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Weekly Tech Recap - № 210 - TeslAtari, Amazon satellites, Sega Genesis Mini, high-density battery and Astrobees robots

April 5, 2019.

TeslAtari

Super Breakout.

Super Breakout. © Tesla.

Did you know that you can play Atari games on the dashboard display of a Tesla? This feature appeared last year with version 9 of Tesla’s system software. Back then, the initial list of games included Missile Command, Asteroids, Lunar Lander and Centipede. And since December, you can even connect a USB controller and drive a race car in Pole Position. Today, the manufacturer added Atari’s Super Breakout and Gabriele Cirulli’s 2048, which was such a hit in 2014. TeslAtari is a fun feature, but it is fortunately inaccessible to the driver when the vehicle is in motion. It also makes the Tesla the most expensive game console in history.

TechCrunch, “Tesla is rolling out new Atari games as part of its TeslAtari feature.”

 

Constellation of Amazon satellites

City lights and the aurora from the International Space Station, 412 km above Russia and Kazakhstan. March 19, 2019.

City lights and the aurora from the International Space Station, 412 km above Russia and Kazakhstan. March 19, 2019. NASA.

Amazon wants to launch thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit (590 to 630 km) to provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity across the globe. Its Kuiper project aims to deploy no less than 3,236 satellites to cover all latitudes between 56 degrees north and 56 degrees south, an area where approximately 95% of the world’s population lives. So far, few details are available. Neither the planned schedule for the launch of the service nor the access price are public.

GeekWire, “Amazon to offer broadband access from orbit with 3,236-satellite ‘Project Kuiper’ constellation.”

 

Sega Genesis Mini

Sega Genesis Mini.

Sega Genesis Mini. © Sega.

Last year, the same day that Sony announced its PlayStation Classic, Sega informed us that the launch of the Genesis Mini (called Mega Drive Mini outside the US) was postponed until 2019, though it had been scheduled for 2018 to time with the 30th anniversary of the Sega Genesis. We now have more information: the mini-console will be available on September 19, for 80 USD. It will include some 40 classic games, including Altered Beast, Castlevania: Bloodlines, Comix Zone, Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine, Ecco the Dolphin, Gunstar Heroes, Shining Force, Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Harrier II and ToeJam & Earl. The list of games is subject to change according to region.

Kotaku, “Sega Will Release The Genesis Mini On September 19.”

 

1,000 km on a high-density battery

Electric car charger.

Electric car charger. © iStock.

The main limitation of electric vehicles is the autonomy afforded by the battery. Innolith AG, a Swiss start-up specializing in inorganic lithium-ion batteries, is currently developing a high-density battery (storing 1,000 Wh/kg) that could provide a range of 1,000 km on a single charge. In comparison, the greatest range currently provided in an electric vehicle is that of the Tesla Model S, which offers 500 km with a lithium-ion battery of 100 kWh (about 250 Wh/kg). The company also promises to reduce manufacturing costs by doing away with “exotic and expensive materials” and claims that the use of inorganic electrolytes eliminates the main cause of battery fires. It remains to be seen whether these claims are true, because the battery that Innolith promises would solve all car-battery problems: distance, safety and costs.

Engadget, “High-density EV battery could offer 600-mile range on a single charge.”

 

Astrobees robots

Astrobee.

Astrobee robot. © NASA.

Three robots, dubbed Astrobees, will travel to the International Space Station to help astronauts in their scientific experiments, to take on maintenance tasks and to track inventory, NASA said. Fans propel these cube-shaped, flying robots in zero-gravity. They can move in any direction and turn on any axis. Each robot is equipped with cameras and sensors to navigate inside the space station and to avoid obstacles. The Astrobee can be equipped with a robotic arm to handle cargo or to perform experiments. When the battery runs low, the robot navigates autonomously to a charging dock. Its design builds on the success of SPHERES, the first-generation robotic assistants that arrived at the space station in 2006. The delivery of the Astrobees to the international station is scheduled for April 17, thanks to an Antares rocket that will send a Cygnus spacecraft cargo ship into orbit.

Digital Trends, “Robotic bees are set to invade the International Space Station.”