Technology Report: August 18, 2019

When Cars Fly

Japanese engineering firm NEC demonstrated a prototype flying car this month.

With four propellers, the pilot driven vehicle looked something like an enormous drone, and only flew three metres above the ground–for less than a minute.

While the demonstration may have been lackluster, it is expected that Japan will begin making flying cars a reality in the near future.

Japan’s government has been pushing for businesses to produce flying cars in order to ease the densely populated country’s traffic problems. According to Bloomberg, Japanese officials expect functional flying vehicles to become a reality by the 2030s.

London (Ontario) Calling

The federal government has announced that it will be investing $2.4 million into S2e Technologies, an Ontario-based firm that develops technology for cities to allow for autonomous and electric vehicle use, to test the first-ever automatic ‘pick-up and parking’ system – a completely driverless valet service.

The $2.4 million investment is boosted by s2e’s own $40 million commitment to the project, the majority of which is dedicated to the construction of the towers. West 5’s tower construction is estimated to begin in early 2020.

Natural Resources Canada expects the operation to act as a controlled test for the technology but also to see the adaptability of transportation needs for a small-scale community like West 5. It is part of its ‘Green Infrastructure Program’ – an initiative to accelerate next-generation green energy infrastructure within the country.

Customer App-reciation

A Toronto-based company has just partnered with Bridgestone to help drivers in the GTA get their tires at a more reliable price while bridging the gap between customer and repairer. Designed in 2018, BUKL can connect customers to their next auto shop while scheduling a perfect drop-off time, providing the best prices, and even allowing the customer to make their payment – all from the comfort of their phone.

Not only does BUKL quicken the process of finding a repair facility immensely, but the app also assists in building a reliable and trusting relationship between the shop and the customer.

According to Sahlani, the service promises no upcharges and no surprise bills. The app also “vets” repair facilities to ensure a history of reliability as further increase trust between a driver and their repairer.

Some priorities on BUKL’s checklist is a shop that must be a properly insured business, must have been operating for 6 months or longer must provide warranty on parts and or services and must have fair pricing and provide good customer service.

Source: https://bit.ly/2z5c2QC