Israeli Innovation

Israeli Innovations Highlighted in Obama's Visit

  • 3/18/2013
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    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will, next week, show US President Barack Obama a series of technological products by Israel's high-tech industries in the framework of a special exhibit that will be set up in President Obama's honor.

    > Follow the visit through our special site covering President Obama trip to Israel​


    The products that were chosen are in the fields of renewable energy, the war on traffic accidents, medicine, search and rescue, and robotics. Prime Minister Netanyahu will note that Israel was recently ranked first in the world in research and development intensity.​

    After touring the exhibit, President Obama will meet with the next generation of Israeli scientists – young people from Haifa, who won an international robotics competition that was held in the US last year.

    At the "Israeli Technology – For a Better World" exhibit, which will be held at the Israel Museum on Thursday, 21 March 2013, Prime Minister Netanyahu will present to President Obama seven products that were chosen by a professional committee headed by Prime Minister's Office National Economic Council Chairman Prof. Eugene Kandel. 

    Also on the committee were Science and Technology Ministry Director General Menachem Greenbloom; Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry Chief Scientist Dr. Avi Chason and Prime Minister's Office communications Unit Head Rafi Shamir. Prime Minister Netanyahu's assistant for visits and tours, Tal Gal-Or, served as committee coordinator.

    The products were chosen from among proposals presented by Israel's universities in keeping with their degree of innovation, impact on humanity and presentability.

    1. In the field of energy alternatives – Phinergy
    Phinergy has developed an aluminum-air battery designed for electric vehicles, and which allows a significant increase in travel range (three times that of a regular electric vehicle). The technology will allow for a reduction in global oil consumption. The system is based on metal air technology, including aluminum air and zinc air. A metal-air battery features an air-electrode that breathes oxygen from ambient air, instead of the conventional cathode. That is, the battery consumes the required oxygen from the air, rather than having heavy materials that bound oxygen inside it. Metal-air batteries therefore have a huge potential for delivering high capacity with low weight. The technology also has the significant advantages of zero CO2 emissions, full recyclability, safety and low cost. (Based on development at Bar-Ilan University.)
     
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  • The Six ​Chosen Products

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    2.In the field of the struggle against traffic accidents – Mobileye
    The goal of Mobileye, a global pioneer in developing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), is to develop and market vision-based systems that will help drivers keep passengers safe on the roads and decrease traffic accidents by warning about dangerous situations and even braking the vehicle when necessary. To date, Mobileye’s technology has been implemented and launched by BMW, Volvo, GM and Ford in over one million vehicles. Beginning in 2014, the system will become standard for new vehicles as per the standards set by Euro-NCAP. (Developed in association with Hebrew University.)




    ​3.In the field of medicine – BNA technology by ElMindA

    ElMindA's Brain Network Activation technology platform provides a non-invasive tool for the visualization and quantification of BNAs of specific brain functionalities, disease development and rehabilitation from injuries, reactions to treatment, psychiatric and neurological problems, and pain. (Developed in association with Bar Ilan University.)





    4.In the field of search and rescue – robot snake
    The robot is designed to enter spaces in collapsed structures with minimal disturbance. The robot thus assists in location and rescue operations. The robot is unique in its manner of crawling and is very flexible thanks to its great number of segments. Each joint is motorized and has a computer, sensors, wireless communications and batteries. Its head carries a camera. Thanks to its flexible structure, the snake is able to crawl through wreckage without causing additional structural collapses and provide vital information about inaccessible areas, including the status of people who might be trapped, the location of hazardous materials, etc. (Developed in association with the Technion.)






    5.In the field of medicine – Rewalk
    The Rewalk approach aims to give persons with lower limb disabilities, such as paraplegia, an experience that is as close to natural walking as possible. The ReWalk exoskeleton suit uses a patented technology with motorized legs that power knee and hip movement. Battery-powered for all-day use, ReWalk is controlled by on-board computers and motion sensors, restoring self-initiated walking without needing tethers or switches to begin stepping. ReWalk controls movement using subtle changes in center of gravity, mimics natural gait and provides functional walking speed. A forward tilt of the upper body is sensed by the system, which triggers the first step. Repeated body shifting generates a sequence of steps, which allows natural and efficient walking. The ReWalk also sits, stands, allows turning and has the ability to climb and descend stairs. (Developed by a graduate of the Technion.)​​​
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    ​​​6.In the field of medicine – MiniDesktop
    A headset has been developed that enables computers to be controlled by brainwaves or facial movements. The computer is controlled without a mouse or keyboard by means of a headset that images the user's brainwaves from 14 separate points. The system, which was developed by three software engineering graduates from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, is designed to serve the physically handicapped who could not otherwise operate a computer or other devices.



    7.Israel's future scientists

    Following the exhibit, Prime Minister Netanyahu will present to US President Obama the State of Israel's future generation of scientists, young people from Haifa, who won an international robotics competition that was held in the US last year.
    The pupils from the Ironi Gimmel Middle School in Haifa won the competition with their "robot waiter" which was developed with guidance from Technion researchers. The product shows how a robot might serve a handicapped person in his/her home. The robot is 35 centimeters tall and uses sensors to orient itself in its surroundings and perform tasks that it has been programmed to do. The robot is capable of a variety of movements.


    Communicated by The Prime Minister's Office