Some incredible things are happening these days. On September 18, 2021, the Crew Dragon16 spacecraft splashed safely down off the coast of Florida after 3 days in orbit. This was an amazing success with an all-civilian crew, preparing us for future private adventures in space and perhaps a new outpost on the moon.
Dragon 16 splashes to safety
Back on earth: The port delays and trucking problems continue. In late September there were 73 ships waiting to offload in Los Angeles due to the surge in imports. However, a Norwegian company called Yara International has begun to tackle such problems. They have developed an autonomous cargo ship called the Yara Birkeland – an all-electric ship that once it is fully charged and loaded with cargo can operate and sail to its destination without human navigation. The ship will take its maiden voyage later this year with no humans on board and travel between two Norwegian towns. Each electric ship holds 120 TEUs and can replace 40,000 truck journeys a year! Since 98% of Norway’s electricity production come from renewable energy sources, they can power these ships without fossil fuels – and people!
Yara Birkeland
And what of the loading and unloading problems at the docks? It won’t be long before humans will be replaced here too. Today, Boston Dynamics Stretch robot for example, can easily pick-up and move 50-pound cartons in warehouses and this is only the beginning. Look for AI robots in the future to move cargo to and from the ships, solving labor issues and improving port turnarounds. For those of us navigating the current shipping crisis, this day cannot come soon enough. Electric ships and robots at the port will solve numerous problems including labor shortages.
Closer to Home: Innovation in agriculture technology continues at record pace. The latest is a weed-killing robot without using herbicides or pesticides. Just imagine the benefits! Soil quality will improve, and organic food can be grown at scale. It’s better for the ecosystem and soil reducing chemical runoff into our waterways. It reduces costs for the agricultural industry since the need for pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, and other chemicals is reduced.
Carbon Robotics Autonomous Weeder
How does it work? This weed-killing robot has been developed by Carbon Robotics. It looks like a small tractor and kills weeds with a laser, using its computer vison to identify weeds. Then it zaps the weed with a 150-watt thermal burst of light.
Carbon Robotics is just one of the companies that are part of the growing movement using advanced technologies in agriculture and farming. Soon there will be robots to harvest the more delicate crops like fruits and tomatoes and many of the other products that require hand-harvesting today.
Noon International will continue to follow and report on trends in technology that affect the improvement, manufacture, production, and transport of food products throughout the world.
