Hawaii green lights electric sea gliders to connect islands

Plus: Japanese lunar lander struggles to power up, China’s Mach 7 “dream shell”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 January 23, 2024 | [Read Online]( Forget taking the ferry — Hawaii's islands will soon be connected by electric seagliders skimming over waves at 180 mph. Propelled by underwater wings after takeoff, these vessels will combine yacht-like buoyancy with aircraft flexibility to fly 30 feet above the waves. A new state initiative is bringing transport inventor Regent into the fold to help launch the zero-emissions crafts on high-priority routes as early as 2025. Learn more about how Hawaii’s connectivity could be about to get an exciting upgrade in today’s [Must Read](. 🚨 AI Logs is your essential update on all things artificial intelligence. To get the very latest insights every Wednesday, [subscribe now](. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let’s get into it! Reading time: 5 minutes Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe ✉](  VIDEO OF THE DAY How the F-16’s innovative engineering blazed a trail for the F-22 and F-35 On January 20, 2024, the F-16, nicknamed Viper, marked its 50th year as the world's top fighter with 3,100 models in 25 countries. IE+ SUPPORT INTERESTING ENGINEERING Invest In Science And Engineering Insider access to exclusive content, featuring riveting stories that take you right to the heart of the action. Engage with our thriving online community, dive into captivating science discoveries, and stay informed with our enlightening weekly premium newsletters. With IE+, quality reporting is more than just news - and it is Ad-Free. [Subscribe]( [HOT TOPICS]( - 🚀[10 space startups to keep an eye on in 2024]( Innovations include space cannons and modular space stations. - ⚠️ [FAA asks airlines to inspect another Boeing plane for faulty door plugs]( The 737-900ER shares the same door plug design as the 737-9 Max involved in the January 5 incident. - 🦅 [Drone-based bot is already saving birds from crashing into power lines]( The Mini LineFly strives to improve worker safety and safeguards wildlife from accidental contact with power lines. MUST READ 🌺 [Electric 'Seaglider' will island-hop to boost Hawaii connectivi](ty With the Hawaii Seaglider Initiative (HSI) connecting public agencies with private companies like seaglider-maker Regent Craft and airline operator Mokulele, the state hopes residents will be zipping between Maui and Oahu faster than you can say “aloha.” Carrying 12 passengers at a time, initial studies show locals may pay only $30 for trips. Cargo capabilities should reduce supply chain costs too. Hawaii hopes to improve quality of life and access to opportunity across the archipelago. Island-wide emissions should fall too, as these electric craft make travel easier and more sustainable than ever. [Read more >]( [INNOVATION]( 🌄 [Japan's historic Moon lander counts on sunlight to overcome battery issues]( Japan achieved its first ever targeted Moon landing on January 20th with the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM). But the probe soon faced crisis as struggling solar cells left its batteries depleted. Fearing restart issues, operators shut off SLIM's power. They’re now waiting for sunlight to reach a suitable angle to revive the dormant robot. [Read more >]( [MILITARY]( 💥 [China unveils hypersonic missile based on US ‘Dream Shell’ concept]( Chinese scientists allegedly tested a hypersonic smart shell inspired by America’s abandoned “Dream Shell” plans, achieving a remarkable Mach 7 velocity. The munition purportedly relies on satellite navigation and an ingenious antenna to direct its flight path toward targets with decent accuracy. If proven, China’s reported achievement may pressure Western military innovation to catch up. [Read more >]( JOB ALERT In this section you’ll find the latest jobs as featured on: [jobs.interestingengineering.com]( [Technical Production Control Professional]( at Fiserv Inc. Lincoln [Systems Engineer, Windows IoT]( at Hunter Engineering Company Bridgeton, MO [Signal Engineering Manager]( at Progress Rail Services Corp. Inc Hudson (US) [Manufacturing Engineering Manager]( at Neogen & Lansing, MI [See More Jobs >]( WEBINAR Dive into the future of robotics with us! Meet Peter Deng, behind DEEP Robotics' quadrupeds. Learn how these four-legged robots are redefining industries and academia. Sign up to this FREE WEBINAR today! [Sign Up]( Question of the Day Why are so many national space agencies competing to land on the Moon? [The Moon is so full of resources]( [Simple national prestige]( [It's just coincidence]( [Strategic, military motivations]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS We asked you whether building and maintaining a permanent settlement on the Moon is a realistic goal. Here are the results. 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Yes, it's vital for humanity’s progress (42%) 🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ Not now, but maybe if we develop our capabilities (36%) 🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ It's pointless, the Moon is dead and useless to us (16%) ⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ We'll never get it together enough to succeed (6%) “If sunlight begins to shine on the lunar surface from the west, there is a possibility of generating power, and we are preparing for recovery.” From the SLIM mission team announcement on X THINGS WE LOVE [[Pipe Clamp] Pipe Clamp $107.99]( [[CIGMAN Dual Laser Distance Meter] AI Robot Kit $139.99]( [[Metric Conversion Calculator] Metric Conversion Calculator $125.50]( [[NeoRuler Digital Scale Ruler] NeoRuler Digital Scale Ruler $129.99]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Geomagnetic storm to send Northern Lights dancing this week]( - [‘Extraordinary’ 14th-century armored glove unearthed in Switzerland]( Need help with advertising? Reach 150,000 engineering and tech professionals. 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