introduction of the 3D-printed electric abra, demonstrate RTAs commitment to modernizing Dubais traditional water transport while preserving its cultural heritage.

NEWSLETTER

Stay up-to-date on engineering, tech, space, and science news with The Blueprint.

Kapil Kajal Kapil Kajal is a journalist with a diverse portfolio spanning defense, politics, technology, crime, environment, human rights, and foreign policy. His work has been featured in publications such as Janes, National Geographic, Al Jazeera, Rest of World, Mongabay, and Nikkei. Kapil holds a dual bachelor's degree in Electrical, Electronics, and Communication Engineering and a masters diploma in journalism from the Institute of Journalism and New Media in Bangalore.

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Electric abra: Worlds 1st 3D-printed traditional wooden boat sets sail in Dubai - Interesting Engineering

Researchers have devised an innovative advancement in drone technology that uses passive wing morphing to achieve crash-landing on trees and vertical poles.

Inspired by animal limbs, these drones have dual-purpose wings for both aerial gliding and secure perching, simplifying control and design complexity.

According to the team at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), when the robot collides with a pole head-on, its raised nose allows it to passively reorient from horizontal flight to vertical flight and then hug its wings to perch.

The team believes that such drones will enable close inspections in industrial settings and tall buildings, avoiding scaffolding and risky human interventions.

The details of the teams research were published in the journal Nature.

Due to their high endurance, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) excel in long-distance missions such as delivery, mapping, and search and rescue.

However, unlike winged animals, the drones struggle to land or perch on complex structures for tasks such as inspection and battery recharging.

Various control and mechanical systems have been developed to address this. Control-oriented methods focus on pitch-up maneuvers and post-stall control, often using micro spines or hooks for vertical surfaces.

Mechanical solutions include claws, wrapping arms, and adhesive pads. Despite these advancements, options for winged UAVs remain limited, with existing methods facing challenges like surface dependency and scalability issues.

To address drone perching challenges, the team developed PercHug, a 550 g winged UAV inspired by geckos, for passive perching on vertical poles like scaffolding, towers, and trees.

Using an upturned nose for reorientation and foldable wings for wrapping, PercHug avoids additional structures, reducing complexity. It features an unlatching mechanism, a bistable trigger, foldable wings with hooks, and a reinforced tail for stability and resting.

In the experiments, PercHug was hand-launched against six trees, both with and without an extended elastic nose. Successful perching involves four steps: gliding, reorienting, wrapping wings, and maintaining perch.

Hooks were essential to decreasing slippage and increasing perching success. The primary impact wing releases superior effectiveness over the secondary impact resulted in faster and more dependable perching.

According to the team, precise approach angles that minimize angular and lateral errors were necessary for optimal perching. The tail was necessary to stop the reorientation at ninety degrees.

All trees successfully perched at impact speeds of 35 m/s and angles greater than 15; the standard nose outperformed the elastic nose, with a success rate of 73 percent compared to 42 percent.

The elastic nose, while improving reorientation, hindered surface attachment by creating a gap and releasing stored kinetic energy.

According to researchers, the experiments highlighted the importance of nose design and precise timing in the perching mechanism. Wider trees generally led to lower success rates, emphasizing the significance of tree diameter and static friction in dynamic perching success.

We firmly believe that our study lays a foundation for advancing perching technologies and paves the way for the development of highly versatile robotic systems tailored to diverse applications, said the team in the study.

Such robots enable access to challenging locations like towers for infrastructure inspection, enhance surveillance on lamp posts in urban areas, and monitor biodiversity and wildlife behavior in environmental conservation efforts.

NEWSLETTER

Stay up-to-date on engineering, tech, space, and science news with The Blueprint.

Jijo Malayil Jijo is an automotive and business journalist based in India. Armed with a BA in History (Honors) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, and a PG diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, he has worked for news agencies, national newspapers, and automotive magazines. In his spare time, he likes to go off-roading, engage in political discourse, travel, and teach languages.

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Gecko-inspired hugging-wing drone can crash-perch on poles, trees - Interesting Engineering