Tesla’s ‘Elon Mode’ Spells Trouble: EV maker under investigation for reckless, law-breaking Autopilot option

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into Tesla’s “Elon Mode,” a feature that reportedly allows the driver-assistance system to take control for an extended period of time.

The NHTSA issued a letter to Tesla on July 26, requesting data related to its Autopilot feature. This letter was made public on the US Department of Transportation website recently.

Going overboard with fun
The NHTSA’s concern stems from the possibility that the Autopilot configuration could be activated to control the vehicle without notifying the driver to keep their hands on the steering wheel. This could lead to drivers becoming less engaged and attentive while using the system, potentially compromising safety.

Under the Autopilot system, drivers are expected to maintain their hands on the steering wheel, even when the driver-assistance features are active. If the driver removes their hands, a symbol on the vehicle’s touchscreen blinks as a reminder.

However, a software hacker discovered that if the driver ignores this reminder and continues driving without their hands on the wheel, the vehicle’s driver-assistance features could be disabled for the remainder of the drive. This discovery was made public through a video posted on YouTube.

How ‘Elon Mode’ was found
Philip Koopman, an automotive safety researcher and associate professor of computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, expressed concern over hidden features that could compromise safety. He noted that such features have no place in production software.

The NHTSA is already investigating several Tesla crashes involving stationary emergency vehicles, and this new investigation adds to the scrutiny the company is facing. The agency emphasized the importance of driver attention and monitoring systems that accurately assess drivers’ trust in technology.

The NHTSA has given Tesla until August 25 to respond to the order, which includes providing all relevant documentation. Failure to comply could result in civil penalties of up to $26,315 per day. In response, Tesla requested confidential treatment for its response, leaving the public unaware of the details. It remains to be seen how the NHTSA will address Tesla’s response.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/4eQKn3I

Share:

Read More

AI Wars: US ready to chase China to the end of world, restricts NVIDIA chip exports to countries in West Asia

It seems that the US is further tightening the screws on China, and ensuring that they do not get their hands on any NVIDIA AI chips, especially through countries with whom it is working on AI.

The US has imposed a fresh set of restrictions on NVIDIA, which stops them from exporting AI chips to certain countries in West Asia. This is in addition to the restrictions that have already been imposed on exports to China. The reason why West Asian countries were at the receiving end of this trade restriction, may have to do with the fact that most countries in the region are working with Chinese tech companies to develop their own AI bots and LLMs.

NVIDIA recently announced an extension of its export restrictions for advanced artificial intelligence chips, which was previously applicable to China, and will now include additional regions such as certain West Asia countries. This development was mentioned in a regulatory filing which was released publically this week.

Surprising, but now exactly
US authorities often use export controls, citing national security issues. This was at its height last year when the US escalated measures aimed at curtailing China’s technological capabilities. However, the specific risks associated with exports to West Asian countries remain unclear.

In a separate communication, Nvidia clarified that this new licensing requirement “does not affect a significant portion of our revenue.” The company is actively collaborating with the US government to address this matter.

NVIDIA stated that these restrictions were mainly for their A100 and H100 chips, which are designed to accelerate machine-learning tasks. NVIDIA also clarified that the directive was unlikely to have a significant impact on its financial outcomes.

NVIDIA is not the only one to receive such instruction
Last September, NVIDIA competitor Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) also reported being subjected to new licensing requisites that would suspend the export of its MI250 AI chips to China. Following these events, NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel have all revealed intentions to create less potent AI chips for export to the Chinese market.

NVIDIA, without providing an explanation for the fresh restrictions in the filing dated August 28, had mentioned last year that US officials informed them of the regulation’s purpose in addressing potential risks related to products being employed for “military end use” or by a “military end user” in China.

Although NVIDIA did not explicitly specify West Asian countries affected in its recent announcement, it did state that most of its $13.5 billion in sales for the fiscal quarter ending July 30 came from the United States, China, and Taiwan. The remaining countries combined contributed around 13.9 per cent of the sales, with no detailed breakdown for West Asia.

The regulatory filing on August 28 revealed, “During the second quarter of the fiscal year 2024, the US government informed us of an additional licensing requirement for a subset of A100 and H100 products destined to certain customers and other regions, including some countries in West Asia”

West Asia collateral of US-China tech war?
The developments of the previous year coincided with heightened tensions surrounding Taiwan, a major manufacturing hub for chips utilized by NVIDIA and numerous other leading chip manufacturers.

In October 2022, the Biden administration adopted an even more comprehensive set of export controls, which included measures to cut off China’s access to specific semiconductor chips produced globally using US equipment. This action notably extended Washington’s influence in its bid to impede China’s technological and military advancements.

Japan and the Netherlands subsequently implemented similar regulations earlier in the current year.

The unavailability of American AI chips, provided by firms like NVIDIA and AMD, would hinder Chinese entities from cost-effectively undertaking advanced computing tasks, including image and speech recognition, among others.

These capabilities are integral not only to consumer applications like voice-activated smartphones but also have significant military implications, such as analyzing satellite imagery for potential weapons or bases and sifting through digital communications for intelligence purposes.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/qIc5Rmz

Share:

Read More

Google Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro Reportedly Spotted on FCC Certification Website Ahead of Debut: All Details

Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are confirmed to debut on October 4. Google has announced the date while teasing the design of the smartphones. The smartphones reportedly have made their appearance on FCC certification site weeks ahead of the phones’ slated debut. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 Pro’s design has also been leaked.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/qQsvonk

Share:

Read More

AI’s Arabian Nights: UAE launches new large language model proficient in generating Arabic content

A novel artificial intelligence large language model that is designed specifically for Arabic, and was developed in Abu Dhabi, has been introduced by the UAE government. The objective of developing such an AI language LLM was to integrate one of the world’s most extensively spoken languages into the mainstream AI landscape.

Meet Jais – UAE’s own LLM
Known as Jais, this open-source bilingual Arabic-English model was created through collaboration between Inception, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s AI firm G42, Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, and Silicon Valley’s Cerebras Systems.

The developers assert that Jais surpasses the accuracy of existing Language Models (LLMs) for Arabic. This resource can be downloaded via the machine-learning platform Hugging Face.

The unveiling of Jais marks a progressive stride in encouraging the scientific and computational communities to direct more attention toward non-English LLMs, akin to initiatives seen in Japan and India, according to Andrew Jackson, the CEO of Inception.

In an interview with a local news agency, Jackson elaborated, “We envision Jais as highly valuable for generative applications, such as formulating responses to queries, generating documents, performing translations, composing emails, and even dispensing advice and recommendations.”

Jais is adept at capturing the subtleties within various Arabic dialects and possesses the capability to comprehend language, context, and cultural allusions, which renders it notably more precise and contextually pertinent compared to other models, as stated by the collaborating companies.

Dubbed ‘Jais’ after the tallest peak in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, this innovation was specifically designed for governmental use, as well as for sectors spanning finance, energy, climate, and healthcare.

Mainly developed for the UAE government
Numerous public and private entities within the UAE have joined as launch partners for Jais, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, ADNOC, Etihad Airways, FAB, and e&, the technology conglomerate previously known as Etisalat.

Jais has undergone training on the Condor Galaxy, recognized as the “world’s largest AI supercomputer,” established by G42 and Cerebras in July. This training involved 116 billion Arabic tokens and 279 billion English tokens. The model is continually expanding as more Arabic content is amassed to create fresh instruction sets.

The need for local languages in LLMs and AI
Arabic is widely spoken worldwide, encompassing over 400 million individuals, as indicated by WorldData. It serves as the official language in 22 nations and is partially spoken in 11 others. However, its online presence remains limited, with only around 1 percent of Arabic content accessible on the internet, as per data shared by the collaborating companies.

Jackson said that Jais would aid in elevating this statistic. He noted, “We’re initiating an project to collect more Arabic data from offline sources. This initiative has already been launched earnestly.”

He added, “We’re also exploring novel methods to synthesize Arabic content and translate existing English content into Arabic. Although we have a long way to go, optimism is crucial as we vigorously advance.”

Overall, this has introduced a new battleground within the tech sector, with companies striving to establish an early advantage and broaden their horizons in generative AI.

The availability of LLMs stands to assist these companies in their endeavors, particularly as developers continually enhance AI capabilities.

“Speed performance is a priority for developers, not only because it expedites the introduction of new models to the community, production, or market, but also because it empowers data scientists and machine learning researchers to promptly implement and iterate various models,” emphasized Jackson.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/f5i4jn7

Share:

Read More

iQoo Z7 Pro 5G With MediaTek Dimensity 7200 SoC, 64-Megapixel Camera Launched in India: Price, Specifications

iQoo Z7 Pro 5G was launched in India on Thursday. The phone now joins the iQoo Z7 and the iQoo Z7s that were released in the country earlier this year. The newly-released Pro model comes with a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 SoC and 4,600mAh battery with 66W wired fast charging support.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/ZXVWfel

Share:

Read More

WATCH: Vikram Lander catches the Pragyan Rover executing a crucial move to continue on its mission

ISRO just put out a post on X, that showed the Pragyan Rover making a very crucial move to ensure that it is able to continue on its mission to study the lunar north pole.

The short video of the Pragyan Rover, shows it rotating at a spot, while it was searching for a safer route. The rotation was captured by a Lander Imager Camera.

ISRO put out a post, comparing the rover with a child, frolicking around on the Moon.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
The rover was rotated in search of a safe route. The rotation was captured by a Lander Imager Camera.

It feels as though a child is playfully frolicking in the yards of Chandamama, while the mother watches affectionately.
Isn’t it?🙂 pic.twitter.com/w5FwFZzDMp

— ISRO (@isro) August 31, 2023

Why the Pragyan Rover had to be rotated
The lunar surface where ISRO’s Pragyan Rover is operating is treacherous to say the least and is filled with craters. Some of the bigger ones that the rover has come across is about 4 metres wide in diametre.

A few days back ISRO team had commanded Pragyan Rover to reroute to ensure its safety after it detected the 4 metre big crater.

Given the compact size of the rover and its smaller wheels, if Pragyan were to fall into a crater it would be extremely difficult for it to then come out of it. Moreover, Pragyan has a lot of ground to cover. Letting it fall inside a crater would defeat the purpose of the mission.

What has the Pragyan Rover found on the Moon
Although it has been only a few days since the Pragyan Rover has been hard at work on the Moon, it has already given ISRO and India a trove of valuable data. For example, it has discovered and confirmed the presence of Sulphur in the lunar soil.

ISRO on Thursday also said that a different payload onboard the Pragyan Rover has discovered the presence of Sulphur on Moon, using a completely different method.

In a post on X, ISRO said the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) has detected sulphur, as well as other minor elements.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
In-situ Scientific Experiments

Another instrument onboard the Rover confirms the presence of Sulphur (S) in the region, through another technique.

The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) has detected S, as well as other minor elements.

This… pic.twitter.com/lkZtz7IVSY

— ISRO (@isro) August 31, 2023

“This finding by Ch-3 compels scientists to develop fresh explanations for the source of Sulphur (S) in the area: intrinsic?, volcanic?, meteoritic?,……?.” the post read.

This gives a double confirmation of the presence of sulphur.

Besides that, the Pragyan Rover has also found traces of aluminium, oxygen, magnesium, titanium, chromium, iron and several other minerals on the lunar surface.

All of these discoveries will not only lead to a better understanding of the lunar soil, it will also prove to be vital information that will help humanity in colonising the moon or setting up a forward base there, when the time is right

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/Hwb693W

Share:

Read More

OpenAI to generate over $1 bn in revenue this year, dispels fear of going bankrupt

A few days ago, reports surfaced online that OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT may declare bankruptcy as early as the end of 2024.

However, now it seems that OpenAI will generate some pretty decent revenue after all and may not go bankrupt any time soon.

Backed by Microsoft, who invested over $10 billion in the company, OpenAI had projected that it would only manage to make just over $200 million this year. Last year, the company managed to generate only $28 million in its entire year of operations.

Changing tides
As per a report by The Insider, Sam Altman’s OpenAI is currently set to generate over $80 million in just a month and will continue to do so at least throughout the year.

The change in OpenAI’s fortune stems from the fact that it has broadened its approach and is now selling specialised licenses of its GPT-4 LLM, along with other AI software products. Most notably it is selling a lot of plug-ins as well as access to its API to companies who want to create their own AI chatbots, based on OpenAI’s GPT-4 LLM.

Core challenges remain the same
Although OpenAI is generating a healthy revenue, now, its core challenge remains the same. It is still burning through a lot of cash, just to keep the public version of ChatGPT, its website running. Reports have suggested that OpenAI burns about $700,000 dollars a day, just to keep the public-facing chatbot running every day.

Moreover, it has some tremendous costs for other, more intensive AI generators, like Dall-E2 and some of its other AI solutions

The problem of scaling an AI business
Scaling any business is a tremendously difficult proposition to be faced with. For Sam Altman and for OpenAI, the task is even more challenging. The more users that ChatGPT has, the more computational power it will need, which means investing in more data centres, more supercomputers, and more GPUs.

Plus, ChatGPT is facing some serious challenges from Meta and Google, and their AI solutions. Google and Meta, both, have released solutions that not only work faster than ChatGPT, but their enterprise solutions are also more accurate. Both Meta and Google are also offering their AI services coupled with a bunch of services that already have a ton of paid, enterprise users

Then there is the issue of drifting. ChatGPT is miserably bad at maths and is only getting worse, especially in complex mathematics, as per studies conducted by Stanford and various other universities. Large language models like GPT-4 have the tendency to get worse in certain areas when developers try to improve one specific area. No one knows why this happens, nor can anyone predict which in which areas will an LLM deteriorate.

The cost of all of this adds up, pretty quickly. While OpenAI may be generating a pretty solid revenue as of now, it certainly is miles away from sustainable profitability.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/HDy8JVQ

Share:

Read More

Japan’s top cybersecurity agency was hacked by China in 2022, but they came to know just now

Japan’s National Center of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity or NISC, the agency tasked with safeguarding Japan’s national defenses against cyber threats has itself fallen victim to hackers, potentially exposing sensitive information for a period of up to nine months, a report by the Financial Times has revealed.

According to reliable sources from both governmental and private sectors, the intrusion into J NISC is believed to have been orchestrated by state-backed hackers from China. This attack started in the autumn of 2022, but it was only in June 2023 that the Japanese got to know that their systems were compromised.

Can Japan defend itself against cyberattacks?
This revelation holds significant gravity due to the nature of the target and the current atmosphere of intense scrutiny surrounding Japan’s susceptibility to cyber-attacks. Tokyo is in the process of enhancing its military collaboration with the United States and regional partners. This includes exercises such as a joint fighter project alongside the United Kingdom and Italy, which involved the exchange of top-secret technological data.

The capability of Japan to securely manage sensitive data has raised concerns among cyber security experts in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Recent reports have unveiled a major cyber attack on Japan’s defence networks in late 2020, attributed to Chinese military hackers. Additionally, in July, the port of Nagoya experienced a temporary shutdown following what was believed to be a ransomware attack linked to Russian origins.

These incidents have sparked apprehensions at the highest levels of the Japanese government regarding the possibility of state actors, such as China, probing Japan’s defence capabilities.

How the breach was discovered
In early August, NISC revealed that certain personal data associated with email exchanges between October of the previous year and June of the current year might have been exposed to bad actors after an intrusion into its email system.

The breach seemed to have exploited an individual staff member’s email account, according to NISC.

To address the potential compromise, NISC issued a series of email notifications to both domestic and international private and governmental partners, warning them about the situation.
The agency’s public statement explained that an external investigation had recently uncovered the possibility of leaked email data and that those involved in the affected email correspondences had been duly informed.

Operating within Japan’s highest government circles as part of the Cabinet Office, NISC’s breach has reportedly prompted an inquiry into whether the hackers’ access extended to other highly sensitive servers situated in the same government building in central Tokyo.

An official from NISC confirmed that their investigation had determined that only the email system had been compromised. The official declined to comment on whether the intrusion was attributed to Chinese state-sponsored hackers.

Japan blames China, China blames the US
According to sources, the incident is believed to have been orchestrated with Chinese involvement. One individual familiar with the situation noted, “There is always a small element of doubt, but given the style of attack and the nature of the target itself, we can say with almost complete certainty that this originated with a state actor and that the actor was most probably China.” Another source asserted that they were “without doubt” certain that China was responsible for the attack.

China’s foreign affairs ministry dismissed these claims and pointed the finger at the United States, suggesting that Japan should scrutinize US activities, given the latter’s history of spying on allies. The ministry referred to previous WikiLeaks disclosures revealing US cyber espionage against Japanese cabinet officials, financial institutions, and companies.

Japan’s efforts to bolster its cybersecurity capabilities have been hindered by a shortage of personnel and expertise in the digital domain. The government’s initiatives have primarily focused on expanding and enhancing training facilities for the cyber unit within the Self-Defense Forces. As of the end of March, this unit comprised just under 900 members, a stark contrast to the estimated 6,200 in its US equivalent and at least 30,000 in China’s cyber forces.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/jFxNr4U

Share:

Read More

iQoo Z8x Processor, Battery Specifications Confirmed Ahead of August 31 Debut: All Details

iQoo Z8x is all set to launch in China alongside iQoo Z8. The company has officially confirmed the launch date along with a few other key details via Weibo. The phone’s specifications including processor, and battery have been revealed by the company a day before the phone is launched.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/EYD76Zb

Share:

Read More

Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 2 Coming Soon With Performance Fixes, New Ending for Karlach, More

Baldur’s Gate 3 patch #2 is right around the corner, and it is largely aimed at fixing performance issues in Act 3. The update will also add a new optional ending for our Tiefling companion Karlach that provides much-requested closure, and in the future, will expand the epilogue. Larian Studios has also found the bug which prevented 1,500 lines of Minthara content f...

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/rzdORXh

Share:

Read More

Say Cheese! Pragyan Rover shares first photos of Vikram Lander toiling on Moon surface

The Pragyan rover just snapped a picture of the Vikram lander hard at work on the Moon’s surface. This pic is like the superstar of the mission pics, and it was captured by the rover’s Navigation Camera, aka NavCam.

The NavCams are one of the most vital components on board the rover and will lead it during the whole mission. They were developed by the smart folks at the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS) in Bengaluru. These cameras are the real MVPs.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:

Smile, please📸!

Pragyan Rover clicked an image of Vikram Lander this morning.

The ‘image of the mission’ was taken by the Navigation Camera onboard the Rover (NavCam).

NavCams for the Chandrayaan-3 Mission are developed by the Laboratory for… pic.twitter.com/Oece2bi6zE

— ISRO (@isro) August 30, 2023

Think of these cameras as the rover’s trusty ‘eyes,’ guiding it through all the bumpy and tricky lunar landscapes. They’re like the rover’s GPS, helping it figure out where to go and what to avoid so it can cruise safely on the Moon.

ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 has been making some significant strides since it nailed a soft landing on the Moon’s surface on August 23, 2023. With that, India joined an elite club of just four countries that have pulled off this sort of lunar landing. What makes India’s landing even more special, is that it did it at the lunar south pole, a territory that was unexplored up until now.

Ever since the soft landing, the Pragyan rover and the Vikram lander, have been hard at work. The rover is like a space detective with its payloads, which include the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS). These gizmos help it figure out what the Moon is made of by analyzing its dirt and rocks.

It has already made some significant discoveries on the surface of the moon. For example, it has discovered traces of sulphur on the lunar surface. Along with sulphur, the rover has also found traces of aluminium, titanium, oxygen, silicon, magnesium and several other minerals, which will be crucial for the development of human colonies on the Moon.

The photo of the Vikram lander taken by the Pragyan rover isn’t just a simple social media post. This pic shows how the rover and lander, are working together. The rover is collecting and analysing certain aspects of the moon on its own and is relaying all of that to the lander. The Vikram lander, for its part, is carrying out its own data collection and experiments and then relaying everything it is learning to ISRO’s ground stations.

As the rover and the lander continue with their mission, we’re bound to get more pics and data that’ll help us with our understanding of the Moon.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/X6uCn2T

Share:

Read More

ISRO’s PSLV is India's most trusted work horse, explains astronomer, astrophysicist

As impressive as ISRO’s space missions are, none of them would have been possible had it not been for the PSLV, the rocket system that India’s space agency uses. The PSLV is perhaps the most important piece of aeronautic engineering that we have developed over the years.

Dr RC Kapoor, who has been a crucial part of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics and has been involved with astronomy for over 50 years, believes that the PSLV rocket is a trusted workhorse.

#WATCH | Bengaluru: Astronomer and Professor Dr. RC Kapoor on the PSLV launch vehicle that will take Aditya L1, India’s first solar mission into space says, “PSLV is a trusted workhorse of ISRO…PSLV rocket has been used for most of the launches by ISRO. PSLV can take about 3200… pic.twitter.com/u9Z2BC081P

— ANI (@ANI) August 30, 2023

“The PSLV PSLV is a trusted workhorse of ISRO…PSLV rocket has been used for most of the launches by ISRO.”

How the PSLV came into being
Dr Kapoor, further explains what makes India’s PSLV special. “Its design goes back to 1968, when Incospar wanted to develop its own satellite launch vehicle. Six designs were prepared and Dr Sarabhai liked the third design, which was called SLV-3.”

The final touches to the design were given by none other than former president of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, much before he assumed office. “Dr Abdul was roped in to develop it further,” he explains. That’s how SLV-3 came to be, and it played a vital role in India’s space Journey. “The SLV-3 was used for the launch of the Rohini satellites, the first Indian satellites that were launched from India. But it had its limitations,” he said. The SLV-3 could carry only a payload with a mass of 40-50kg.

The SLV was then developed more, over multiple iterations. “The SLV-3 was put under further development. First, it became the ASLV or Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle, and then into the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. With each generation, the payload capacity was increased, among other things.

“The PSLV which will be used to launch the upcoming Aditya-L1 solar observatory, can take about 3200 kg in low-earth orbit and about 1400 kg in geostationary orbits,” explained Dr Kapoor, while speaking to ANI.

On the Aditya-L1 mission
Dr Kapoor also explained what the Aditya-L1 mission entails. “Aditya L1 eventually has to find a place at L1 or Lagrange Point 1. This is a point in the Earth-Sun line in space towards the direction of the Sun, about 15 lakh km away from the Sun. At this point, the Earth and Sun’s gravity balance each other,” he explained.

“The Aditya L1 will be in orbit around a specific point, that does not have mass. From here, it will always be facing the Sun. It will make observations, collect data and then pass it on to ground stations of ISRO,”

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/i9HL7wT

Share:

Read More

Oppo Find N3 Flip With 3.26-Inch Cover Display, Triple Rear Cameras Launched: Price, Specifications

Oppo Find N3 Flip has been launched in China. Available in three colour options, the phone sports a 6.80-inch AMOLED main display and a 3.26-inch cover display. The outer display is placed vertically. The phone is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC paired with up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/YyIzTma

Share:

Read More

Ready For the World: Apple’s factory has started shipping iPhone 15 Ultras from factories in China

It seems that Apple has already finished the production of the first lot of its upcoming iPhone 15 Ultra devices. Prominent supply chain analyst Ming Chi Kuo, known for his reliable insights, has indicated that Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 Pro Max is set to initiate mass shipments this week, even in the face of concerns over supply chain issues.

This announcement from Kuo contrasts with recent reports that have suggested delays in production. Kuo’s outlook is also optimistic when it comes to unit shipments, bucking the trend of other analysts who have recently revised their forecasts downward.

Kuo emphasizes, “There has been market concern that supply chain challenges might lead to further reductions in iPhone 15 shipments (an estimate of 80 million units compared to conservative projections of 70–80 million units), particularly with regards to the iPhone 15 Pro Max and its potential delay.”

However, Kuo asserts that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will indeed commence mass shipments during the current week, and Apple is concurrently increasing shipments of previous iPhone models.

Just last week, a significant equity analyst note indicated a potential three to four-week delay for the iPhone 15 Pro Max in comparison to other models.

Analysts like Jeff Pu and Mizuho, both of whome have tempered their iPhone 15 unit shipment forecasts. Pu’s estimates went from 83 million units to 77 million, while Mizuho scaled down its production projection from 84 million to 73 million units.

In contrast, Kuo remains steadfast in his expectation of 80 million iPhone 15 units being shipped, and he anticipates a grand total of 250 million iPhone shipments throughout 2024. Kuo even suggests that Apple could outpace Samsung in terms of units shipped by the end of 2023.

Kuo explains, “Samsung’s projected smartphone shipments for this year have been revised to 220 million units. Should Apple maintain the iPhone orders for the second half of 2024 as they are, the iPhone shipments are likely to reach 220–225 million units in 2023, surpassing Samsung to become the world’s largest smartphone brand.”

Kuo further envisions Apple maintaining its lead over Samsung in 2024.

Recent reports have also indicated that Apple is making adjustments to the colour options for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models. The traditional gold option is being replaced with a “Titan Gray” colour, featuring the new titanium frame. Meanwhile, the unique Deep Purple colour will make way for a new dark blue alternative.

As anticipation mounts, Apple is anticipated to unveil its iPhone 15 lineup on September 12. The official confirmation of this date is expected sometime between August 29 and September 5.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/93joW8Y

Share:

Read More

iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro Purported Colour Options Visualised in Renders Ahead of Debut: Details

iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro colour options have been leaked via detailed renders, weeks ahead of the arrival of Apple's next smartphones. A publication has shared images of the iPhone generated from leaked colour details.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/HqLJ3is

Share:

Read More

LEAKED: iPhone 15 Ultra specs surface online weeks ahead of Sept 12 launch

The buzz is back around the iPhone 15 Ultra, stealing the spotlight once more. Just like the past three iPhone lineups, Apple is gearing up to unveil four fresh models this year: the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

However, conflicting reports have really caused a stir, with several reports hinting at the possibility of an iPhone 15 Ultra replacing the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Adding to the intrigue, leaks have suggested at a potential extra iPhone 15 Ultra, which could mark the fifth entry in this smartphone series.

Details of Camera
Before the official launch of the device, which is scheduled for September 12 or 13, a comprehensive rundown of the iPhone 15 Ultra specs has been leaked.

As per insights from the Apple enthusiast account, AppleLeaker on X, the iPhone 15 could come with a major upgrade to its camera system, especially in the zoom camera. Apparently, Apple has thrown in a 10X periscope camera in the mix. The primary 48MP camera might also come with eight lens elements.

Details on design
On the design front, the chassis may feature titanium for a sturdier and more premium feel. Similar design shifts are anticipated for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max variants.

A fresh tweak might be in store for the volume button layout on the sides, alongside the possible inclusion of an “action button” on the iPhone 15 Ultra. This new button could provide quick access to apps, including the camera app — a feature reminiscent of the Apple Watch Ultra introduced last year.

Details on the hardware
Under the hood, the iPhone 15 Ultra is rumoured to pack the latest A17 Bionic SoC using a 3nm process, potentially coupled with an 8GB RAM configuration. The leak also hints that the base model could kick off with a generous 256GB storage offering.

Interestingly, all the upcoming iPhone 15 models might make the shift to a USB-C charging port, doing away with the proprietary Lightning port. Should the iPhone 15 Ultra make its appearance, it would also adopt this new charging port.

The battery could support 35W charging, though it’s expected that the charger won’t come bundled in the box. A new braided USB-C charging cable with Thunderbolt 4 capabilities is rumoured to be on the horizon, boasting a charging output of 240W. Furthermore, an increase in battery capacity by around 10-15% is also hinted at.

Details on the display
While the display size might retain its 6.7 inches, a notable change could come in the form of thinner bezels this year. Apple might persist with its dynamic island notch, albeit with some refinements. Adding to the mix, a fresh 7nm U2 chip could enhance compatibility with Apple’s lineup, including the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset.

Considering the influx of new enhancements and hardware, a price hike for the iPhone 15 Ultra is probable. Leaks have indicated a potential increase of $200 (roughly Rs 16,500). To put things in perspective, the starting price for the iPhone 14 Pro Max in India is Rs 1,33,900. Keep those ears perked for more updates as the launch draws near.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/sLF0dfe

Share:

Read More

Amazfit Bip 5 Smartwatch With 1.91-Inch LCD Display, BioTracker 3 Sensor Launched in India: All Details

Amazfit Bip 5 has been launched in India for under Rs. 7,500. The new smartwatch features a rectangular dial with a 1.91-inch display size. The wearable device comes with Bluetooth calling support as well as smart health monitors and over 120 sports modes.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/GcEbt7C

Share:

Read More

Toyota unveils India’s first flexi-fuel car that can run completely on Ethanol. Here’s why its important

Toyota Motor has made a significant stride by unveiling India’s first car designed to operate completely on ethanol, an alternative fuel source, supplemented by a flex-fuel engine.

This innovation takes the form of a prototype based on the popular MPV model, Innova HyCross. The electrified flex-fuel variant of Innova HyCross is distinctive in its capability to run on ethanol, a renewable fuel derived from organic matter.

Moreover, this MPV is equipped with a lithium-ion battery pack and has the capacity to generate sufficient electric power, enabling the vehicle to function in an EV mode. Notably, this prototype adheres to the latest emission standards, Bharat Stage 6 (Stage 2).

Toyota’s endeavour aligns with India’s vision towards cleaner alternative fuels, which was evident in last year’s introduction of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol by the government.

In a previous milestone, Toyota Motor unveiled India’s premier all-hydrogen electric vehicle, the Mirai, as part of a collaborative venture with the International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT). Operating on pure hydrogen-generated electricity, the Mirai stands out as a true zero-emission vehicle, emitting only water from its tailpipe.

Japanese automotive giants like Toyota Motor and Honda Cars have pioneered the integration of hybrid technology into their Indian lineup. Toyota’s journey began with the Urban Cruiser HyRyder compact SUV, which showcased a robust hybrid technology. This technology subsequently was then used in the new generation of Innova.

India’s heavy reliance on oil imports to fulfil its fuel requirements places a significant strain on the nation’s financial resources. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari highlighted that the current expenditure on petroleum imports amounts to approximately ₹16 lakh crore.

By transitioning towards biofuel alternatives like ethanol, derived from renewable sources like sugarcane, there exists a substantial opportunity to curtail these import bills, fostering better self-sufficiency in meeting the country’s fuel demands.

Minister Gadkari emphasized that achieving self-reliance, or “atmanirbhar,” necessitates the elimination of oil imports. The existing import cost, standing at ₹16 lakh crore, underscores the magnitude of the economic impact.

Furthermore, this shift is deemed essential in light of India’s pressing pollution concerns, signalling the urgency of adopting sustainable strategies.

The adoption of biofuels concurrently serves as a vital mechanism for curbing pollution. India’s strategy involves the incorporation of 20 per cent ethanol in petrol, which was introduced last year.

There are plans to double the ethanol quantity by 2025. This measure is projected to result in a 50 per cent reduction in carbon monoxide emissions from two-wheelers and approximately 30 per cent reduction in four-wheelers, in comparison to conventional petrol.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/QsUgYZE

Share:

Read More

India on Hyperspeed: Jio AirFiber to launch on September 19, also Smart Home devices

Reliance Jio is set to launch its Jio AirFiber service commercially on September 19, aiming to tap into the untapped Indian home segment and boost revenue growth.

This Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service will enable Jio to extend its home broadband offerings with a potential of up to 150,000 daily connections.

How AirFiber will connect India to the Internet
Jio AirFiber utilizes its nationwide 5G network and advanced wireless technologies, eliminating the need for traditional last-mile fiber connections.

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), stated that while the existing optical fiber network allowed them to connect about 15,000 premises daily, the introduction of Jio AirFiber would elevate this capacity to 150,000 daily connections. This substantial increase expands their target market over the next three years to encompass more than 200 million high-paying homes and premises.

Ambani noted that JioFiber already serves around 10 million customers and the optical fiber network spans an impressive 1.5 million kilometres.

5G, Made by Jio in India, for India
Jio emphasized that its 5G rollout relies on its proprietary 100 per cent in-house developed 5G stack, incorporating advanced features like Standalone 5G architecture, Carrier Aggregation, Network Slicing, and sophisticated Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning capabilities.

This stack is designed to seamlessly integrate with equipment from other global vendors, ensuring compatibility and optimization.

Jio’s range of 5G radios caters to various scenarios, from small cells to large tower-based radios, covering both indoor and outdoor usage scenarios. Ambani also highlighted the company’s commitment to innovation, noting their position as one of the early adopters of 6G capabilities.

Additionally, Jio has been actively filing global patents for digital technologies, indicating its transition from a telecom operator to a technology-driven company.

In the coming years, Jio plans to leverage its indigenous technology stack to drive value creation and revenue growth, not just within India but also on the global stage.

Making Indian homes smart, announces a bunch of Smart Home devices
Jio also introduced Smart Home devices that will be based on JioFiber and Jio AirFiber. The company unveiled a new Jio Set-Top Box, serving as a gateway to a diverse range of entertainment, from TV channels and streaming content to large-screen games and digital apps. Accompanying this, the new Jio Smart Home app provides features such as eRemote for the Jio Set-Top Box, and even the ability to use a smartphone as a gamepad. The Jio Set-Top Box is compatible with JioCinema and JioTV+, along with leading global streaming apps.

Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio, highlighted the significance of indoor data consumption, which accounts for over 80 per cent of data usage in India. He introduced Jio Smart Home services, aiming to redefine home experiences and management.

Akash further noted that the entertainment landscape is rapidly shifting from linear formats to interactive experiences, and Jio is at the forefront of this transformation in India. The Jio Set-Top Box supports JioCinema and JioTV+, along with prominent global streaming apps.

DISCLAIMER: Network18, the company that operates Firstpost are controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/TrMZ57s

Share:

Read More

Jio crosses 450 Mn active users, sees traffic worth 1,100 Cr GB data per month, grows 20% YOY

Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), announced during the 46th Annual General Meeting (AGM) that Jio, a telecommunications company, has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 450 million subscribers.

This growth has led to a year-on-year revenue increase of more than 20%. Jio has achieved its highest-ever revenue of Rs 1,19,791 crore and an EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) of Rs 50,286 crore.

During the meeting, Ambani also shared insights on Jio’s digital services business. He mentioned that the data consumption per user on Jio’s network has experienced a substantial rise. On average, each user now consumes more than 25 gigabytes of data every month. This translates to a monthly data traffic of 1,100 crore gigabytes, marking a growth of 45% compared to the previous year.

Reflecting on Jio’s journey, Ambani stated that the company was launched seven years ago with a grand vision of transforming India into a premier digital society. The goal was to leverage technology to create positive changes across various aspects of life and every sector of the economy. He emphasized the pride Jio takes in contributing to this digital revolution and building a Digital Public Infrastructure that has gained global admiration. Ambani asserted that Jio has played a pivotal role in driving India’s remarkable digital transformation.

During the AGM, Mukesh Ambani highlighted Jio’s distinctive position as the sole provider of a comprehensive 5G ecosystem to its customers.

He stated that Jio offers its 5G customers a complete package including connectivity, devices, support services, and value-added offerings. Through Reliance Retail, Jio has established an extensive sales and support network for 5G devices and services across India.

This network is open to various leading 5G Smartphone Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), ensuring widespread availability and adoption of diverse 5G devices. This integrated approach solidifies Jio’s role as the driving force and clear leader in India’s 5G evolution.

Ambani pointed out that while launching 4G services in 2016, Jio relied on global partners for equipment. However, the company’s 5G rollout is now powered entirely by Jio’s own 100% in-house developed 5G stack. This aligns with the Indian Prime Minister’s Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) vision.

The 5G stack incorporates advanced technologies like Standalone 5G architecture, Carrier Aggregation, and Network Slicing. It also features advanced Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning capabilities that optimize the network for exceptional quality, reliability, and user experience.

This in-house development is designed to smoothly integrate with both 4G and 5G equipment from global vendors. Jio’s 5G radio portfolio spans from small cells to large tower-based radios, catering to various outdoor and indoor usage scenarios.

Furthermore, Jio’s focus on continuous innovation has positioned it as one of the early adopters of 6G capabilities. The company has also significantly contributed to global patent filings from India for digital technologies, signifying its evolution from a telecom operator to a technology company.

Ambani expressed his vision for Jio to leverage its Made-in-India technology stack to generate value and drive revenue growth not only within India but also on the international stage in the years to come.

DISCLAIMER: Network18, the company that operates Firstpost are controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/0iVZIgK

Share:

Read More

Realme GT 5 With Up to 24GB of RAM, 240W Fast Charging Support Launched: Price, Specifications

Realme GT 5 was launched in China on Monday. The smartphone runs on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset paired with up to 24GB of RAM. The handset supports charging at up to 240W. The handset features a 50-megapixel triple rear camera setup and is available in three RAM and storage configurations.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/Ohg09DP

Share:

Read More

iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max Could Feature Titanium Chassis That Cuts Weight by Nearly 8 Percent: Report

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max weight could be slightly lower than the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. These handsets are tipped to feature a titanium chassis instead of stainless steel used on the iPhone 14 Pro and earlier handsets, which means they could be lighter than the earlier Pro models, according to a report.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/rc81qsQ

Share:

Read More

Futureproof Mobility: Toyota Innova to be relaunched as India’s first car to run fully on ethanol

In a groundbreaking move, Toyota Motor is set to achieve a major milestone by introducing India’s very first car powered entirely by ethanol.

The exciting announcement comes as Union Minister Nitin Gadkari prepares to unveil this innovative vehicle, which is based on Toyota’s highly popular MPV model, the Innova. This momentous launch is scheduled for tomorrow, August 29th.

Toyota’s prowess in biofuel
What sets the Innova apart is not just its ethanol fuel prowess. This vehicle is also about to make history as the first-ever model worldwide to sport a Bharat Stage VI (Stage II) certification for its flex-fuel capabilities. It’s a significant step forward in the automotive industry.

This development comes on the heels of Toyota’s previous milestone—the introduction of the Mirai, a hydrogen fuel-cell car that caught the world’s attention a year ago.

The news of the upcoming Innova model’s debut was shared by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari during a recent summit. This launch aligns perfectly with the government’s push toward vehicles that can function on alternative fuels like biofuel, hydrogen, and the flexible mix of ethanol.

This strategic move aims to not only reduce India’s reliance on expensive fuel imports but also make a substantial impact on reducing the nation’s carbon footprint.

Addressing the audience at the Mint Sustainability Summit, Gadkari emphasized, “Mark your calendars for August 29th because that’s when I’ll be introducing the well-loved Toyota Innova, now running entirely on 100 per cent ethanol. To achieve self-reliance, we need to eliminate our oil imports, which currently stand at a staggering ₹16 lakh crore. This is a significant economic loss that we’re determined to overcome.”

Toyota’s other initiatives in alternative fuels
Recalling the past, in March of the previous year, Toyota had unveiled India’s maiden all-hydrogen electric vehicle— the Mirai, through a collaborative pilot project with the International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT). The Toyota Mirai FCEV stands as one of the pioneering hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles globally, powered by electricity produced from pure hydrogen. It’s a true emissary of environmental responsibility, emitting nothing but water vapor from its tailpipe.

Under the hood, the Toyota Mirai FCEV sedan boasts a high-pressure hydrogen fuel tank coupled with an electric motor. This sophisticated powertrain ingeniously transforms hydrogen into water and oxygen, generating energy along the way. A distinct departure from the conventional internal combustion engines, the hydrogen fuel cell powertrain ensures that the only emission from its tailpipe is water—an environmentally friendly feat that deserves applause.

The first true flex-fuel car in the world
While the upcoming Innova may be the first mass-production car to be able to completely run on ethanol, it won’t be the first car ever to do so.

Back in 2007, Swedish supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg launched a variant of the CCX, that made it the first car in the world that could run on biofuel, specifically, ethanol. The car could run on both, premium petrol, as well as ethanol.

Apart from environmental benefits, the supercar showed that ethanol has a positive influence on performance as well. A Koenigsegg CCX running on petrol would produce a whopping 806 bhp. The same car, when fed with ethanol or a similar biofuel would produce over 1018 bhp.

Because the CCX was produced in a very limited number, it was never considered mass-produced. However, the car was monumental in establishing the fact that ethanol-fueled cars were not only viable, but could be great fun.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/buY09FH

Share:

Read More

After Tesla Proposal, Government Considers Import Tax Cut for Automakers That Manufacture in India

India is working on a new electric vehicle policy that would slash import taxes for automakers that commit to some local manufacturing, following a proposal by Tesla which is considering entering the domestic market, people with direct knowledge said.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/fPqQWD9

Share:

Read More

Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro Could Offer AI-Powered Camera and Video Features, Pixel Superfan Surveys Suggest

Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro could feature AI-based features that could improve the quality of videos captured as well as allow users to capture better group photos. According to a report, the handsets that will succeed the Pixel 7 series will also introduce a feature to respond to message notifications using the Google Assistant.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/EQqrMaC

Share:

Read More

Microsoft President Brad Smith Calls for Clarity on AI Regulation: Details

Microsoft President Brad Smith on Friday asserted the need for "real clarity" around goals and principles of artificial intelligence (AI) regulation, as he called for a "regulatory blueprint" which will require action at the private sector, national and global levels.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/O2e0CIR

Share:

Read More

Pepe Coin Frenzy Turns to Fear After Anonymous Developers Make Changes to Wallet, Transfer Tokens: Report

The Pepe Coin frenzy is now turning into fear fest after its anonymous developer team moved $15 million (roughly Rs. 123 crore) worth of tokens into centralised exchanges. The team also suspiciously reduced the number of signatures required to process PEPE transactions from five to two, leading to concerns among the PEPE community.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/hF0mcL7

Share:

Read More

iQoo Z7 Pro 5G New Colour Option Teased Ahead of August 31 India Launch

iQoo Z7 Pro 5G is set to launch in India on August 31. The phone will join the iQoo Z7 5G, which was released earlier this year in March. The company has teased several key details of the handset. Now, iQoo has revealed a new colour option for the upcoming phone.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/CrQSpEU

Share:

Read More

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Clears Bluetooth SIG Certification; Imminent Launch Expected: Report

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Fan Edition) is reportedly in the works and the phone has been in rumour mill for a while now. Recently, the handset is said to have cleared the Bluetooth SIG certification with different model numbers for different regions. The listing suggests that the phone will be launched soon.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/3zGJBSC

Share:

Read More

YouTube Music Rolling Out Live Lyrics Feature on Android, iOS

YouTube Music has been working on enhancing the listening experience for its user. The music streaming app is reportedly rolling out live lyrics to all its users across Android and iOS. This will be similar to live lyrics that are available on Spotify when a user plays a song.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/IBQDn0r

Share:

Read More

Honor Magic Vs 2 Reportedly Appears on China’s 3C Listing; Could Debut as Another Foldable Phone

Honor is all set to launch its Magic V2 at the IFA 2023 electronics trade show in Berlin on September 1. The company is likely to introduce two foldable smartphones in select global markets. However, a third foldable smartphone from the company has reportedly visited China’s 3C certification site. It is being speculated to debut later this year.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/eZqtbcP

Share:

Read More

Riding AI Wave: NVIDIA shares at a record high following record earnings for second straight quarter

Nvidia’s stock reached an all-time high on Tuesday, fueled by high hopes for the chip designer’s quarterly results. This company has been reaping the rewards of the AI boom and is at the forefront of it.

The company says revenue jumped to above $13.5bn for the three months to the end of June. That’s almost double than what they managed last time.

After initially surging to $481.87, a new record, the stock slightly pulled back by 1.1 per cent as the market opened. This was still above its previous peak of $480.88 set on July 14th.

Confidence is growing that Nvidia will once again outperform Wall Street’s revenue expectations, driving the stock up by about 19 per cent from its recent low point just last week.

Industry watchers are anticipating big things from Nvidia’s upcoming earnings report. They are predicting a remarkable 110 per cent growth in third-quarter revenue, totalling $12.50 billion. This report is being seen as a crucial one for this earnings season.

Reuters reported that Dennis Dick, an analyst specializing in market structure at Triple D Trading, stressed the significance of this report, saying, “This could be the highlight of the earnings season. We’re eager to hear that they can continue the momentum from their outstanding performance in the previous quarter.”

Back in May, Nvidia stunned the market by forecasting second-quarter revenue that exceeded expectations by more than 50 per cent. This move pushed its market value above $1 trillion, solidifying its position as the top performer on the S&P 500 index.

Nvidia’s optimistic forecasts from the previous quarter not only triggered a surge in AI-related stocks but also fueled a rally in the Big Tech sector. This phenomenon emerged as a major propellant for the overall upward momentum of US stocks throughout this year.

“To maintain the current stock price, we’d need to see the company’s profits align with the gains in share value,” explained Brian Mulberry, who manages client portfolios at Zacks Investment Management, an entity holding Nvidia shares.

A minimum of 19 financial firms have increased their projected target price for Nvidia this month alone, pushing the average estimation to $500. This marks a 6.5 per cent rise compared to the stock’s most recent closing value. Impressively, Nvidia shares have more than tripled in value since the beginning of this year.

According to a report released by Goldman Sachs on Monday, Nvidia witnessed the most notable surge in popularity among hedge funds during the second quarter.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/8PSrMWf

Share:

Read More

Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro Could Offer AI-Powered Camera and Video Features, Pixel Superfan Surveys Suggest

Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro could feature AI-based features that could improve the quality of videos captured as well as allow users to capture better group photos. According to a report, the handsets that will succeed the Pixel 7 series will also introduce a feature to respond to message notifications using the Google Assistant.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/w9Ql63u

Share:

Read More

Moon is not enough: ISRO sending Shukrayaan-I to Venus. Here’s all you need to know

The accomplishments of the Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan missions have propelled the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) towards conceiving more ambitious endeavours for the future. Confident on the back of its successful, and epoch-defining Chandrayaan 3 mission, ISRO now has its sights set on the Sun, and Venus – two of the most hostile places in our solar system.

Currently, ISRO is in the process of preparing a spacecraft intended to orbit Venus. The mission and the orbiter have been named Shukrayaan-1.

The primary objective is to delve into the depths beneath the surface of this solar system’s most scorching planet. Additionally, the aim is to unravel the enigmatic phenomena concealed within the veil of sulfuric acid clouds that enshroud Venus.

Set to be launched in 2024
The target launch window for this spacecraft is set for December 2024. Subsequent orbital adjustments are planned for the subsequent year.

During this period, the relative alignment of Earth and Venus will permit the spacecraft to be inserted into the orbit of our neighbouring planet with minimal utilization of propellant.

The next suitable launch opportunity of this nature will not arise until 2031.

The mission’s main focus is to study three important areas. First, researchers will study the layers of the planet’s surface and what’s below it, as well as the processes that shape its outer appearance. Second, they want to learn more about the chemicals in the air, how the atmosphere moves, and why it changes. Lastly, they’re also interested in how energy from the Sun reaches Venus and how it affects the layer of charged particles around the planet. All of this will help them understand the makeup and behavior of Venus’ air and surroundings.

Depending on its final design, the orbiter is poised to accommodate a scientific payload weighing around 100 kg, while boasting an available power supply of 500 watts.

How has the mission been planned
In its initial stage, the orbiter will assume an elliptical orbit around Venus, featuring a periapsis (closest point to Venus) at a distance of 500 km, and an apoapsis (farthest point from Venus) situated at a distance of 60,000 km.

The launch of the satellite is scheduled to take place aboard the GSLV Mk II rocket.

Sweden is also actively participating in India’s upcoming Venus orbiter mission and is contributing a number of scientific instruments that will be crucial in studying the planet.

India leads a global effort
The Institute of Space Physics IRF will be providing the Venusian Neutrals Analyzer (VNA), a satellite instrument. This apparatus is designed to investigate the interactions between charged particles emitted by the Sun and the atmosphere and exosphere of Venus.

The mission’s significance lies in its pioneering nature. To date, no observations of Venus’s sub-surface have been conducted. As part of this mission, a sub-surface radar will be deployed for the first time, enabling penetration into Venus’s sub-surface to a depth of a few hundred meters.

Furthermore, the mission will include an instrument intended for examining Venus’s atmosphere using infrared, ultraviolet, and submillimeter wavelengths. This multifaceted exploration promises insights into the evolutionary trajectories of Earth-like planets and the atmospheric conditions that shape them.

Why it is difficult to study Venus and what challenges will Shukrayaan face
The Shukrayaan mission will encounter a number of really formidable challenges. Navigating through the dense atmosphere of Venus and dealing with the volatile and quite violent surface activity on Venus presents a significantly more challenging task compared to missions such as the one to Mars.

In order to study Venus in any meaningful way, Shukrayaan will require instruments capable of delving deep into its atmosphere, ones that can cut through it. This necessitates the use of high-resolution cameras and sensors that can effectively penetrate the thick clouds that obscure Venus’ surface.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/HD246jV

Share:

Read More

Jaane Jaan, Kareena Kapoor Khan's Debut OTT Film, Releasing September 21 on Netflix

Kareena Kapoor Khan is set to make her debut in an OTT film on September 21, with the release of Jaane Jaan on Netflix. The actor has been in the Bollywood film industry for decades now and is set to return to a starring role after a while.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/F4hpOfv

Share:

Read More

ChatGPT to replace teachers? India gets its first AI school in Kerala

India has established its first AI school in Kerala. In a momentous development, the Santhigiri Vidyabhavan was inaugurated in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. The auspicious inauguration was officiated by former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.

However, if you’re under the impression that the school will exclusively feature AI instructors like ChatGPT in its classrooms, it’s essential to exercise patience, as that concept has not yet come to fruition.

The school is a perfect example of an educational institution that leverages the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced technological systems to elevate the learning experience for students.

This encompasses the integration of AI technologies, such as machine learning, natural language processing, and data analysis, into various facets of education, including curriculum designing, tailored learning approaches for a group of students, evaluation, and assisting students across various academic challenges.

According to a report by Mathrubhoomi, the establishment of the AI school is the outcome of a collaboration between iLearning Engines (ILE) USA and Vedhik eSchool. Dormer Chief Secretaries, DGPs, and Vice Chancellors etc. helped establish the school.

Vedhik eSchool asserts that this innovative approach to learning, driven by artificial intelligence, is poised to deliver high-quality education. The program adheres to global benchmarks, thereby rendering learning more captivating and extending beyond the confines of regular school hours. Furthermore, the knowledge imparted aligns with the National School Accreditation Standards, which are founded on the New National Education Policy (NEP 2020). This alignment holds the promise of improved academic performance.

The AI school is designed with the intention of furnishing students with an education that is technologically enriched, offering an array of resources, tools, and guidance that transcend conventional teaching methods. It introduces an inventive educational paradigm that harnesses the power of AI to elevate learning outcomes and equip students to navigate the demands of a swiftly evolving world.

The inauguration of India’s inaugural AI school sparks an interesting inquiry: Could sophisticated AI systems like ChatGPT eventually supplant teachers within classrooms? While the advent of the AI school signifies a significant advancement in technology-integrated education, the conventional roles of educators continue to hold immense importance. The interactive and dynamic human element, characterized by empathy and tailored mentorship, remains irreplaceable in its entirety by AI.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/pPyz864

Share:

Read More

Britain to Host Global AI Summit to Understand Risks of AI and Discuss How They Can Be Mitigated

Britain will host a global summit on artificial intelligence at the old home of Britain's World War Two codebreakers in November as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pitches Britain as global leader in guarding the safety of the fast-developing technology. The summit will take place on November 1 and 2 at Bletchley Park.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/0I32ZsX

Share:

Read More

Money Maker: Indian AI Talent is one of the most sought-after in the world, Engineers getting paid handsomely

It looks like the world cannot have enough of India’s AI talent pool. Global tech companies, especially those dabbling with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are looking for Indian AI Talent and they are ready to pay top dollar for it.

India already had a massive pool of people talented in AI and ML, even before generative AI such as ChatGPT, became popular.

However, since OpenAI practically put the term “AI” on everyone’s tongue, people, particularly software engineers have been brushing up their skill sets and tweaking their resumes to get hired by either AI studios or by companies who are trying to figure out how to integrate AI into their workflows.

India has a massive pool of engineers, but what about AI Engineers?
According to a recent report by Nasscom-Zinnov the current tech workforce in India stands at 47 lakh employees. However, this number is set to go down drastically for a number of reasons. The Nasscom report also states that at present, India has over 4.16 lakh people employed in AI, and will need about 2.13 lakh more in a couple of years.

The situation right now is such that the world, is looking at a worrying talent crunch as far as AI is concerned. That is the reason why companies are willing to pay an obscene amount of money for anyone who can work with AI, whether they have a degree in the field or not.

Top dollar for AI talent
Case in point would be Netflix. The streaming giant recently put up a notice of hiring an AI expert who would help them monetise AI. For that position, Netflix was willing to pay the potential candidate over $900,000, plus benefits.

And it’s not just Netflix that’s offering these ludicrous packages — Amazon, Google and a bunch of financial investment firms on Wall Street are willing to pay up.

Consider this: Insider reports that between July 2022 and July 2023, the number of job listings for GenAI positions experienced a significant increase of 50 per cent, as reported by Insider, a job search platform.

Everyone wants to get on the AI bandwagon
Along with this increase, there has also been an increase in searches for these roles, by about 12,300 per cent during the same timeframe, underscoring the escalating curiosity around these opportunities.

Analytics India Magazine also found that since the introduction of ChatGPT, there has been a 21-fold increase in the number of job listings on LinkedIn that mention GPT or ChatGPT. Furthermore, this surge in job postings is not the only noticeable trend; globally, LinkedIn users are now more inclined than ever to incorporate AI skills into their profiles.

The LinkedIn study that Analytics India Magazine quotes, involved 25 countries and meticulously tracked 121 AI skills, revealing some significant trends.

In the year 2022, among the rapidly growing AI-related skills being added to user profiles, the top five skills were all indicative of the rise of generative AI.

These skills involved abilities such as question-answering, which experienced a remarkable surge of 332 per cent, alongside classification and recommender systems. These trends collectively highlight the increasing prominence of generative AI in the professional landscape.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/A4r7x9e

Share:

Read More

Huawei Mate 60 Series May Offer Satellite Voice Calling Support Using PA Chips: Report

Huawei Mate 60 series is expected to launch soon, succeeding the Huawei Mate 50 lineup, which was released in September 2022. The Mate 50 series included the base Huawei Mate 50, a Huawei Mate 50 Pro, and a Huawei Mate 50 RS Porsche Design model. A new report suggests that the rumoured Mate 60 series may support advanced satellite communications.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/8yXem3U

Share:

Read More

After wooing Moon, India sets up date with Sun as Aditya-L1 mission to launch in September, says ISRO chief

Just a day after the Chandrayaan-3 mission made a successful landing on the Moon, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for its next big adventure – the Aditya-L1 mission.

ISRO’s head, S Somanath, revealed that the Aditya-L1 mission, which is all about studying the Sun, is all set to kick off its journey next month.

Somanath shared, “You can’t even imagine the level of excitement here in India for this mission. I want to extend my thanks to everyone in the country. This mission is dedicated to all of you.” He emphasized how important the Chandrayaan-3 landing was and highlighted that the Aditya-L1 mission is what’s coming up next.

“Aditya-L1 is ready to be launched and will be launched in the first week of September,” the ISRO chief told ANI. “It will take many days to reach its designated spot, the L1 point.”

The Aditya-L1 mission’s objectives
The Aditya-L1 mission is India’s bold step to explore the Sun, a celestial object that has fascinated scientists and space enthusiasts for centuries. ISRO has put a lot of thought and effort into planning this mission, and it’s now entering the final stages of getting everything together.

Somanath assured that everything is going as per plan. He mentioned, “We’re right on track. It’s going to take around 120 days to reach its destination, which is roughly 1.5 million kilometres away from Earth.” This incredible journey will position the Aditya-L1 spacecraft in an elliptical orbit, giving it the perfect vantage point to closely study the Sun, keep an eye on solar activities, and enhance our knowledge about the star that’s crucial for life on our planet.

The mission holds great promise for solar science, offering scientists valuable insights into things like solar flares, magnetic fields, and even the Sun’s outermost layer, called the corona. This kind of information is absolutely vital for predicting space weather, which can have effects on things like telecommunications, GPS systems, and even power grids here on Earth.

Aditya-L1’s payload
The satellite comes equipped with seven different tools, each designed to delve into various layers of the Sun, from the photosphere and chromosphere to the outer corona. These tools will rely on sensors to detect electromagnetic particles and magnetic fields.

Out of these payloads, four will be positioned at L1 to directly observe the Sun, while the remaining three will perform on-the-spot analyses of particles and fields. This aspect of the mission holds the promise of providing valuable insights into how solar activities move through the space between planets.

The Aditya-L1 will be carrying the following instruments:

Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)
This tool will explore the Sun’s corona through both imaging and spectroscopy. It will also focus on studying phenomena like Coronal Mass Ejections.

Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)
SUIT will capture images of the Photosphere and Chromosphere, using various imaging techniques. It will also measure changes in solar irradiance.

Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS) and High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS)
These instruments will analyze the X-ray flares emitted by the Sun across a broad range of X-ray energies, from soft to hard X-rays.

Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) and Plasma Analyser Package For Aditya (PAPA)
These instruments will study electrons, and protons in the Solar wind, and the energetic ions within it.

In addition to these, the mission will also employ Advanced Tri-axial High-Resolution Digital Magnetometers to study the interplanetary magnetic field at the L1 point.

ISRO clarified that the tools on the Aditya-L1 are expected to offer vital information for understanding different solar phenomena like coronal heating, coronal mass ejections, pre-flare and flare activities, space weather dynamics, and how particles and fields propagate.

On Gaganyaan – India’s mission to send people to space
The ISRO Chief also shared an update about Gaganyaan, the cornerstone for India’s manned space missions. “Gaganyaan is still a work in progress. We will do a mission possibly by the end of September or October to demonstrate the crew module & crew escape capability which will be followed by many test missions until we do the first manned mission possibly by 2025,” he said.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/W0MAJFd

Share:

Read More

YouTube May Soon Let You Hum Tunes to Find Songs, Feature Test Begins: All Details

YouTube may soon let music enthusiasts’ find songs by just humming half-remembered tunes. YouTube is leveraging the power of Machine Learning (ML) to make this feature workable. This experiment is rolling out to only a small percentage of people who watch YouTube on Android devices.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/ZymlpQB

Share:

Read More

ISRO chief S Somanath explains why Chandrayaan 3 landed on the Moon's South Pole, what Pragyan Rover will do

ISRO and India created history when Chandrayaan 3 landed around the south pole of the Moon. With the landing of the Vikram lander, India became the fourth country in the world to land on the moon, and the only country so far to do so at the lunar south pole.

Landing on the lunar south pole is what has set the Chandrayaan missions apart. Many space agencies have tried to land on the lunar south pole for a variety of reasons. However, all barring India have been unsuccess so far.

ISRO Chief S Somanath, has now revealed why the Moon’s south pole is important to the scientific community, and why did Chandrayaan 3 land there.

#WATCH | ISRO chief S Somanath on why ISRO chose the South Pole of the moon for Chandrayaan-3’s landing; says, “We have gone closer to the South Pole which is 70 degrees almost. The South Pole has a specific advantage with respect to being less illuminated by the sun. There is a… pic.twitter.com/hpEV2MMcav

— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2023

Why Chandrayaan 3 landed on Moon’s South Pole
Speaking to ANI, Somanath revealed that India’s Chandrayaan 3 was closest to the south pole, at almost 70 degrees, and what advantages the Vikram lander’s position had.

“We have gone closer to the South Pole which is 70 degrees almost. The South Pole has a specific advantage with respect to being less illuminated by the sun,” he said. “There is a potential to have more scientific content from that area, in terms of retention of water below the sub-surface, along with elemental composition and electrical activities on the surface of the moon. It would be more dominant there, that it would be around the Moon’s equator.

He also explained why scientists around the world are so keen on exploring the lunar south pole. “Scientists who are working on the moon showed a lot of interest in the South Pole because ultimately human beings want to go & create colonies and then travel beyond,” he said.

“So the best place is something we are looking for & the South Pole has the potential to be that,” he added.

How Pragyan Rover will carry out its mission
Somanath also revealed what the plan will be for Pragyan Rover. Apart from conducting its studies and data collection, the Rover will also traverse the Moon’s South Pole. “We will do a robotic path-finding exercise, which will be very important for future explorations.”

#WATCH | ISRO chief S Somanath says, “Pragyan Rover has two instruments both are related to elemental composition findings on the moon as well as chemical compositions…Moreover, it will do the roving over the surface. We will also do a robotic path planning exercise which is… pic.twitter.com/MhnuuuUXB7

— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2023

He went on to add, that all the data from the Lander and Rover will give us more data and help us better understand the lunar surface.

He also explained how Pragyan will carry out its studies. “Pragyan Rover has two instruments both are related to elemental composition findings on the moon as well as chemical compositions. One is based on laser and the other on alpha particles,” he explained

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/o4B1yQY

Share:

Read More

Ahead of Ahsoka, Here Are the Best Star Wars Shows to Stream on Disney+ Hotstar

Rosario Dawson-led Ahsoka is now streaming on Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar, serving as the first live-action appearance of the Togruta Jedi. As we wait for new episodes to drop week-by-week, we rank our favourite favourite Star Wars shows, ranging from Andor to The Mandalorian, and more.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/6zwlpgU

Share:

Read More

ISRO's AI Prowess: From Vikram's landing to Pragyan’s predictive maintenance, how AI is powering Chandrayaan 3

When ISRO revealed that they would go ahead with today’s launch schedule for the Vikram Lander Module of Chandrayaan 3, they revealed an interesting thing.

The Vikram Lander Module will not be controlled by ISRO’s scientists. Instead, it will be completely under the control of AI and ML algorithms that have been designed specifically for this mission to the lunar south pole.

As it turns out, ISRO is not using AI and ML just for the landing. Instead, like most other space agencies in the world, ISRO is using AI for a whole bunch of things. Without AI algorithms, any space mission in this day and age would not only take a lot more effort, it would also be a whole lot more expensive, and more prone to end in a disaster.

Letting Pragyan Rover do its thing
Rovers like the Mars Exploration Rover and Curiosity have been exploring Mars for over a decade thanks to AI. Similarly, the Pragyan Rover will use an AI algorithm to execute the moves it needs to first locate relevant samples and then analyse them.

Besides that, the rover’s sensors can detect obstructions such as rocks, craters, and other topological elements. Using AI it analyses the data from those sensors to draw the best path forward. This ensures the rover can safely pass by without any risk.

Getting Vikram closer to its current orbit
AI has completely changed how satellites and spacecraft such as the Vikram Lander Module traverse space.

Based on inputs from the Vikram Module’s sensors and camera arrays, the onboard AI system determines when to boost itself and when to apply its air brakes. It also determines when to and which direction to turn and by how much.

Analysing Data
The Pragyan Rover, along with the Vikram Lander will be collecting tons and tons of raw, unprocessed data. Imagine what would have happened, if a team of humans had to sit and sift through it and then make the data make sense.

Analysing data from space missions is getting a serious upgrade thanks to machine learning. Those smart algorithms can jump in and spot patterns in data collected from satellites and probes. This comes in handy when looking for anything unusual that might point to exciting discoveries or potential problems.

It can also dig into data trends and give us way cooler insights than regular old data analysis methods. It can even predict and forecast outcomes, taking space exploration to a whole new level.

Helping with maintenance
It’s pretty impressive how AI isn’t just limited to handling satellite operations and nailing rocket landings. It’s also got a knack for using all that data to pinpoint spots where things might need a little maintenance.

These clever machine-learning models can actually predict when things might go haywire or performance could take a hit in the future. And they’re not just stopping at predictions. They’re giving us solid plans to tackle those potential problems head-on, which really cuts down on the chances of things going wrong. This isn’t just about saving money on maintenance – it’s also about keeping the mission and other assets safe and sound.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/WR50nES

Share:

Read More

India’s tryst with Moon: Not just ISRO, India Inc. too has a major role to play in Chandrayaan 3’s journey

While the Chdanrayaan 3’s mission to the moon may be ISRO’s brainchild and its proverbial baby, Indian companies such as Godrej and L&T had a significant part to play in the mission’s launch and success so far.

Acknowledging this is important, given that India hopes that its private sectors and startup ecosystem gives us something as indomitable as SpaceX. When the Chandrayaan 3’s Vikram Lander finally touches down on the lunar surface, it will not only boost ISRO’s position among global space agencies, it will also be a massive boon for India Inc.

Experts believe that this will be a major checkpoint in the journey of about 400 private Indian businesses, who have helped ISRO with all sorts of things, from arranging parts and components and rare materials to downright fabricating various elements of the spacecraft, lander, and rovers.

For the Chandrayaan 3 mission, ISRO didn’t hesitate to team up with both government and private companies to gather the needed tech. The parts that kickstart the launch vehicle and some important systems were put together by Larsen & Toubro, the batteries were provided by Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), Kerala State Electronics Development Corp. (KELTRON) came up with electronic power modules and a system for testing and checking things, and Walchand Industries got their hands dirty making several mission components.

“While the Chandrayaan series of lunar missions have all been led by ISRO, there has been significant participation by the private sector in supplying components for them. It goes to the agency’s credit that it identified suppliers who have over time developed capabilities to support a high-end mission like the Chandrayaan series,” said Lt Gen (Retd) Anil Kumar Bhatt, Director General, Indian Space Association.

“ATL has been deeply involved in creating a wide range of electronics and mechanical parts for ISRO’s space projects, such as launch vehicles, satellites, spacecraft equipment, and ground systems. On top of that, we’ve been supplying valuable geospatial information and services for various important development projects across the country,” explained Subba Rao Pavuluri, the Founder, Chairman, and Managing Director of the company based in Hyderabad.

When it comes to the Chandrayaan-3 mission, ATL has successfully managed key elements like telemetry, telecommand, power management systems, and DC-DC converters.

On the other hand, Godrej & Boyce, headquartered in Mumbai, has played a crucial role by providing essential components like liquid propulsion engines, satellite thrusters, and control module parts for both the Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan missions. This contribution has been made possible through its subsidiary, Godrej Aerospace.

“We take great pride in being part of ISRO’s Chandrayaan 3 mission… As a reliable partner of ISRO, we’re committed to continuously supporting upcoming launches, missions, and the advancement of cutting-edge aerospace components and systems,” emphasized Maneck Behramkamdin, who serves as the Assistant Vice President & Business Head of Godrej Aerospace.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/KkJGZLB

Share:

Read More

Chandrayaan-3's Lander Module Set for Automatic Landing Sequence, Says ISRO

ISRO on Wednesday said it is all set to initiate the Automatic Landing Sequence (ALS) for its ambitious third Moon mission Chandrayaan-3's Lander Module (LM) to touch down on the lunar surface this evening.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/Bt0bmHc

Share:

Read More

iQoo Z7 Pro Confirmed to Get MediaTek Dimensity 7200 SoC Ahead of India Launch

iQoo Z7 Pro will make its debut in India on August 31 and will be available for purchase on Amazon. The company has been teasing the design, specifications and other key details of the smartphone. iQoo has now confirmed the smartphone's processor via a teaser page. The handset is also claimed to have an AnTutu score of 7,28,764.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/aBy8A9b

Share:

Read More

WATCH: ISRO shares new photos taken by Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander as smooth sailing continues

India’s third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, is right on track. The plan to touch down on the lunar south pole come August 23 is also on track, as per a mission update shared by ISRO.

According to ISRO, everything’s running like clockwork with regular checks on their systems, and they’re sailing through the mission smoothly. They even threw in a tweet saying, “The Mission Operations Complex (MOX) is buzzing with energy & excitement!”

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
The mission is on schedule.
Systems are undergoing regular checks.
Smooth sailing is continuing.

The Mission Operations Complex (MOX) is buzzed with energy & excitement!

The live telecast of the landing operations at MOX/ISTRAC begins at 17:20 Hrs. IST… pic.twitter.com/Ucfg9HAvrY

— ISRO (@isro) August 22, 2023

ISRO also treated us to some fresh moon snapshots. These were taken by the Lander Position Detection Camera (LPDC) from about 70 km up on August 19, 2023.

These images play a vital role in helping the Lander Module figure out its exact spot (latitude and longitude) by matching what it sees against a map of the moon that’s stored onboard.

India is aiming to achieve a remarkable milestone by becoming the first nation to reach the unexplored south pole of Earth’s exclusive natural companion, the Moon. The mission is carried out by a dynamic duo: the LM, which consists of the lander named Vikram and its trusted partner, the rover Pragyaan.

The pivotal moment is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:04 PM, when they’re set to execute a gentle landing in the vicinity of the Moon’s southern polar zone.

Should the Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully achieve a lunar touchdown and flawlessly land a robotic lunar rover – a second attempt by ISRO within a span of four years – India would join an elite group of countries that have mastered the intricate art of softly touching down on the moon’s surface. This group currently includes the United States, China, and the former Soviet Union.

Chandrayaan-3 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, with the mission’s key goals being to showcase a secure and gentle landing on the lunar surface, navigate and explore the Moon’s terrain, and carry out on-site scientific experiments.

The budget for the Chandrayaan-3 mission, amounting to Rs 600 crore, funded an ambitious venture launched on July 14 using the robust Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3) rocket. This spacecraft embarked on a 41-day journey with its sights set on the lunar south pole.

The upcoming soft landing attempt holds significance, especially in light of Russia’s Luna-25 spacecraft recent mishap. Luna-25’s unfortunate crash into the Moon followed a period of uncontrolled spinning.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/vz2r4qk

Share:

Read More

Microsoft, Activision to Sell Cloud Streaming Rights to Ubisoft to Get UK Regulator's Nod for $69 Billion Deal

Call of Duty maker Activision will sell its non-European streaming rights to Ubisoft Entertainment to get the biggest deal yet in video-gaming past British regulators, potential owner Microsoft said on Tuesday.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/05KkZH6

Share:

Read More

As Chandrayaan-3 Prepares for Landing, Experts Explain Moon's Many Mysteries

The Moon has captivated human curiosity for centuries, and with each new mission, we uncover more about its geological history, composition and potential for scientific discovery. As anticipation grows for India's planned Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing on Wednesday, an expert delves into the fascinating world of Moon exploration.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/Ri091PB

Share:

Read More

Brothers in Arms: How NASA and ESA are helping ISRO with Chandrayaan-3’s moon landing

Ever since Chandrayaan-3 took off on July 14th, the folks at NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have been lending a hand to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to keep an eye on how the spacecraft is doing up in space.

Now that Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander module is counting down its hours to land on the Moon, the assistance that NASA and ESA will be giving to ISRO is going to change a little.

How NASA and ESA helped till now
ESA has been supporting ISRO through its nifty ‘Estrack’ network of supercharged deep space stations. They’re in for the long haul, helping out with tracking, giving orders, and catching data from Chandrayaan 3. All the action’s coordinated from ESA’s ESOC mission control centre in Darmstadt, Germany.

When Chandrayaan 3 first took off, ESA’s 15-meter antenna in Kourou, French Guiana had its eyes on it. This was to confirm that the spacecraft made a successful leap into space and was doing OK.

As the spacecraft headed further away from our blue planet, ESA started tracking ISRO’s mission from the Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd’s 32-meter antenna in the UK. This bit was crucial because it helped them keep a close watch on Chandrayaan-3’s propulsion and lander modules.

What’s really neat is that this is a tag-team effort involving ESA’s European stations, NASA’s Deep Space Network, and ISRO’s own stations. This all added up to keep the spacecraft’s operators in the loop 24/7. They made sure that this lunar adventure stays on track and ISRO was in touch with Chandrayaan-3

Changing roles
Ramesh Chellathurai, who works on ground operations at ESOC Darmstadt in Germany, explained how ESA has been all hands on deck for this mission. They also help with sending commands from Bengaluru to the satellite itself.

Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander is aiming to gracefully touch down on the lunar surface on August 23. The help from these ground stations is going to be super crucial.

The ESA isn’t messing around either. They’ve got a 35-meter deep space antenna in Australia, specifically New Norcia, that’s all set to track and keep ISRO in touch with the Lander Module while it’s making its way down to the moon’s surface.

This antenna isn’t just a backup, it’s like the wingman of ISRO’s ground station. They’re both going to be collecting data about the Lander Module’s condition, its location, and how it’s moving. All of this data is going to be used to give a thumbs up or thumbs down to the landing mission. If all goes well, the Pragyaan Rover’s data pass through the Lander Module to these ground stations, and from there, it’ll make its way to the Mission Operations Centre in Bengaluru.

And NASA’s Deep Space Network, using its antennas at different locations, is taking care of Chandrayaan-3’s telemetry and tracking as it gracefully descends. They’re not only catching signals about the spacecraft’s health and performance, but they’re also listening to the radio signals and is looking out for Doppler Effect, which is a crucial navigation tool that will be used during landing.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/y9fZKem

Share:

Read More

Canara Bank Rolls Out CBDC App Interoperable With UPI, Users Highlight Issues

Canara Bank has launched an app to process eRupee payments between select customers and retailers. The launch of this app this week, makes Canara Bank the first mainstream Indian lender to have created a special platform to initiate CBDC payments as India marches forward with its eRupee trials.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/ncQWUAN

Share:

Read More

Chandrayaan-3 Gets Ready to Make History With Soft-Landing on Moon's South Pole

ISRO's ambitious third Moon mission Chandrayaan-3's Lander Module (LM) is all set to land on the lunar surface on Wednesday evening, as India eyes becoming the first country to reach the uncharted south pole of Earth's only natural satellite.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/HwnvOxp

Share:

Read More

Safe Than Sorry: Know why ISRO may reschedule Chandrayaan-3 landing

Even though the Chandrayaan-3 mission is going extremely smoothly, one never knows when things might go haywire. The engineers at ISRO have a number of contingencies in place which should ensure that, unlike Chnadrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander, actually gets a soft landing this time.

One of those contingencies is postponing Chandrayaan-3’s landing date. Nilesh M Desai, who is the Director at the Center for Space Applications-ISRO in Ahmedabad, explained that the space agency will evaluate the lander’s position in relation to the Moon’s surface a couple of hours before the scheduled landing.

To postpone or not
About two hours before the touchdown sequence is supposed to start, ISRO’s scientists will do a final check, mainly to see if the designated landing zone is viable for a touchdown on that particular day. If things are good, they will continue with the landing process. Otherwise, they will need to reschedule it for August 27.

The scientist also noted that if they do decide to make the landing attempt on August 27, it will happen around 400-450 km away from the originally intended landing site set for August 23.

Desai further added, “If we determine that the lander’s position isn’t suitable for landing, we’ll push the attempt to August 27. However, our first preference is to try for the landing on August 23.”

Things going well so far
The Vikram Landing module has performed so well, that it hasn’t used much of the emergency fuel that it had carried. In total, it is still carrying about 150 kg of extra propellant, which it might not need if things go as per plan, and the Vikram Lander module, touches down on the Moon on August 23, at 6:04 PM IST.

But because landing on the south pole of the Moon is something that hasn’t been done successfully, yet, a lot of things can go wrong.

Issues with the landing zone
The polar regions of any planet or its natural satellites have a peculiar gravitational pull. Magnetic fields also behave in an unusual way. Besides this, there is also the possibility that the topography of the place where Vikram is scheduled to land may be rendered unsuitable for some reason, all of a sudden.

Although ISRO has calculated for every possibility and contingency that may come up, they will need to make a last-minute check, even before the start the landing sequence. During this check, there is always a possibility that some new information may come up that may throw a spanner in the works.

Plus, the Moon has a lot of seismic activity. Moonquakes are not only a real thing, but they are also a very common occurrence on the lunar surface. The area where the Vikram Lander is supposed to touchdown, the Proposed Landing Site, or PLS, has had some moonquakes, but not severe ones.

Then there is extreme cold to worry about. Vikram Lander’s PLS is estimated to be at a temperature of -300 degrees Fahrenheit. This may severely impact Vikram’s ability to effectively land on the surface of the moon.

Issues with Vikram Module and its approach angle
Although the Vikram Module and all other aspects of the Chandrayaan-3 has gone extremely smoothly, there is always a chance that something goes off for a moment that puts ISRO in a position where it will have to rethink its landing strategy.

The most important element for tomorrow’s landing will be the Vikram Lander’s position, in relation to the Moon and where ISRO plans to land it. In case it does not align in a manner that is suitable for the landing, ISRO may have to postpone the touchdown.

Other technical issues
Russia’s Luna-25 had some communications issues with Roscosmos because of which it crashed onto the moon. Although the chances of Chandrayaan-3 crashing ont the Moon are slim, it may still face some issues with communications, because of the Moon’s poles and the magnetic fields around it. As a result, some technical glitches may come up.

Because of this, the Vikram landing module, may over shoot the position where it changes its orientation and starts slowing down. In such a case, ISRO would prefer to have Vikram land at some other spot.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/hT6lsm3

Share:

Read More

India goes bullish on EVs, boasts 120% growth in EVs, 400% in hybrids

In the latest report from CyberMedia Research (CMR), it’s been revealed that India had an astonishing 120 per cent increase in electric vehicle (EV) adoption during the second quarter of this year.

This surge was led by a whopping 400 per cent rise in hybrid vehicle usage. Also, assistance systems (ADAS) experienced a rapid expansion, shooting up by 350 per cent compared to the previous year. On top of that, the adoption of connected and digital cockpit features in passenger vehicles is steadily gaining ground, crossing the 60 per cent mark. Quite the exciting trends we’re witnessing!

The surge in people adopting electric vehicles (EVs) was all thanks to the introduction of new, more affordable models hitting the market.

According to John Martin, a senior analyst in the smart mobility practice at CMR, automotive manufacturers have been putting their efforts into rolling out electric vehicles equipped with Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These systems bring in cool features like adaptive cruise control, lane centring, and automated lane changes, making driving even smarter and safer.

And it’s not just about the safety features. Vehicles are also getting smarter on the inside with the use of intelligent and connected cockpits. John Martin points out that these advances are a double win: they improve safety for consumers while also pushing forward the ideas of intelligent mobility and environmental sustainability.

The incredible growth in demand for hybrid vehicles, on the other hand, was largely thanks to big players in the industry like Toyota Kirloskar, Maruti Suzuki, and Honda Motors. They’ve been driving the demand for hybrids.

Interestingly, the report highlights that more than 90 per cent of EVs sold in the second quarter of 2023 came equipped with smart connected features. Additionally, around 15 per cent of hybrid vehicles had cool digital cockpits.

By the time this year wraps up, it’s expected that over 5 per cent of passenger vehicles will be fully electric and rocking those ADAS features.

Intriguingly, advanced connectivity and digital cockpit functionalities are projected to snatch up a solid 40 per cent slice of the market share, as per the report. So, it’s safe to say that the roads are getting smarter and more connected, all while our cars are becoming increasingly eco-friendly.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/uygrhcK

Share:

Read More