🚀 China's kamikaze drone threatening Taiwan, Monkeys predict US presidential election outcome, Ford patents drug trafficking tech

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North Industries Group Corporation Limited (Norinco), one of China’s biggest defense contractors, has unveiled a new long-range kamikaze drone that can theoretically reach Taiwan. The company claims that compared to the United States Switchblade 600 drone, Norinco’s drone features greater range, speed, and performance.

According to reported statistics, the new drone has a range of 124 miles (200 km), a cruising speed of 90 mph (144 kph), and can stay aloft for around 105 minutes. The drone can also act as a loitering munition and hover around a potential target for some time before impact. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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MUST-READ

🚀 China unveils 90 mph kamikaze drone threatening Taiwan with 124-mile range

By comparison, the Switchblade 600 can cruise at around 68 mph (110 kph), has a maximum flight time of 40 minutes, and a range of 25 miles (40 km). However, its “attack” speed can be as much as 115 mph (185 kph), and its range can be extended to 50 miles (80 km).

Norinco is not the PLA’s sole contractor, but its operations are larger than those in the United States. It employs 20,000 people and has production facilities across China. Based in Xian, the firm has helped develop the city over the last few decades with new schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure.

“Loitering munitions … such as the US Switchblade series combines the characteristics of drones and missiles with advantages such as long flight time, a wide range of action, flexible use, and diverse penetration styles,” the research team from Norinco’s Xian Modern Control Technology Research Institute explained.

🚀 Donald Trump or Kamala Harris? Monkeys predict US presidential election outcome

Many strange things happen in the world of psephology, but for the first time researchers are trying to get monkeys to predict the outcome of the US elections – which is scheduled to take place in November this year.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) are trying to find out if three rhesus macaques can predict who the winner will be between former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump, and Vice President Kamala Harris – who is the candidate from the Democratic Party.

The researchers tried to get the group of monkeys to predict who is going to emerge as the winner this November by only looking at the photos of the two candidates. According to the researchers, this is based on the idea that the monkeys gaze longer at the photos of those whom they do not consider a threat – given that staring at an alpha in their society is considered a sign of disrespect.

🚗 Ford patents drug trafficking tech to save drivers from becoming ‘blind mules’

Ford’s new patent filed by the automobile company in March of last year appears to have all the components necessary to prevent its drivers from accidentally becoming blind mules for drug traffickers.

The patent, published mid-September, is titled Unknown Cargo Detection and Evidence Collection System for a vehicle and associated method.

Blind mules is the term used to identify individuals or groups who become part of a drug trafficking activity without being aware of their contribution. Drivers and passengers traveling across international borders who often get caught with contraband substances are usually not aware that they are carrying the goods, much less if it is illegal.

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