This Month in Innovation | October 2023
October 2023 is a month of technological advancements and innovation. From virtual flights to robot wolves, from drone deliveries to AI-generated images, the world of technology is ever-evolving. This month’s issue of the Capgemini Applied Innovation Exchange’s monthly technology and innovation round-up blog is no exception.
We take a look at some of the most exciting developments in the world of technology, from Roblox teens taking a million virtual Ryanair flights to Scotland’s windy future.
Roblox Teens Take a Million Virtual Ryanair Flights
In a remarkable feat of virtual engineering, teens have created a Ryanair flight simulator on the game creation platform Roblox. The game has become so popular that the teens behind it recently celebrated their millionth flight. The game features a faithful recreation of the budget Irish airline, complete with check-in, security, duty free, and boarding a Ryanair jet with cabin crew and in-flight grub. The game was created by 19-year-old Sebastian Coddling, who studies computer science at the University of Aberdeen, without the airline’s permission. It’s a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of the Roblox community, and a reminder that everyone needs a hobby!
Robot Wolves Roaming Japan to Scare Off Bears
In an effort to reduce the number of bear attacks in Japan, the city of Takikawa has deployed robot wolves as a deterrent. The robots, originally designed to keep wild animals away from farmlands, are now being used by local governments and managers of highways, golf courses, and pig farms. According to a report from Japan’s environment ministry, there have been 54 cases of bear attacks reported across the country from April to July, including one death in Hokkaido in May. The robot wolves are a unique solution to a growing problem, and it will be interesting to see if they are successful in reducing the number of bear attacks in Japan.
Amazon Takes Flight with Drone Deliveries
Amazon has announced its plans to launch drone deliveries in the UK by the end of 2024. The online retail giant is already offering drone deliveries in two US states for goods weighing no more than 5lbs (2.2kg). The company is working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to meet regulations and is exploring how drones can be safely used in more of the UK’s airspace. Customers will be able to choose from thousands of items which weigh 5lbs or less, from washing up liquid and toothbrushes, to beauty products and batteries. The first area in the UK for deliveries by air will be named in the coming months. Amazon is also looking to launch so-called ‘ultra-fast’ deliveries in a third US state and in Italy. Baroness Vere, the government’s aviation minister, said Amazon’s plans would help ‘boost the economy’ and offer consumers more choice ‘while helping keep the environment clean with zero emission technology’. With Amazon’s Prime Air, customers can now get their packages delivered in under an hour.
Scotland’s Windy Future
Scotland’s biggest offshore wind farm is now fully operational, providing enough electricity to power two-thirds of Scotland’s households. The £3bn project, comprising 114 giant turbines, is the deepest fixed wind farm in the world and will displace more than two million tonnes of CO2 each year. The operator, SSE, is now exploring the feasibility of adding a further 36 turbines to the project. With the UK’s offshore wind capacity rapidly growing, Scotland is well-positioned to meet its climate change targets and create hundreds of long-term jobs in the process.
Wind Power Blowing Away Records in Great Britain
The National Grid in Great Britain is the electric power transmission network for the country, and it is taking advantage of its exposed position in the north-east Atlantic to generate more and more wind power. On 10th January 2023, British wind farms set a new record of 21.69GW of generation.
This open source project by Kate Morley is tracking the rise of wind power in the country, and the data comes from National Grid ESO’s Data Portal, Elexon’s Balancing Mechanism Reporting Service, and the Carbon Intensity API. This project is helping to make sure that Great Britain is taking advantage of its natural resources to power its future.
AI Chatbot Appointed as Prep School Principal
Cottesmore School, a boarding prep school in West Sussex, has appointed an AI robot as its “principal headteacher”. The robot, Abigail Bailey, will assist the school’s headmaster, Tom Rogerson, by giving him advice on a range of issues.
The AI principal has been developed to have a wealth of knowledge in machine learning and educational management, with the ability to analyse vast amounts of data. Mr Rogerson hopes that state school head teachers will be able to use the publicly-available online robot too. This is a groundbreaking move in the education sector, as AI technology is being used to help school leaders make decisions and provide support in a lonely job.
Adobe’s Project Fast Fill: Generative Fill for Video
Adobe has unveiled its latest project, Project Fast Fill, at its MAX conference. This project is a generative fill for video, allowing editors to remove objects from a video or change backgrounds with a simple text prompt. This edit will then propagate to the rest of the scene, even in complex scenes with changing lighting conditions.
Adobe is also introducing Project Draw & Delight, which turns rough doodles and text prompts into polished vector drawings, and Project Poseable, which speeds up the process of posing a model through AI. Finally, Adobe has Project Stardust, its next-gen AI-based image editing engine.
AI-Generated Images: A New Way to Shop
Amazon has recently released a new capability, Amazon Ads GenAI, in beta. This new feature allows sellers and brands to upload a product photo and description to quickly create unique lifestyle images that will help customers discover products they love. However, customers may misconstrue the size of the product when an image of a ‘Cooker’ is displayed next to an apple.
To ensure accuracy, the current system permits the inclusion of product dimensions as one of the input criteria. Additionally, there are other safeguards in place to ensure customers get the right product size. This new feature is sure to revolutionize the way customers shop online.
