The China Construction Bank, China's second-largest bank, has opened a branch in Shanghai run entirely by technology. A humanoid robot answers customers' questions and directs traffic, and human client relationship managers remotely interact with customers via videoconference. Customers can pay to engage in small interactive augmented reality games to make the experience more of an occasion rather than just a branch visit. A virtual reality machine is also available to showcase CCB?s latest home rental offerings. This virtual reality, artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology is expected to support 90 percent of customer demand. https://m-scmp-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/m.scmp.com/business/companies/article/21
Amazon has partnered with GM and Volvo on its new In-Car Delivery service for Prime members, which launched this month in 37 U.S. cities. Prime members with eligible GM or Volvo cars simply select In-Car Delivery at checkout. Amazon couriers do not have direct access to the car -- the unlock command is issued through the car's connected systems (i.e. OnStar or Volvo on Call) as part of an authentication process. This service complements the Amazon in-home service launched last year.
Depending on who you ask, the electric, internet-connected scooters appearing all over California are either the future of transportation or a public nuisance. They?re managed through smartphone apps. With Bird, for example, you open the app to see a map of nearby available scooters, from which you can select one, scan a QR code on the scooter, tap ?unlock? in the app, and start your ride. Once you?ve scooted to your destination?Bird says most rides are less than 2 miles?you lock the scooter up again. https://qz.com/1257997/electric-scooters-are-flooding-california-and-theyll-be-on-your-sidewalks-soon/
Graviky Labs, has developed a system to collect soot from exhaust pipes and convert it to ink or paint for artists. The unit captures up to 95% of the particular matter pollution without inducing back-pressure on the engines. It?s designed with heat and water-proof electronics and materials. You can contact Graviky if you are interested in customizing KAALINK™ for other use-cases, or air pollution capture through fossil-fuel sources. www.graviky.com/kaalink.html
This month Sweden unveiled the world's first publicly-accessible electrified road, capable of charging electric vehicles while they drive on it. It works with a rail embedded in the road. Electric vehicles have a connector that goes down in two tracks in this rail to pick up the electricity. The system is able to calculate the vehicle's energy consumption, which enables electricity costs to be debited per vehicle and user. The pilot project stretches two kilometres along a public road just outside of Stockholm, near Arlanda Airport. The Swedish government has outlined plans for a national grid of electrified roads across the country.
The idea, known as "vehicle-to-grid", is to have millions of drivers become mini electricity traders, charging up when rates are cheap and pumping energy back into the grid during peak hours or when the sun is not shining. We need storage to make better use of wind and solar power, and electric cars could provide it. Today, fewer than 1 per cent of the world's vehicles are electric, but by 2040 more than half of all new cars will be electric. The first company to offer a product that allows drivers to both buy and sell power is San Diego-based Nuvve, which has succeeded by focusing on business customers in Denmark. www.inkl.com/newsletters/morning-edition/news/cities-running-on-car-batteries-idea-so-crazy-it-might-just-work?
