Computers might eventually take over truck drivers’ jobs, but in the meantime they are making truckers’ work easier. Truck makers Daimler AG, Volvo, Navistar International Corp. and Paccar Inc. are rolling out new automated systems that ease some of the more tedious aspects of piloting big rigs, while helping reduce accidents and save fuel.
Popularity has grown for beauty products containing activated charcoal, or charcoal that has been heated to increase its ability to trap chemicals. Now it is starting to appear in a widening range of products from crackers and juices to tablets and biscuits.
A Tennessee startup company’s 3D printing technology could enable builders to create strong, lightweight structures while dramatically cutting costs. Branch Technology, based in Chattanooga, uses a technique called cellular fabrication to print matrices that serve as the internal structure for buildings. A matrix weighing 2.5 pounds and complemented with spray foam, for example, can support nearly 3,000 pounds, and the process could reportedly reduce construction costs from thousands of dollars per square foot to as little as $80.
Much more is highlighted in A Look Ahead.
