Latest news with #Lilium
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Joby Aviation Doubles Air Taxi Factory Size As It Races To Launch Air Taxis
Stuck in traffic again, daydreaming about flying over the mess? Joby Aviation just doubled down on making that fantasy slightly more realistic. The company expanded its Marina, California, facility to 435,500 square feet, enabling production of 24 electric vertical takeoff and landing eVTOL aircraft annually. That's roughly one flying taxi rolling off the line every other week, assuming everything goes according to plan. This isn't just about bigger warehouses and more assembly lines. Joby's facility expansion represents the company's most aggressive push toward commercial air taxi service, with the Marina site handling everything from FAA certification processes to pilot training simulation. The expanded facility positions Joby to deliver on its 2025 U.S. launch timeline—a date that's been circled on calendars since the company first started making noise about urban air mobility, similar to Pivotal's progress in the personal air travel space. Toyota's deep pockets are making this scaling possible, with engineers from the automotive giant embedded throughout the expansion process. The Japanese manufacturer closed a $250 million investment tranche (part of a $500 million total commitment), bringing decades of manufacturing expertise to aircraft production. This partnership extends beyond California, with Joby operating facilities in Santa Cruz, San Carlos, and a recently renovated Dayton, Ohio, location that could eventually pump out 500 aircraft yearly. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. The regulatory pieces are falling into place faster than expected. Joby's six-aircraft test fleet has logged over 40,000 miles, with the FAA approving the company's proprietary ElevateOS software suite, critical for commercial deployment. The company recently demonstrated simultaneous flight operations with multiple aircraft, proving their systems can handle the complexity of urban air traffic management. While Joby leads the pack, competitors like Archer Aviation and Lilium are racing toward similar production milestones. Archer recently completed construction of its Georgia facility, targeting 15-24 aircraft in 2025, while Lilium has begun production of its first seven jets. The eVTOL market faces significant hurdles beyond manufacturing, from air traffic control integration to public acceptance of flying taxis overhead. Regulatory approval timelines remain uncertain, with the FAA taking a cautious approach to certifying aircraft that will carry passengers in urban environments. Traditional automakers spent decades perfecting assembly lines for cars that stay on the ground. Joby's betting that the same manufacturing discipline, applied to aircraft that need to be exponentially more reliable than your Honda Civic, can create a viable air taxi business. The expanded facility represents the moment when eVTOL companies stop talking about the future and start building it, as seen in Joby Aviation's first piloted electric air taxi transition. Ready to skip the freeway entirely? That depends on whether Joby's production timeline survives contact with reality—and whether your city's infrastructure can handle flying taxis landing in downtown areas. 擷取數據時發生錯誤 登入存取你的投資組合 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤
Bangkok Post
6 days ago
- Health
- Bangkok Post
Researchers redesign vaginal speculum to ease fear and pain
DELFT (NETHERLANDS) - It is cold, hard, metallic and commonly associated with pain. Not a mediaeval torture instrument, but the vaginal speculum used every day around the world for essential gynaecological exams. Two engineers at Delft University in the Netherlands are now rethinking the decades-old design of the speculum -- long dreaded by many patients -- to make it less intimidating and less painful. "I have a lot of experience with the vaginal speculum, unfortunately," Tamara Hoveling, one of the researchers behind the project, told AFP. "I've never seen it as a pleasurable experience and I've always wondered why it looks like this." - Sombre history - The PhD candidate in medical industrial design then delved into the dark history behind the creation of the speculum, one version of which was developed by United States doctor James Marion Sims 180 years ago. It was "tested on enslaved women without permission", said the 29-year-old. "So that motivated me even more to take on this project." Hoveling teamed up with Ariadna Izcara Gual, who was then working on her master's in industrial design engineering at Delft. "As I was doing a lot of interviews, I was doing those sort of sketches with the same sort of shape but people were still scared of the device", said the 28-year-old Spanish researcher. The Cusco speculum, the most commonly used model, is a metal device with a handle, beak and screw to adjust how wide it opens once inside the vagina. For many, its insertion is uncomfortable or even painful and causes anxiety. When you get scared, your muscles clamp together and that makes it even harder to relax. "Then the speculum is opened, pushing against these tense muscles and making it even more painful," Hoveling said. "So I tried to look for shapes that might be related to the reproductive organs, like for example the flower, that also opens." - Patient-friendly design - The result was a prototype called the Lilium -- named after the lily flower. Like the more familiar tampon, it has soft plastic and an applicator. "It's designed with the patient in mind rather than the doctor. "And we're really trying to improve the comfort aspect in a sensitive spot." The Lilium also meets doctors' needs. Its three-sided opening keeps the vaginal walls from collapsing, allowing better visibility during examinations. The Lilium remains at an early stage, with further ergonomic testing and material research needed to refine the prototype. The researchers must still secure safety certifications, run human trials and obtain regulatory approval before it can reach clinics. - Dazzling success - To fund the next phase, they launched a crowdfunding campaign that quickly drew media attention in the Netherlands. Within just two days, the campaign raised 100,000 euros ($117,000) -- far surpassing expectations. "It's also a sign. It's proof there are people who really want change, that there is a real problem here and that the current market solutions are not the best," Hoveling said. "I've received a lot of emails from women who told me they actually don't go to the gynaecologist because of this device, because they're scared, because they have a traumatic experience." Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, according to the World Health Organization. It can be detected via a smear test or HPV screening -- both performed using a speculum. With funding to allow this new gynaecological tool to be developed properly, the Lilium could be saving lives within five years.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Researchers redesign vaginal speculum to ease fear and pain
Researcher Tamara Hoveling shows the Lilium, a newly designed and pain-free alternative to the traditional vaginal speculum. (SOURCE: AFPTV) It is cold, hard, metallic and commonly associated with pain. Not a medieval torture instrument, but the vaginal speculum used every day around the world for essential gynecological exams. Two engineers at Delft University in the Netherlands are now rethinking the decades-old design of the speculum -- long dreaded by many patients -- to make it less intimidating and less painful. 'I have a lot of experience with the vaginal speculum, unfortunately,' Tamara Hoveling, one of the researchers behind the project, told AFP. 'I've never seen it as a pleasurable experience and I've always wondered why it looks like this.' Sombre history The PhD candidate in medical industrial design then delved into the dark history behind the creation of the speculum, one version of which was developed by United States doctor James Marion Sims 180 years ago. It was 'tested on enslaved women without permission', said the 29-year-old. 'So that motivated me even more to take on this project.' Hoveling teamed up with Ariadna Izcara Gual, who was then working on her master's in industrial design engineering at Delft. Lilium The Lilium, a newly designed and pain-free alternative to the traditional vaginal speculum sits next to a traditional metal device. (SOURCE: AFPTV) 'As I was doing a lot of interviews, I was doing those sort of sketches with the same sort of shape but people were still scared of the device', said the 28-year-old Spanish researcher. The Cusco speculum, the most commonly used model, is a metal device with a handle, beak and screw to adjust how wide it opens once inside the vagina. For many, its insertion is uncomfortable or even painful and causes anxiety. " When you get scared, your muscles clamp together and that makes it even harder to relax. 'Then the speculum is opened, pushing against these tense muscles and making it even more painful,' Hoveling said. 'So I tried to look for shapes that might be related to the reproductive organs, like for example the flower, that also opens.' Patient-friendly design The result was a prototype called the Lilium -- named after the lily flower. Like the more familiar tampon, it has soft plastic and an applicator. 'It's designed with the patient in mind rather than the doctor. 'And we're really trying to improve the comfort aspect in a sensitive spot.' The Lilium also meets doctors' needs. Its three-sided opening keeps the vaginal walls from collapsing, allowing better visibility during examinations. The Lilium remains at an early stage, with further ergonomic testing and material research needed to refine the prototype. The researchers must still secure safety certifications, run human trials and obtain regulatory approval before it can reach clinics. Dazzling success To fund the next phase, they launched a crowdfunding campaign that quickly drew media attention in the Netherlands. Within just two days, the campaign raised 100,000 euros (US$117,000) -- far surpassing expectations. 'It's also a sign. It's proof there are people who really want change, that there is a real problem here and that the current market solutions are not the best,' Hoveling said. 'I've received a lot of emails from women who told me they actually don't go to the gynaecologist because of this device, because they're scared, because they have a traumatic experience.' Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, according to the World Health Organization. It can be detected via a smear test or HPV screening -- both performed using a speculum. With funding to allow this new gynecological tool to be developed properly, the Lilium could be saving lives within five years. By Stéphanie HAMEL
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Researchers redesign vaginal speculum to ease fear and pain
It is cold, hard, metallic and commonly associated with pain. Not a medieval torture instrument, but the vaginal speculum used every day around the world for essential gynaecological exams. Two engineers at Delft University in the Netherlands are now rethinking the decades-old design of the speculum -- long dreaded by many patients -- to make it less intimidating and less painful. "I have a lot of experience with the vaginal speculum, unfortunately," Tamara Hoveling, one of the researchers behind the project, told AFP. "I've never seen it as a pleasurable experience and I've always wondered why it looks like this." Sombre history The PhD candidate in medical industrial design then delved into the dark history behind the creation of the speculum, one version of which was developed by United States doctor James Marion Sims 180 years ago. It was "tested on enslaved women without permission", said the 29-year-old. "So that motivated me even more to take on this project." Hoveling teamed up with Ariadna Izcara Gual, who was then working on her master's in industrial design engineering at Delft. "As I was doing a lot of interviews, I was doing those sort of sketches with the same sort of shape but people were still scared of the device", said the 28-year-old Spanish researcher. The Cusco speculum, the most commonly used model, is a metal device with a handle, beak and screw to adjust how wide it opens once inside the vagina. For many, its insertion is uncomfortable or even painful and causes anxiety. "When you get scared, your muscles clamp together and that makes it even harder to relax. "Then the speculum is opened, pushing against these tense muscles and making it even more painful," Hoveling said. "So I tried to look for shapes that might be related to the reproductive organs, like for example the flower, that also opens." Patient-friendly design The result was a prototype called the Lilium -- named after the lily flower. Like the more familiar tampon, it has soft plastic and an applicator."It's designed with the patient in mind rather than the doctor. "And we're really trying to improve the comfort aspect in a sensitive spot." The Lilium also meets doctors' needs. Its three-sided opening keeps the vaginal walls from collapsing, allowing better visibility during examinations. The Lilium remains at an early stage, with further ergonomic testing and material research needed to refine the prototype. The researchers must still secure safety certifications, run human trials and obtain regulatory approval before it can reach clinics. Dazzling success To fund the next phase, they launched a crowdfunding campaign that quickly drew media attention in the Netherlands. Within just two days, the campaign raised 100,000 euros ($117,000) -- far surpassing expectations. "It's also a sign. It's proof there are people who really want change, that there is a real problem here and that the current market solutions are not the best," Hoveling said. "I've received a lot of emails from women who told me they actually don't go to the gynaecologist because of this device, because they're scared, because they have a traumatic experience." Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, according to the World Health Organization. It can be detected via a smear test or HPV screening -- both performed using a speculum. With funding to allow this new gynaecological tool to be developed properly, the Lilium could be saving lives within five years.
Int'l Business Times
7 days ago
- Health
- Int'l Business Times
Researchers Redesign Vaginal Speculum To Ease Fear And Pain
It is cold, hard, metallic and commonly associated with pain. Not a mediaeval torture instrument, but the vaginal speculum used every day around the world for essential gynaecological exams. Two engineers at Delft University in the Netherlands are now rethinking the decades-old design of the speculum -- long dreaded by many patients -- to make it less intimidating and less painful. "I have a lot of experience with the vaginal speculum, unfortunately," Tamara Hoveling, one of the researchers behind the project, told AFP. "I've never seen it as a pleasurable experience and I've always wondered why it looks like this." The PhD candidate in medical industrial design then delved into the dark history behind the creation of the speculum, one version of which was developed by United States doctor James Marion Sims 180 years ago. It was "tested on enslaved women without permission", said the 29-year-old. "So that motivated me even more to take on this project." Hoveling teamed up with Ariadna Izcara Gual, who was then working on her master's in industrial design engineering at Delft. "As I was doing a lot of interviews, I was doing those sort of sketches with the same sort of shape but people were still scared of the device", said the 28-year-old Spanish researcher. The Cusco speculum, the most commonly used model, is a metal device with a handle, beak and screw to adjust how wide it opens once inside the vagina. For many, its insertion is uncomfortable or even painful and causes anxiety. " "Then the speculum is opened, pushing against these tense muscles and making it even more painful," Hoveling said. "So I tried to look for shapes that might be related to the reproductive organs, like for example the flower, that also opens." The result was a prototype called the Lilium -- named after the lily flower. Like the more familiar tampon, it has soft plastic and an applicator. "It's designed with the patient in mind rather than the doctor. "And we're really trying to improve the comfort aspect in a sensitive spot." The Lilium also meets doctors' needs. Its three-sided opening keeps the vaginal walls from collapsing, allowing better visibility during examinations. The Lilium remains at an early stage, with further ergonomic testing and material research needed to refine the prototype. The researchers must still secure safety certifications, run human trials and obtain regulatory approval before it can reach clinics. To fund the next phase, they launched a crowdfunding campaign that quickly drew media attention in the Netherlands. Within just two days, the campaign raised 100,000 euros ($117,000) -- far surpassing expectations. "It's also a sign. It's proof there are people who really want change, that there is a real problem here and that the current market solutions are not the best," Hoveling said. "I've received a lot of emails from women who told me they actually don't go to the gynaecologist because of this device, because they're scared, because they have a traumatic experience." Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, according to the World Health Organization. It can be detected via a smear test or HPV screening -- both performed using a speculum. With funding to allow this new gynaecological tool to be developed properly, the Lilium could be saving lives within five years. The Lilium improves visibility for doctors during vaginal examinations AFP Tamara Hoveling's Lilium design is 'a shape related to that of the reproductive organs' AFP A prototype plastic Lilium (R) alongside a traditional metal speculum AFP
