https://www.facebook.com/216528288203770/

Eigen, Greater Noida (2025)

12/01/2024

Japan's inaugural launch of 2024 marked the successful deployment of a reconnaissance satellite, IGS Optical 8, atop an H-2A rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center. The launch occurred at 11:44 p.m. EST on January 11. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, responsible for constructing and operating the H-2A, reported that the rocket followed its planned trajectory, with the satellite separating as intended. Given the secretive nature of IGS Optical 8, details in the post-launch update were limited, as the satellite is part of the Information Gathering Satellite series operated by the Japanese government's Cabinet Satellite Information Center. The target orbit for IGS Optical 8 was a sun-synchronous path 310 miles above Earth, a popular choice for spy satellites due to consistent lighting conditions.

The IGS satellites, serving both national defense and civil disaster monitoring purposes, possess capabilities such as optical sensing and radar functionality, achieving ground resolutions better than 40 cm (~1.3 ft). Thursday's liftoff marked the 48th overall mission for the H-2A, which first launched in 2001 and has experienced only one failure during the November 2003 launch of the IGS 2 satellite. The article highlights the versatility of the H-2A, referencing its previous mission in September 2023, where it deployed Japan's XRISM X-ray space telescope and the SLIM lander headed towards the moon. The SLIM lander is scheduled to touch down on the moon on January 19, potentially making Japan the fifth nation to successfully soft-land a craft on the lunar surface, following the Soviet Union, the U.S., China, and India.
~Eigen

Instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/eigen_/
Facebook-
https://www.facebook.com/eigen01
X-
https://twitter.com/eigen
🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/100822012

12/01/2024

The European Commission introduced the AI Act to regulate artificial intelligence, addressing risks to health, safety, and fundamental rights. The act establishes a new 'AI Office' linked to the Commission, tasked with enforcing and supervising rules, creating an opportunity for researchers to contribute to shaping comprehensive AI laws. However, identified gaps in the act, such as vague criteria for low- and high-risk classifications and the potential for self-assessment by AI developers, highlight the need for swift collaboration between the AI Office and the scientific community.

Concerns arise regarding the act's assumption that most AI applications pose "low to no risk," potentially exempting many everyday AI applications from regulation. The absence of clear review criteria for risk classifications and the allowance for self-assessment by developers raise questions about the effectiveness of the regulatory framework. Researchers emphasize the importance of establishing transparent and independent verification systems to assess the methodologies and techniques used in high-risk AI products, ensuring compliance with copyright laws and protecting citizens from potential harm.

In light of lessons learned from regulating existing technologies, the article stresses the need for transparency, independence, and the inclusion of diverse voices in the regulatory process. Researchers, including those focused on AI ethics, call for regulatory independence and transparency from AI providers, emphasizing the vital role of the AI Office in collaborating with the scientific community to address these concerns and establish effective regulations for the evolving AI landscape.
~Eigen

Instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/eigen_/
Facebook-
https://www.facebook.com/eigen01
X-
https://twitter.com/eigen
🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/100822012

11/01/2024

Bengaluru-based SaaS fund and accelerator, Upekkha, has achieved the first close at $15 million for its latest $40 million fund, with WestBridge Capital leading the fundraising efforts. The focus of the fund is on early-stage investments in AI and Indian startups specializing in B2B software products for global markets. The accelerator plans to invest in up to 70 startups annually, providing a fixed $125,000 pre-seed funding for 7% equity, a model akin to the traditional Y Combinator deal. Upekkha's network of over 300 SaaS founders plays a crucial role in mentoring the startups in its portfolio.

Upekkha's portfolio includes diverse startups such as iMocha, Aarogram, and Kloudle, with over a quarter of its startups hailing from Tier 2 cities. WestBridge Capital sees Upekkha as a vital partner bridging the gap for early-stage SaaS entrepreneurs aiming to build global businesses from India. The fundraising aligns with a cautious investor sentiment, emphasizing due diligence and a focus on unit economics and capital efficiency. Upekkha's unique incubator model, coupled with a robust referral system, stands out in a market saturated with early-stage deals, providing startups with seed capital and mentorship from seasoned SaaS founders.
~Eigen

Instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/eigen_/
Facebook-
https://www.facebook.com/eigen01
X-
https://twitter.com/eigen
🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/100822012

10/01/2024

NASA's Artemis program, aimed at returning astronauts to the moon, faces delays as the Artemis 2 mission moves from November 2024 to September 2025, and Artemis 3's moon-landing mission shifts from late 2025 to September 2026. The decision, driven by safety concerns, allows for more time to address challenges in first-time developments. Issues like unexpected charring of the heat shield during the Artemis 1 test flight in 2022 and problems with the electrical system in the crew abort system are among the obstacles being tackled. Despite setbacks, NASA remains committed to ensuring crew safety and the success of this historic lunar mission.

The Artemis program, emphasizing global collaboration and determination, symbolizes the pursuit of groundbreaking achievements in space exploration. Administrator Bill Nelson's optimism reflects the program's representation of national and global capabilities. Despite delays, NASA's unwavering commitment to safety and thorough testing highlights its dedication to overcoming challenges and pushing the boundaries of space exploration.
~Eigen

Instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/eigen_/
Facebook-
https://www.facebook.com/eigen01
X-
https://twitter.com/eigen
🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/100822012

10/01/2024

A groundbreaking innovation in firefighting technology emerges as Japanese scientists unveil the "Dragon Firefighter," a four-meter-long, remotely controlled robot designed to combat blazes in buildings with precision and safety. Detailed in an Open Science publication in Frontiers in Robotics and AI, the freely accessible blueprint invites global roboticists to replicate and enhance the Dragon Firefighter for widespread adoption. Developed by a dedicated team from Tohoku University led by Prof Satoshi Tadokoro since 2016, the robot's baptism of fire occurred at the World Robot Summit 2020, where it effectively extinguished ceremonial flames from a distance of four meters.

The researchers, comprising 11 individuals who collaborated with Japanese firefighters to tailor the robot to their needs, share lessons learned during the demonstration. Among the challenges faced, the impracticality of the original passive dampening mechanism and the susceptibility of certain components to heat from fires prompted crucial improvements. The study highlights advancements such as enhanced waterproofing, a more versatile nozzle unit, and an optimized water flow mechanism. However, the researchers acknowledge that refining the robot's reach beyond 10 meters poses a primary challenge, estimating a ten-year timeline for real-world deployment.

As the Dragon Firefighter represents a transformative leap in firefighting capabilities, its decade-long development timeline underscores the commitment required to seamlessly integrate such cutting-edge technology into practical firefighting scenarios. The journey from ceremonial flame extinguishment to real-world deployment demands strategic advancements in reach and firefighting tactics, showcasing the ongoing dedication of scientists to revolutionize emergency response on a global scale.
~Eigen

Instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/eigen_/
Facebook-
https://www.facebook.com/eigen01
X-
https://twitter.com/eigen
🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/100822012

09/01/2024

In Britain, the use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology by law enforcement is sparking controversy. The AI-powered cameras, deployed in various locations, have led to 10 arrests for offenses such as threats to kill, bank fraud, theft, and possession of a crossbow. While proponents argue that LFR is an effective crime-fighting tool with great potential, critics, including some parliamentarians, express concerns about privacy infringement, potential false matches, and the concentration of power in private spaces, leading to calls for regulatory action to prevent abuse.

Opponents, including civil liberties groups and lawmakers, argue that facial recognition surveillance poses a significant risk to the rights of the British public, transforming public spaces into areas of constant surveillance. They highlight instances of false matches and express worries about potential misuse by both the government and private companies. The debate revolves around the balance between public safety and individual privacy, with calls for increased oversight, ethical use, and adherence to data protection laws in the deployment of facial recognition technology.
~Eigen

Instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/eigen_/
Facebook-
https://www.facebook.com/eigen01
X-
https://twitter.com/eigen
🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/100822012

08/01/2024

Invesco, an asset management company, has increased its valuation of Swiggy, a prominent Indian foodtech company, to $8.3 billion. This follows a series of valuation adjustments, with Swiggy's value dropping to $5.5 billion in May 2023, then rising to $7.85 billion in July and $8 billion in October. The Atlanta-based investor, Invesco, holds a 0.92% stake in Swiggy, and the latest valuation surge comes as Swiggy aims for an initial public offering (IPO) in 2024. Swiggy is also working towards profitability, having declared its food delivery business profitable in May 2023 and aiming for profitability in its grocery delivery service, Swiggy Instamart, by March 2024.

In other startup news, Unicommerce, an e-commerce SaaS platform, has filed a Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Additionally, Simplilearn, a learning platform, has reported approaching Rs 700 crore in income for the fiscal year 2023, showing improved financial performance. Meanwhile, Curebay, a healthcare startup, has secured $7.5 million in funding from Elevar Equity. The broader startup ecosystem in India has witnessed valuation increases for companies like Meesho, PineLabs, FirstCry, and Ola Electric in the last quarter of 2023.

Despite these positive developments, Swiggy reported increased losses, reaching $545 million in FY23, primarily due to investments in its grocery business. The company is working towards financial stability while navigating challenges in a competitive market.
~Eigen

Instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/eigen_/
Facebook-
https://www.facebook.com/eigen01
X-
https://twitter.com/eigen
🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/100822012

08/01/2024

AWS and NVIDIA have announced an expanded partnership at AWS re:Invent, aiming to advance generative AI innovations. The collaboration integrates NVIDIA's multi-node systems with next-gen GPUs, CPUs, and AI software, along with AWS technologies like Nitro System and Elastic Fabric Adapter. Key highlights include AWS becoming the first cloud provider to offer NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips, hosting NVIDIA DGX Cloud on AWS, and collaborating on Project Ceiba, a GPU-powered AI supercomputer.

The NVIDIA and AWS collaboration introduces new Amazon EC2 instances, software innovations like NeMo Retriever for chatbots, and BioNeMo for drug discovery. The partnership emphasizes a joint commitment to advancing generative AI, offering customers cutting-edge technologies. Internally, Amazon robotics and fulfilment teams use NVIDIA's Omniverse platform for virtual optimization of warehouses. This collaboration is expected to accelerate the development, training, and inference of large language models and generative AI applications across various industries.

Overall, the expanded partnership between AWS and NVIDIA encompasses hardware, cloud services, and software innovations, reinforcing their commitment to advancing the field of generative AI. The integration of technologies aims to provide customers with state-of-the-art infrastructure for developing and deploying AI applications at scale.
~Eigen

Instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/eigen_/
Facebook-
https://www.facebook.com/eigen01
X-
https://twitter.com/eigen
🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/100822012

07/01/2024

In May 2020, scientists discovered unique rocks in the Sahara Desert, identified as pieces of the meteorite Erg Chech 002, dating back to the early days of the solar system. Through lead and uranium isotope analysis, researchers determined that Erg Chech 002 is approximately 4.56556 billion years old. This finding challenges assumptions about the distribution of aluminum-26, a radioactive isotope crucial for dating events in the early solar system, influencing the melting of rocks that formed planets.

Erg Chech 002, classified as an "ungrouped achondrite," provides valuable insights into the uneven distribution of aluminum-26 in the protoplanetary disk of the early solar system. Comparisons with other achondrites, especially volcanic angrites, revealed variations in aluminum-26 abundance, indicating a non-uniform spread in the primordial solar system. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the early stages of the Solar System's development and the geological history of emerging planets, emphasizing the importance of combining different isotope systems for precise dating of ancient space rocks. The findings hold implications for refining our knowledge of the processes that led to planetary formation billions of years ago.
~Eigen

Instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/eigen_/
Facebook-
https://www.facebook.com/eigen01
X-
https://twitter.com/eigen
🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/100822012

07/01/2024

A recent study led by Professor Patrick Irwin from the University of Oxford has challenged the commonly held belief about the colors of Neptune and Uranus. Contrary to the popular perception of Neptune being a deep azure and Uranus having a pale cyan appearance, the research reveals that both ice giants are actually a similar shade of greenish blue. This misconception arose from composite color images created from single-color images captured during the 20th century, particularly by NASA's Voyager 2 mission. The study utilized data from the Hubble Space Telescope and the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope to accurately determine the true colors of these planets.

Furthermore, the research addressed the mystery of Uranus's changing color during its 84-year orbit around the Sun. The study attributed this color variation to the planet's unusual spin, which causes changes in the reflectivity of its polar regions. A model was developed to explain the color change, taking into account the reflectivity differences between the polar and equatorial regions, as well as the presence of a 'hood' of icy haze observed over the summer pole. The findings shed light on long-standing questions about the appearance of these distant ice giants and contribute to our understanding of the outer planets in our solar system.

The study's comprehensive approach, combining imaging data with a quantitative model, received praise from Dr. Heidi Hammel, who has extensively studied Neptune and Uranus. The research not only clarifies the true colors of these planets but also highlights the importance of Earth-based studies in contextualizing future missions exploring the Uranian system and its peculiar seasonal atmosphere, rings, and moons.
~Eigen

Instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/eigen_/
Facebook-
https://www.facebook.com/eigen01
X-
https://twitter.com/eigen
🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/100822012

07/01/2024

Boston Dynamics has upgraded its humanoid robot, Atlas, by giving it functional hands, allowing it to perform construction tasks. In a recent video release, Atlas is shown picking up and moving heavy objects with its new grippers, showcasing its ability to handle "inertially significant" items. The robot not only carries out these tasks on stable ground but also navigates rickety scaffolding and improvised plank walkways, demonstrating its adaptability in a real-world construction setting. The addition of hands and the robot's improved manipulation skills mark a significant step forward in advancing humanoid robotics for practical applications.

The video highlights the complexity of teaching Atlas to perform tasks, as it must calculate its position relative to objects, devise grasping plans, and manage its balance while lifting and manipulating heavy items. The behind-the-scenes footage reveals Boston Dynamics' use of simulators to program and choreograph Atlas's movements before implementing them in the real world. Despite its impressive capabilities, the video also shows instances of Atlas inadvertently damaging objects with its simple claw grippers, suggesting room for refinement in its dexterity. Overall, the upgrades showcase Atlas's progress in performing nuanced and physically demanding tasks, opening up possibilities for its application in various industries.
~Eigen

Instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/eigen_/
Facebook-
https://www.facebook.com/eigen01
X-
https://twitter.com/eigen
🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/100822012

06/01/2024

China completes the first launch pad at the Hainan Commercial Launch Site on December 29, potentially improving China's access to space for national and commercial launches. The new facility, near the Wenchang spaceport, will host liquid propellant launch vehicles, easing access for both national and commercial providers. This development enhances China's ability to deploy and maintain space assets, supporting projects related to remote sensing, communications, and other civil and military systems.

The completion of Pad 1 at Hainan is expected to help China transition from older hypergolic rockets and reduce incidents of booster debris falling in inhabited areas. The first launch from the pad is anticipated in the first half of 2024, with the Long March 8 carrying the Queqiao-2 lunar relay satellite. This mission is crucial for China's subsequent Chang’e-6 lunar far side sample return mission. The new launch site is specifically dedicated to the Long March 8, a kerolox medium-lift rocket developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.

China's increasing launch rate, from 22 in 2016 to 67 in 2023, underscores the need for additional launch infrastructure. The Hainan Commercial Launch Site is considered China's fifth launch site, and a second commercial pad, expected to be completed by May 2024, will host the "XLV" rocket. This site aims to accommodate various launch vehicles from at least nine manufacturers, potentially reducing costs and facilitating the launch of numerous satellites each year. The development aligns with China's plans for expansive satellite constellations, requiring increased launch capabilities.
~eigen

Instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/_eigen__/
Facebook-
https://www.facebook.com/eigen01
X-
https://twitter.com/_eigen_
🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/100822012

Eigen

12/01/2024

12/01/2024

11/01/2024

10/01/2024

10/01/2024

09/01/2024

08/01/2024

08/01/2024

07/01/2024

07/01/2024

07/01/2024

06/01/2024

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category