“Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder”
– Rumi
1. F1's Printing More Than Brackets Now
3D printing is transforming Formula One. McLaren uses it to print part molds, boosting development speed. Ferrari is studying its potential for creating engine pistons. Alfa Romeo utilizes it for rapid design testing of brake inlets. Others demonstrated its benefits by producing a 3D printed roll hoop; showcased light-yet-robust 3D printed brake pedals; or used it for front wing development and wind tunnel testing. All efforts aim to enhance speed, reduce component weight, and accelerate development cycles.
2. America's Robot Capital
A new report from the National Bureau of Economic Research has identified Iowa, Michigan, Kansas, Wisconsin, and Minnesota as the top five states using robots in manufacturing, rendering the Midwest America's robot capital. It revealed that three-quarters of America's robots are located in just 10% of U.S. regions, creating a geographically stratified robot economy. The report also found that companies with robots tend to employ more humans but often pay them less.
3. Restart To Install Updates
The National Institute of Standards and Technology has released a draft of the first major update to its Cybersecurity Framework in nearly a decade. The update covers all sectors, not only critical infrastructure, and aims to improve organizations’ understanding of cyber risks with enhanced guidance, particularly for smaller businesses, and to aid communication between technical and non-technical staff.
4. Hybrid Electric Dogs
Ford Motor Co. in Mexico is developing the P-Raptor, a 3D printable wheelchair for dogs with rear-leg mobility issues. This modular design caters to different dog sizes and challenges and features an electric motor in its oversized tires to maneuver over rugged terrains. The design, which will be available for free download in 2024, also includes a grill with lighting. Users will input their dog's measurements to receive custom-sized part designs for 3D printing.
5. Yellow in the Red
Major U.S. trucking company Yellow has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to mounting debt and a standoff with the Teamsters union, resulting in the loss of 30,000 jobs. The company, which provided transportation for the Department of Defense and received a $700 million federal COVID-19 relief loan, plans to pay back the loan by selling real estate and other assets. Whether the government will recover that amount is unclear. The filing also impacts Amazon and Home Depot, who are among their 30 unsecured creditors.
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