5 Innovations That Will Impact the World

5 Innovations That Will Impact the WorldInnoTech San Antonio, April 17, 2013

Matt Reedy

Enterprise Innovation

Brad Billman

Sr. Research Engineer

PUBLIC INFORMATION: May be discussed or shared with non-USAA employees. 2

Topics

• How We Came Up With This List

• 3D Printing

• Robotics

• Sensor-based homes (Smart Homes)

• Autonomous Vehicles

• Drones


How We Came Up With This List

• Our Applied Research & Innovation teams focus on ideas for new products and services for our

members (customers) and are always on the lookout for advanced technologies that can make our

members’ lives easier and better.

• We looked at dozens of different technologies that have been on our radar screen, in the news lately

and have the potential to make a positive impact on not only our members, but consumers in general.

• While there are so many from which to choose, we selected these five based on their relatively

advanced stage of development and variety of potential uses.


3D Printing

What is it?

The ability to replicate complex 3-

dimensional objects using enhanced

printing technology.

Also known as “additive manufacturing.”Source: 3D Systems


3D Printing - Shapeways

A startup now allows anyone to design

products and Shapeways will

manufacture them.

3D print in over 30 materials, including

metals and ceramics.

Source: Shapeways.com


3D Printing - OsteoFab Patient Specific Cranial Device

Earlier this year, an unnamed man in the United

States had 75 percent of his skull replaced with a

3D-printed plastic prosthetic. The PEKK

(polyetherketoneketone) prosthetic sports holes

meant to encourage the growth of new cells and

bone.

Source: Oxford Performance Materials


3D Printing - NASA

• It is more efficient to build large

structures in space rather than trying

to find a large launch vehicle.

• Ideal for when the exact specifications

of the parts needed is not known

beforehand.

• Less weight required than to carry lots

of spare parts.

Source: Space Industry News


3D Printing

How will it impact the world?

• Extremely inexpensive manufacturing technology for sophisticated parts and components.

• The printing devices are portable so manufacturing can be brought closer to the point of end

use.

• 3D printing can help trim days, weeks and months off the typical product design and

development cycle.

• Recent advances indicate reconstruction of human body elements could even progress to

organs and tissues.


Robotics

Robotics spans a spectrum from small, programmable devices used in

manufacturing to low-cost robots for domestic use, to large, mobile

remote telepresence units.


Robotics

We’re probably not quite able to duplicate the Jetsons robot in capability, but advances are occurring rapidly.

Remote telepresence robots are now in use conducting

telemedicine and allowing homebound students to

participate virtually in school.

Source: KENS5


Industrial Robotics

Rethink Robotics recently introduced Baxter, a $22,000

programmable robot that can do simple jobs. Baxter is

designed to work next to humans and communicates

through basic facial expressions.

Robotics

Sourc

e: R

eth

ink R

obotics

Health Care

• Intuitive Surgical makes the da Vinci surgical

system, which enables surgeons to make

smaller, more precise incisions.

• Expect to see more telepresence robots used in

care-giving for the elderly.

There are currently over 1,000 robotics companies around the world


Robotics

How will it impact the world?

• Automating routine tasks.

• Replacing humans for hazardous activities.

• Enhancing mobility and communications.


Smart Home

A home equipped with technology that can communicate its

condition to an owner and other parties.


Sensor-Based Homes (Smart Homes)

?


Sensors Today

• Home Alarm Systems

• Garage Door System

• Appliances

• Water Sensors

• DIY Custom Sensors – Arduino & Raspberry PI

• Open Use Sensors!


Sensors Today – Open Use

You assign what the sensor is intended to do

Source: CAO Gadgets LLC

Software is configured to report on action


Sensor Use in the Near-term

• Mobile based control solutions have grown

• Sensor world is without standards

• Adoption of open use sensors likely due to falling costs

Source: Intel Free Press


Sensor-Based Homes (Smart Homes) - Impact

• Informed home owners

• Security

• Invention and innovation fertile ground

• Early warning and claims avoidance

• New dimension on provider relationship

• Social awareness


Autonomous & Near Autonomous Vehicles

A vehicle that can drive itself from one point to another

without assistance from a driver.


Autonomous Enablers

GPS

On-Board

Systems

Remote

Control

Pre-Determined

Destination

RADAR

Video and Still

Camera

Laser \ IR

& LIDAR


Autonomous Vehicles – 1 Year Ago

• Onboard Sensors

• GPS Connectivity

• Remote Monitor & Take over

• In-Car Manual Drive

• Video & Still Cameras

• Edge Detection

• Onboard Computer System

• Collision Detection & Avoidance

Source: Eddie Codel


Levels of Autonomy Today

Self-Parking / Mobile Device Retrieval

Audi A7 – CES 2013

Photo courtesy of www.quattroworld.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqr_nHHO5W0&feature=player_embedded




Levels of Autonomy Today

2013 Lexus LS

• Forward Facing Stereo Cameras

• Radar System

• Detects pedestrian crossing

• Will brake on own


Autonomous Vehicles – Impact

• Full autonomous availability is still a few years out

• Crash avoidance is here today

• Advanced services

• Habit changing \ social inclusion

• Shift in the invention world

• Government regulation & planning


Drones

What are they?

• You probably first heard about drones during military conflicts

through the years, beginning with the Vietnam era.

• They go by names like Predator, Pioneer, Zephyr, and Global

Hawk.

• As a class of vehicles, they are called unmanned aerial vehicle

(UAV), remotely piloted vehicle (RPV), remotely piloted aircraft

(RPA), remotely operated aircraft (ROA).

• When combined with pilots, ground stations and supporting

technology, they are called unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

Source: Air & Space Magazine


Drones

How are they used?

• Targeting – a practice target that simulates an enemy

aircraft or weapon

• Reconnaissance – providing visual information from

which to take action

• Combat – ability to attack in high-risk environments

• Logistics – specifically designed for cargo operations

• Civil and Commercial UAVs – specifically designed

for use by local governments and industrySource: NASA


Drones

How will they impact the world?

The FAA is now issuing Certificates of Authorization to

public entities that want to fly an Unmanned Aerial

System in civil airspace.

Common uses include law enforcement, firefighting,

border patrol, catastrophe relief, search & rescue

and other government operational missions.

As is typical of new technology, the size and price of

drones is decreasing while their functionality is

increasing. Expect to see more of them in use in a

variety of ways. Source: Aurora Flight Sciences


Summary

Five Innovations That Will Impact the World

• 3D Printing

• Robotics

• Sensor-based homes

• Autonomous Vehicles

• Drones

Clearly, there are many more innovative ideas, products and services being developed and even on the

market today.

But we felt that you as technology specialists and consumers will likely see the effects of these five

innovations in your daily lives in the not too distant future.

5 Innovations That Will Impact the World

Technology

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