Modernizing America’s Air Traffic Control System

Godspeed Godspeed

3 weeks ago

4 MIN READ

This week, the FAA unveiled plans to modernize America’s air traffic control system — replacing 618 radars, upgrading 25,000 radios, and building six next-gen control centers. The overhaul comes amid mounting concerns that outdated infrastructure poses growing safety risks, following recent failures at major airports.

The new system will shift to fiber-optic, wireless, and satellite networks — a major shift from the outdated copper-based network. The Department of Transportation requested $12.5 billion from Congress to fund the transformation. It’s the most ambitious aviation infrastructure upgrade in a generation, with full deployment expected by 2028. Here’s the official release from the DOT.

Streamlining Drug Evaluations

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) teamed up with OpenAI to integrate artificial intelligence into its drug evaluation processes. CderGPT aims to streamline the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research’s review of over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

The FDA successfully tested generative AI tools and now seeks an agency-wide adoption of artificial intelligence. The goal is to accelerate today’s 6 – 10 month drug approval timeline.

While no formal agreement has been signed, the collaboration signals a movement to modernize regulatory processes through AI technologies.

Tesla Fails To Secure Robotaxi Trademark

Tesla’s robotaxi rollout in Austin is still on track for June — but its branding ambitions hit a legal roadblock. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected the company’s attempt to trademark “Robotaxi”, citing it as a generic term used widely across the industry.

Tesla’s fallback, “Cybercab,” also faces delays due to trademark conflicts with other brands using “Cyber.” Both rejections came in the form of “nonfinal actions,” giving Tesla 3 months to respond with supporting evidence — or risk losing the trademarks entirely.

All eyes are on Elon to see what creative solution he delivers.

Google Commits To 3 New Nuclear Facilities

Google continues its commitment to nuclear energy after collaborating with Elementl Power to develop three advanced nuclear facilities in the U.S. Each plant is projected to generate at least 600 megawatts, totaling 1.8 gigawatts of capacity.

Google will commit early-stage capital to advance the development of the three nuclear facilities with the option for commercial use once complete.

Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s Global Head of Data Center Energy, commented,

Our collaboration with Elementl Power enhances our ability to move at the speed required to meet this moment of AI and American innovation.”

Aurora Plans To Add Nighttime Autonomous Solutions

Aurora Innovation is accelerating its autonomous freight operations. Following the successful launch of its driverless trucking service between Dallas and Houston, the company plans to extend operations to nighttime and adverse weather conditions by late 2025.

Today, Aurora operates two driverless trucks and aims to scale up to “tens of trucks” by year’s end. The company has completed over 4,000 miles without a human driver, delivering freight for partners like Hirschbach Motor Lines and Uber Freight.

Aurora is actively building the autonomous future. Check out its latest earnings release here.

Amazon’s Touch-Sensitive Innovation in Warehouse Automation

Amazon unveiled Vulcan, an advanced warehouse robot equipped with a sense of touch.

Designed to handle ~75% of items in Amazon’s vast inventory, Vulvan utilizes AI-driven tactile sensors to identify and manipulate objects, performing delicate tasks.

Currently operational in Spokane, Washington, and Hamburg, Germany, Vulcan has processed more than 500,000 orders. Its ability to stow items at various shelving levels reduces the physical strain on human workers and enhances operational efficiency.

While concerns about automation-related job losses persist, Amazon emphasizes that robots like Vulcan are intended to augment human roles, handling repetitive tasks while employees focus on oversight and system management.

Read Amazon’s official update here.

Robots For Extreme Terrain

DEEP Robotics unveiled the Lynx M20, a mid-sized, wheeled-legged robot engineered for extreme industrial environments.

Combining speed and agility, the Lynx M20 can achieve speeds up to 11 mph on wheels and seamlessly transitions to legged locomotion to navigate obstacles like 31.5-inch stairs and 45° inclines.

Its IP66-rated design ensures full operation in temperatures ranging from -4°F to 131°F, making it suitable for infrastructure inspection, emergency response, and scientific exploration.

Discover the Lynx’s full capabilities below.