CES spotlights smart city innovations
By
Susan Miller
The annual consumer electronics show honored 11 innovative smart city products.
As the red carpet for the newest gadgetry, CES gives thousands of visitors to the Las Vegas electronics show the first peek at the latest technology. This year, CES selected 11 new products for Innovation Awards in the Smart Cities category. Winners showcased innovative solutions that featured outstanding design and engineering while addressing cities' health and safety concerns and delivery of connected services to citizens.
Aipoly autonomous store platform. The AI startup Poly's platform for convenience stores and distribution centers uses cameras and AI software that tracks customers through a story, scanning their items and charging their accounts. Besides offering customer convenience, the platform runs full inventory scans every 50 milliseconds, delivers analytics showing which products are being purchased and learns buyers' preferences.
AR4 AI security camera. Amaryllo International's AI-powered security camera can recognize human faces, talk to and track intruders, and protect itself from hackers. AR4 uses power over Ethernet, eliminating the need for a power cable.
Aware audible wayfinding app for the blind and visually impaired. Sensible Innovation's Aware app works with iBeacons to provide indoor and outdoor turn-by-turn navigation directions and location descriptions specifically crafted for the visually impaired. Playing in real time, directions and descriptions allow for a much greater total life experience.
Climo air quality monitoring system. Bosch's microclimate monitoring system collects and analyzes data relating to pollution, humidity and pollen concentration. Cities can leverage the data to improve air quality, by altering traffic flows, for example. Compact sensors use wired, Wi-Fi and 3G connections and the system features cloud-based analytics, data management and visualization software.
Folding scooter. Relync's three-wheeled foldable electric scooter is designed to help people with impaired mobility. It has built-in navigation that connects to Bluetooth, LED lights and can fold to the size of a small suitcase.
SMARTBAM anti-mosquito unit. TechnoBAM's IoT based unit attracts and traps female mosquitos by simulating human breathing's cycles and using carbon dioxide recycled from industrial waste or generated during cereal storage in grain elevators.
mmWave radar sensors. Texas Instruments' intelligent industrial sensors use short wavelength electromagnetic waves to accurately detect range, velocity and angle of objects in their paths. They can be used to monitor a person's breathing, alert pedestrians entering a crosswalk of oncoming traffic or assess landing surfaces for drones.
MyBus m-ticketing. Monkey Factory's contactless mobile ticketing app speeds ticket buying for public transit without an optical reader machine, cash or an accredited transport card. Riders scan the QR code sticker found on the bus or train, which will automatically charge them the most advantageous travel plan fee.
MyLiFi. OLEDcomm's MyLiFi desk lamp wirelessly connects mobile and other connected devices using signals from LED lights that are received and converted into data by a dongle connected to devices.
NeOse Pro connected digital nose. Aryballe's NeOse combines nanotech, biotech, IT and cognitive science in a portable odor detection device that analyzes and quantifies volatile organic compounds The device connects to a database of smells, which as it expands, will improve NeOse's accuracy.
Wink Bar connected handlebars. Velco's Wink Bar adds a number of connected tools to bicycles, including a navigation app, mobile phones for incoming calls and tracking if the bike is stolen. It also includes headlights that switch on automatically at dark and turn signals. An app tracks ride history and statistics.