3 Things To Consider This Friday

Uber Hires Veteran NASA Engineer to Develop Flying Cars

by Brad Stone
February 6, 2017 at 5:30:06 AM CST Updated February 6, 2017 at 11:32:25 AM CST

 In 2010, an advanced aircraft engineer at NASA’s Langley Research Center named Mark Moore published a white paper outlining the feasibility of electric aircrafts that could take off and land like helicopters but were smaller and quieter. The vehicles would be capable of providing a speedy alternative to the dreary morning commute.

 Moore’s research (PDF) into so-called VTOL-short for vertical takeoff and landing, or more colloquially, flying cars-inspired at least one billionaire technologist.

For the rest of story, visit Bloomberg.com.

Navistar engine plant under new ownership in Huntsville

By Lucy Berry
on February 06, 2017 at 11:33 AM, updated February 07, 2017 at 8:00 AM

The old Navistar International engine plant in Huntsville is under new ownership.

 Tuscaloosa-based Pate Holdings said it closed on the purchase of the building in Jetplex Industrial Park near Huntsville International Airport on Friday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

For the rest of story, visit AL.com.

Addressing Privacy and Security Issues in the Connected Car

By Pavan K. Agarwal and Chanley T. Howell
Feb 2, 2017

The modern-day car is not just a computer on wheels-it’s several computers on wheels. New cars can have 50 or more electrical control units (ECUs) networked together, and each network is analogous to a separate computer.

By 2020, an estimated 250 million connected cars will be on roads worldwide. Each car will have 200 or more sensors collecting information about road conditions, the car itself and driver behaviors and preferences.

For the rest of story, visit IndustryWeek.