Tag Archives: safety

California Regulators approve ‘Turquoise Blue’ car lights to indicate ‘Self-driving modes’

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Even though it’s been nearly a decade since self-driving tech made it to our cultural forefront, we’re still in the process of figuring out how to make the technology safer, how to implement it in current urban setups, and more importantly, how to successfully legislate it. There’s always a moral conundrum with who is to blame if a self-driving car hits a pedestrian (the driver or the algorithm), but Mercedes-Benz approached this problem laterally by asking the question: How can pedestrians tell if a car is driven by a human or an algorithm? The answer comes in the form of a colored light. Regulators in California and Nevada have approved Mercedes’ use of a turquoise blue indicator (on the front, sides, and back) to help pedestrians and other cars know when the vehicle is being controlled autonomously.

Designer: Mercedes-Benz

Let’s paint the picture: currently, U.S. cars typically sport three light colors – white for headlights and reverse lights, red for brake and rear lights, and amber for turn signals. Enter Mercedes-Benz, breaking the mold with its turquoise blue lights, a feature that will activate when their cars are driving autonomously.

The lights are part of Mercedes’ “Drive Pilot” system, a conditionally autonomous technology. It’s legal only in California and Nevada for now, where it’s been tested. The system allows drivers to relax a bit more in traffic jams on certain highways, even letting them take their eyes off the road when the vehicle is moving at speeds below 65 km/h. This is a leap from other driver assistance systems, like Tesla’s Full Self Driving or GM’s Super Cruise, which require drivers to remain vigilant.

The choice of turquoise blue is no accident. It’s distinctive, ensuring no confusion with existing car light colors, and it’s different enough from the darker blue used by police and emergency vehicles. This selection is backed by the Society of Automotive Engineers, though Mercedes is the first to receive approval for its use. This innovative color will make its appearance around the taillights and headlights of the vehicles equipped with it.

But why go to all this trouble for a color? It’s all about clarity and safety. The turquoise blue lights serve as a clear signal to other road users and law enforcement that the vehicle is under full automated control. This is crucial in situations where the driver might not be looking at the road, ensuring that onlookers don’t mistakenly think something’s amiss. Starting early 2024, this system will be available in Mercedes S-Class and EQS models in Nevada and California, but not beyond these states just yet​.

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This autonomous robot scouts unfriendly terrain for dangerous land mines in warzone and post-conflict regions

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Wars bring with them massive destruction on the battlefield but the implications beyond wartime can be equally devastating in terms of mental, psychological and physical damage. The ongoing strangling in two of the most important regions in the world is a clear example of how conflicts can have devastating aftermaths. Land mines have long been one of the worst nemesis of post-war calamities, rendering fertile lands too risky to be cultivated.

Searching for these fatal buried hazards can be an arduous task even for the most potent military units and that’s where robotic land mine detectors make the task easier. This takes all the risk of human life away and also ensures the particular area of land is safely ridden of destructive land mines laid down by battling units in the past.

Designer: Subin Kim and JiHoon Park

Meet the Warden mine detector proposed as a concept design that safely takes care of identifying potential land mines and marks the area with red paint to keep everyone safe. This creates a quarantined zone for residents and outsiders about the potential threats. Working autonomously to scout any kind of terrain, the smart robotic minesweeper is connected to the cloud at all times to send the real-time data of identified mines, so that they can be updated in relevant online maps and public resources.

Looking like a rover moving forward on unknown lands, this robot has a high ride height to move swiftly on rocky terrain. The machine is loaded with advanced sensors and a surprising mowing attachment to remove any standing grass or weed. This makes the marked area visible even in the dark hours of the day. When not autonomous, the minesweeper robot can also be controlled by a soldier during wartime scouting.

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This AI-powered dog bark collar safely trains your furry friend to bark only when necessary

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Having pets is fun and rewarding, but as our parents warned us, it’s also a big responsibility. In addition to feeding them and cleaning after them, it’s also our job to make sure they behave properly, both in private and in public. The latter can be especially problematic when it comes to dogs with bad barking habits, making a lot of noise almost incessantly. There are many ways to teach a dog to keep quiet, but most of them end up being ineffective. Manual training is stressful for both dog and owner, while some tools or gadgets turn out to be harmful to the pet’s physical and mental well-being. With this innovative dog bark collar, however, your dog can gradually learn when to bark and when to keep quiet safely and humanely, all thanks to the power of AI.

Designers: 66 Studio, Zhe Sun & Bin Hu

Click Here to Buy Now: $59 $109 (45% off). Hurry, only 247/500 left!

HushPuppy – The world’s first AI dog bark collar.

HushPuppy can help you train your dogs to learn to be quiet at the correct times and locations.

Dogs can be a person’s best friend, but just like humans, they can have different temperaments and behaviors. Unfortunately, some dogs develop what people call nuisance or excessive barking, which can sometimes be triggered by random everyday sounds or objects. Bark collars are growing in popularity as a way to train dogs not to bark at certain times, but they aren’t always effective and can even be excessive, defeating the purpose of training and causing the poor dog more stress and anxiety. By utilizing cutting-edge AI, the HushPuppy bark collar can be smart in detecting your dog’s barking and safely guide your faithful companion to better behavior.

AI soundprint detection accurately recognizes dog bark, leading to an interruption of barking behavior.

Through repeated interruption, the dog learns to quiet down so you can enjoy a peaceful life once more.

NFSF technology ensures that the collar won’t easily capture a dog’s bark more than 5 feet away.

Unlike most bark collars in the market, HushPuppy uses tiny AI models installed right onto the collar’s chip to detect sounds and differentiate a dog’s bark from other indoor and outdoor sounds such as alarms, car horns, doors, and even people laughing. This prevents a “false alarm” that would have otherwise triggered the collar’s conditioning effect incorrectly. HushPuppy boasts 99.1% accuracy and, thanks to Adaptive Sound Detection (ASD) and High Precision Computational Audio (HPCA) technology, it can even identify your dog’s bark in a noisy environment. Even better, a state-of-the-art Near-Field Sound Filter (NFSF) ignores barking that is more than 5 feet away, which means a nearby dog’s barking won’t incorrectly trigger the collar either.

Warning mode (white LED) and training mode (blue LED).

When HushPuppy does detect your dog barking, it will send a safe “reminder” to tell your dog not to bark, applying the principles of Pavlovian behavioral conditioning to discourage dogs from this kind of behavior. In training mode, this comes as a vibration and a beep. In warning mode, however, a mild static stimulus is also added to the response. This static stimulus is delivered by a single AAA battery at a fixed electricity level to ensure the safety of the dog while still delivering a memorable nudge to help develop good behavior. Over time, this repetition will help the dogs form a positive association so that they will quiet down when they hear or feel the stimulus.

In addition to a safe training method, HushPuppy is also designed to be completely safe and comfortable to wear. No metal parts are exposed and a conductive soft silicone gel is used instead, ensuring that the collar is soft on the skin and free of potential allergic reactions and unsafe edges. It’s so easy to use, there isn’t even a manual power button! The collar immediately springs into action once it detects a bark, and then goes into a low-energy standby mode when no more barks are heard. Thanks to this smart operation, it can last up to 300 days on standby or 21 days of regular daily use, all on a single AAA battery. With the AI-driven HushPuppy, your canine companion will be able to learn good barking habits in a smart and safe way, saving both you and your precious pet from embarrassment and stress.

Click Here to Buy Now: $59 $109 (45% off). Hurry, only 247/500 left!

The post This AI-powered dog bark collar safely trains your furry friend to bark only when necessary first appeared on Yanko Design.

This non-toxic Dutch Oven helps you craft culinary masterpieces with ease and confidence

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Cooking should be an enjoyable and satisfying activity, and while that might be the case for some, it isn’t always true for everyone. Some deplore the multiple steps involved, especially when it comes to cleaning up the mess afterward. Others are also wary of cookware options available, not just in terms of design or performance but especially when the safety and cleanliness of cooking equipment are concerned, which affect both the taste and safety of the food. Not all cookware puts this feature as a priority, focusing more on convenience or appearances at the expense of people’s health. Fortunately, there are exceptions to the rule, and this do-it-all Dutch Oven brings safety, convenience, and taste together in one uncompromising cooking tool.

Designer: HK Kim

Click Here to Buy Now: $186 $219 (15% off with coupon code “yanko”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

It’s too easy to take for granted how the kind of pot or pan we cook our food in can actually affect the quality of the dish. Some pans might not heat evenly, for example, while others have a coating that could change the taste of the food in some manner. Worse, however, is how toxins for metals or their coating might be released into the food thanks to the heat, poisoning it and your body little by little. This kind of safety isn’t always at the top of manufacturers’ lists, but the Hesselbach Dutch Oven actually makes it its number one priority.

PuraSteel™ – PuraSteel™ combines the heat retention of cast iron with the rust-free resilience of stainless steel—all while being non-toxic.

PuraCotta™ – Offers a non-toxic, non-stick surface that enhances the flavor of your food.

The pot is made from a proprietary PuraSteel material and coated with PuraCotta to deliver the same kind of durability and performance you’d expect from similar cookware, but with the dangers of toxins and poisons that can be found in heavy metals like iron as well as by-products from hard anodization. Even the lid doesn’t have a screw for the handle, ensuring that no rust will ever fall on your delicious dish. With this focus on safety, you can cook to your heart’s content, knowing that you and your loved ones will be eating scrumptious and clean meals every time.

The Hesselbach Dutch Oven’s special materials also means that it has exceptional heat retention, ensuring that the pot heats up quickly, spreads evenly, and keeps a consistent temperature for long periods of time. This makes the Dutch Oven great for searing and frying, and it can keep the food warm longer even after you’ve removed it from the stove. And because food is cooked more evenly, food naturally tastes better, especially when there’s meat involved.

Of course, these aren’t the only feats that this exceptional Dutch Oven is capable of. Whether you’re simmering or baking, its unparalleled heat distribution makes sure that no part is undercooked or overcooked. With its versatile performance, you can switch from flame to oven to induction without missing a beat. And when the cooking and the eating are finally done, the ultra-pure ceramic surface makes it easier while using less soap. And, yes, you can even put it inside a dishwasher for an even more effortless time.

Hesslebach Founder – Driven by love and necessity, HK Kim channeled his mastery of metals into pioneering a culinary revolution for health.

This non-toxic Dutch Oven isn’t just a safe and versatile piece of cookware, it’s also quite the looker, too! With a modern and sophisticated design, you can start serving directly from the pot, making it the centerpiece of your dining experience. With its uncompromising safety, exceptional performance, and elegant aesthetics, the Hesslebach Dutch Oven promises a safer and cleaner cooking experience so that you can enjoy making the dishes you love to share and eat with the people you love.

Click Here to Buy Now: $186 $219 (15% off with coupon code “yanko”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

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