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🏗️ US' tallest building , Penguin-inspired bot, Boeing's flying taxi

Plus: World’s largest neuromorphic computer system

Plans are afoot to build a skyscraper that would trump One World Trade Center, which is currently the tallest building in the U.S. Dubbed the ‘Legends Tower,’ the proposed building is set to grace the skyline of Oklahoma City.

The designers envision the structure reaching a staggering height of 1,907 feet (581.3 meters), an intentional nod to the year Oklahoma attained statehood. For more on the structure, check out today’s Must-Read.

🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on jobs.interestingengineering.com:

> Senior Software Engineer, Backend
> DevSecOps Automation Engineer

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MUST READ

🏗️ Oklahoma to get US’ tallest building standing at 1,907 feet

If realized, this ambitious height would exceed the height of New York’s One World Trade Center by over 200 feet (61 meters). Globally, only five other buildings would stand taller. The project’s estimated cost, which includes features like a lagoon and a nearby boardwalk, stands at $1.6 billion.

Developers had initially proposed a tower standing at 1,750 feet (533.4 meters) before the height increase was proposed. The Legends Tower is primarily planned to be residential, housing 1,750 apartments and a Hyatt hotel boasting hundreds of rooms.

The tower forms part of the larger mixed-use development known as Boardwalk at Bricktown, which includes three additional towers at its base.

🐧 Robot penguins: This underwater drone can cruise at 11.5 mph

German underwater robotics company EvoLogics has developed an advanced version of its Quadroin autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). When the Quadroin vehicle was first unveiled in May 2021, it attracted notice for its unusual, penguin-like look.

The quick and agile Quadroin, designed for surveying and monitoring, uses EvoLogics’ low-drag bionic design experience. The team's years of research on penguin locomotion resulted in the AUV's advanced hydrodynamic qualities.

The Quadroin’s low drag form allows it to reach speeds of up to 10 knots, which reduces energy consumption and allows for a variety of deployments.

🚖 Boeing’s Wisk to introduce flying taxis in Asia by 2030

US-headquartered Boeing has ambitious plans to foray into the flying cars business in Asian markets by the end of the decade. Boeing hopes its subsidiary Wisk Aero’s tech will help address traffic woes in Asian cities.

Wisk is currently working with its sixth-generation aircraft, which promises to transport up to four passengers and additional luggage on each trip. The flying taxi uses fully electric propulsion, making it an environmentally friendly option for aerial transport.

Japanese heavyweights such as Mitsubishi, Kawasaki, and Subaru, with whom Boeing already has supply partnerships for its own planes, have established factories. These companies have also developed expertise in newer areas of automotive technology, such as electric vehicles and fuel cells.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> In a recent discovery, scientists found that the highest active volcano in Antarctica is emitting gold particles along with volcanic gases. The finding remains consistent with a 1991 spotting. (More)

> Scientists at the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell state that we might not be focusing on the right color in our pursuit to find life on other planets. They believe the color might be purple, not green, in our search for life in the universe. (More)

> One well-known example of a magnetic field excursion is the Laschamps event, which happened around 41,000 years ago. Along with the upside-down compass, this occurrence dramatically weakened the strength of Earth’s magnetic field. (More)

ENERGY

> India’s solar ambitions come with a hefty amount of waste. With the nation targeting an output of 280GW of solar power by 2030, of which 70.1GW is already installed, one study forecasts an accumulation of more than 600,000 tonnes of solar waste by then. (More)

> Apple has reduced its overall greenhouse gas emissions by more than 55 percent since 2015. The milestone marks important progress on its Apple 2030 goal to become carbon neutral across its entire value chain by the end of this decade. (More)

> China is increasingly seeking to put solar panels on the seas off its coastline, with some state-run companies experimenting as far offshore as 30 kilometers. The country has been looking to the ocean to meet its future power via wind, waves, and tides. (More)

INNOVATION

> Intel has announced the launch of the world’s largest neuromorphic computer system, Hala Point. Initially deployed at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, the computer mimics the human brain in processing information. (More)

> Rocket Lab has taken a key step toward its first-ever relaunch of one of its Electron rocket boosters. To date, SpaceX is the only satellite launch firm to reuse first-stage orbital rocket boosters with its workhorse Falcon 9 program. (More)

> In a sign of changing times in the maritime industry, a Norwegian shipyard has been contracted to build the ‘world’s largest’ hydrogen-powered ships. The Myklebust Shipyard in Norway has been selected by transport firm Torghatten Nord to build two hydrogen ferries. (More)

VIDEO

> Dubai hosted the world's first jet suit race. Eight pilots flew the 1-kilometer race over water in the heat. Each jet suit was powered by five engines, delivering over 1500 brake horsepower. (More)

> Conservationists sometimes need to tilt evolutionary change back to a balance point. In the case of ravens wiping out tortoises in the Mojave desert, they’ve built a robotic tortoise — find out why. (More)

> The April 2024 total solar eclipse was seen by more Americans than any other. Two aerobatic pilots flew within feet of each other to get incredible shots. Their window of opportunity was just four minutes. (More)

IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

In yesterday’s quiz, we asked, Can you figure out the number that’s missing?

The answer is: -12

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FROM THE WEB

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> Phenomenal video shows insane way group of engineers decided to test a tank's brakes

> Hydrogen combustion engine fires up on road to land speed record run

> Sizewell C signs multi-billion euro deal with nuclear reactor business

> Surrey engineers help Mauritius spot illegal fishing from space 

Additional Reads


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🧑🏻‍🔧 Engineer Pros: The latest in engineering news, career updates, and insider knowledge.

🧠 AI Logs: Insights into the intricacies and developments within the realm of artificial intelligence.

🎬 IE Originals:Weekly round-up of our best science, tech & engineering videos.

🟩 Sustainability: Uncover green innovations and the latest trends shaping a sustainable future for the tech industry.

Electrical: From AI to smart grids, our newsletter energizes you on emerging tech.


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