During American President Barack Obama’s historic visit to
Israel this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will show
the president a series of technological innovations by Israel’s
high-tech industries in a special exhibit that will be set up in the
president’s honor.
The innovations presented were chosen in five categories:
renewable energy, the war on traffic accidents, medicine, search and
rescue and robotics.
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At the “Israeli Technology – For a Better World” exhibit,
which will be held at the Israel Museum on Thursday, 21 March 2013,
Prime Minister Netanyahu will seven products that were chosen by a
professional committee headed by National Economic Council Chairman
Prof. Eugene Kandel.
The products were chosen from among proposals presented by
Israel’s universities in keeping with their degree of innovation, impact
on humanity and presentability.
National Information Directorate head Liran Dan said:
“There are two principal messages that we would like to emphasize during
the visit: First and foremost is the deep connection between Israel and
the US. Alongside this, we would also like to present to the world the
products of the future that originate in Israel and which will be used
in many places around the world.”
The seven innovations presented to Obama will be:
Phinergy: The company has developed an aluminum-air
battery designed for electric vehicles, which allows a significant
increase in travel range (three times that of a regular electric
vehicle). Phinergy‘s
technology (based on development at Bar-Ilan University) will allow for
a reduction in global oil consumption. The system is based on metal air
technology, including aluminum air and zinc air. A metal-air battery
features an air-electrode that breathes oxygen from ambient air, instead
of the conventional cathode. That is, the battery consumes the required
oxygen from the air, rather than having heavy materials that bound
oxygen inside it. Metal-air batteries therefore have a huge potential
for delivering high capacity with low weight. The technology also has
the significant advantages of zero CO2 emissions, full recyclability,
safety and low cost.
Mobileye: The goal of Mobileye,
a global pioneer in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), is to
develop and market vision-based systems that will help drivers keep
passengers safe on the roads and decrease traffic accidents. It aims to
do so by warning about dangerous situations and even hitting the brakes
instead of the passenger when necessary. To date, Mobileye’s technology
(developed in association with Hebrew University) has been implemented
and launched by BMW, Volvo, GM and Ford in over one million vehicles.
Beginning in 2014, the system will become standard for new vehicles as
per the standards set by Euro-NCAP.
ElMindA:
The company’s Brain Network Activation technology (BNA), developed in
association with Bar Ilan University, provides a non-invasive tool for
the visualization and quantification of BNAs of specific brain
functionalities, disease development and rehabilitation from injuries,
reactions to treatment, psychiatric and neurological problems and pain.
Robot Snake: The robot is designed to enter spaces
in collapsed structures and assist in location and rescue operations.
The robot, developed in association with the Technion, is unique in its
manner of crawling and is very flexible thanks to its great number of
segments. Each joint is motorized and has a computer, sensors, wireless
communications and batteries. Its head carries a camera. Thanks to its
flexible structure, the snake is able to crawl through wreckage without
causing additional structural collapses and provide vital information
about inaccessible areas, including the status of people who might be
trapped, the location of hazardous materials, etc.
ReWalk: The ReWalk
approach aims to give persons with lower limb disabilities, such as
paraplegia, an experience that is as close to natural walking as
possible. The ReWalk exoskeleton suit, developed by a Technion graduate,
uses patented technology with motorized legs that power knee and hip
movement. Battery-powered for all-day use, ReWalk is controlled by
on-board computers and motion sensors, restoring self-initiated walking
without needing tethers or switches to begin stepping. ReWalk controls
movement using subtle changes in center of gravity, mimics natural gait
and provides functional walking speed. A forward tilt of the upper body
is sensed by the system, which triggers the first step. Repeated body
shifting generates a sequence of steps, which allows natural and
efficient walking. The ReWalk also sits, stands, turns and has the
ability to climb and descend stairs.
MinDesktop: A headset that enables computers to be
controlled by brainwaves or facial movements. The computer is controlled
without a mouse or keyboard by means of a headset that images the
user’s brainwaves from 14 separate points. The system, which was
developed by three software engineering graduates from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, is designed to serve the physically handicapped who could not otherwise operate a computer or other devices.
The MinDesktop team (photo: BGU)
Robot Waiter: Following the exhibit, Prime Minister
Netanyahu will introduce the president to young scientists from Haifa,
who won an international robotics competition that was held in the US
last year.
The pupils from the Ironi Gimmel Middle School in Haifa won
the competition with their “robot waiter” which was developed with
guidance from Technion
researchers. The product shows how a robot might serve a handicapped
person in his/her home. The robot is 35 centimeters tall and uses
sensors to orient itself in its surroundings and perform tasks that it
has been programmed to do. The robot is capable of a variety of
movements.
The Robo-Waiter team
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