Shell has unveiled a concept car that it says can deliver a 34% reduction in primary energy use over its lifecycle compared to the typical urban vehicle available in the UK. The Shell Concept Car would require around half the energy to manufacture and operate than a typical small family car and 69% less than a typical sports utility vehicle, the company says. The car weighs just 550 kilograms and uses recycled carbon fiber for its body. Shell says the vehicle can be assembled for about one-quarter the cost of a conventional steel car and is largely recyclable. Shell says that sample test results include a steady-state performance of 107 miles per gallon of gas at 45 mph.
A robot designed to mimic the look and flight of a peregrine falcon to scare birds away from airports and waste processing plants has made its maiden flight at an airport in Germany. The bird is the flagship product of Netherlands-based Clear Flight Solutions. In addition to testing the robot bird, the company is also training its pilot to watch for air traffic. According to the company, bird control at airports worldwide costs billions of dollars, the result of defacement of property by bird droppings and damage to aircraft equipment arising from bird strikes.
Personalized 3D-printed clothing is the goal of a project led by Loff Borough University that its developers hope will change the way consumers shop for garments. Advancements in 3D-printed textiles have made it possible to produce 3D-printed garments directly from raw material, such as polymer, in a single manufacturing operation. This technology not only has the potential to reduce waste, labor costs and CO2 equivalent, the project partners say, but also can modernize clothing production by encouraging localized manufacturing and production.