eVTOL is about to take-off
In this article, John Denslinger explores eVTOL aircraft and suggests it might be time to fasten our seatbelts as the technology is ready for take-off. In technology, acronyms tend to say a lot about a product. Perhaps the best-known example is EV. EV has become the descriptive moniker for electrification of automobiles. However, under the radar is a lesser known acronym about to take-off and that is eVTOL. eVTOL stands for ‘electric vertical take-off and landing’ aircraft and represents a transformative shift in transportation and aviation technology. Similar to EV, eVTOL promises to revolutionize urban mobility, mitigate undesirable environmental emissions…
ICE jam
John Denslinger takes a detailed look at how the dynamics of electric vehicle uptake are shifting over time and how this is influencing manufacturers’ design and production strategies . Weather reporters often use the term ‘ice jam’ to refer to a mass of frozen ice chunks that clump together blocking a river’s flow. In the automotive world, the ice jam is the consumer’s affinity for ICE (internal combustion engine) that’s hindering EV adoption. At 78 per cent market share (24H1 estimate), ICE still dominates new car sales. Worse yet, a March Gallup poll found buying interest in EVs declined 2023…
2025 Forecast: cautiously optimistic
John Denslinger’s view of 2025 mixes fluctuating GDP, economic uncertainty, technological pathways to organic growth and semiconductors on a roll. Do you remember forecasting this time last year? Inflation dominated nightly news. The Fed signaled successive near-term rate increases. Reshored supply chains were still new and somewhat untested. Jobs openings were plentiful but many went unfilled. Would it be recession or soft-landing? Fortunately, consumer spending saved the day. A combination of strong consumer spending with massive Federal stimuli set the stage for a year end 2.5 per cent GDP. 2024 will go down as another good year for business! As for…
Dawn of surgical robotics
This month, John Denslinger investigates how AI is being deployed before, during and after surgical procedures to help improve efficiency, precision and patient outcomes. Of all the applications benefiting from AI, perhaps healthcare sits at the top of the list with the potential of transforming our quality of life through enhanced diagnostics, predictive modeling, and data-driven clinical support. Thanks to AI, drug discovery has accelerated and personalised treatment plans centered on a patient’s profile and genetic make-up is nearing reality. AI assisted robots perform minimally invasive procedures and now target more complex surgeries. The future of AI’s contribution to human…
Barcode turns 50 this year
In this article, John Denslinger waves goodbye to the barcode, replaced by QR codes and RFID tags, and ponders whether AI will enhance and refresh both for another 50 years. Hard to believe the humble barcode turned 50 this year. It all started in June 1974 with scanning an inauspicious pack of Juicy Fruit gum. Some say it ushered in an era of transactional automation, while others pointed to the benefits of inventory management. It did both, but more importantly it generated data, information useful to sales, marketing and operations. IBM is credited with the linear barcode as we know…
Charging: the disconnect to EV adoption
To empower the EV rollout, John Denslinger suggests switching the focus from car sales to the number of charging stations brought on-line. EV sales have stalled. Dealer lots are full of unsold EV inventory. Automakers have scaled back EV production and expansion investments. Demand has noticeably shifted to hybrids. What on green earth has happened? The Federal government threw billions of dollars in subsidies at the auto industry, battery makers and leading-edge technology companies. It offered generous financial inducements to states and municipalities for charging infrastructure. Tax credits were offered to consumers. It enacted provisions for upstream needs such as…
