Less is Far More

Tesla is always looking to reduce the complexity of its vehicle design. This Autoline Daily video outlines several ways the company is reducing part count and aiding operators in vehicle assembly.

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Note that the large aluminum gigacasting parts in the front and rear of the cars are produced in Austin, Texas. They reduce part count dramatically while providing large access areas for assembly workers. All this effort to make things modular and more manageable for human operators may someday pay off by further automating Tesla’s manufacturing processes with advancements in robotic assembly.

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Going Big with Sea Dragon

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The NASA Sea Dragon concept represents a visionary and audacious approach to space launch systems that was proposed in the late 1960s but never realized. Designed by engineer Robert Truax, the Sea Dragon was envisioned as a colossal, single-stage-to-orbit rocket, among the largest ever conceived. What set the Sea Dragon apart was its unique launch method—submersion in the ocean.

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This massive rocket would be constructed as a semi-submersible platform at sea, where it would be assembled and fueled and then floated to the launch site. The rocket's enormous payload capacity could have revolutionized space travel, potentially ferrying entire space stations or lunar habitats into orbit in a single launch. While the Sea Dragon concept was never built due to budget constraints and changing priorities, it remains a symbol of bold thinking in space exploration and the innovative ideas that have driven NASA's research and development efforts over the years.

Approach for launching Sea Dragon rocket at sea

AI-enhanced post

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Where There's Smoke, There Should be a Dyson

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The bivouac’s northern HQ was recently allocated a Dyson TPO4 Pure Cool Tower capable of clearing the air in an 800-square-foot space. While testing continues through the latest California wildfire season, preliminary results are impressive. With outdoor air quality indices coming in lately at upwards of 180, interior bivouac spaces are averaging a measurement of just 12 on the PM 2.5 scale.

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These include microscopic particles smaller than 2.5 microns, including smoke, bacteria, and allergens. With its handy remote and a Wi-Fi connection that lets you control the unit and get deeper trending information through Dyson’s link app, the Dyson Pure Cool Tower is a clear winner.

Buy on Amazon

Note: As an Amazon Associate designbivouac may benefit/earn from qualifying purchases.

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Axopar 37 XC Cross Cabin

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With local COVID restrictions of hand-launched watercraft like kayaks and canoes now being lifted in the bivouac’s northern outpost, more lake time has been had recently. This has the bivouac turning eyes toward the nautical side of things. The 2020 Axopar 37 XC Cross Cabin is a new find that combines the best features from at least a couple of boat classes.

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Know as the “Grand Turismo of the Seas,” on sunny days; the cabin doors slide wide open, the top slides back, and cabin gull-wing doors can even be opened wide to approximate a sun runner. In inclement weather, things can be reversed and buttoned up nicely with Webasto heating, keeping things toasty. The fore and aft cabins provide ample accommodations for a small family weekend getaway or an outing with friends. As Axopar has added an option for a wet bath and a galley behind the cockpit, longer runs are possible, too. The only things missing, which the company seems to be working on, are a larger refrigeration space and accommodations for hot water. Air conditioning would also be great but may not yet be on the list.

Overall, she’s a natural beauty with a revised raked roofline for 2020 that makes the boat appear more aggressive. And with twin Mercury outboard engines, she is undoubtedly capable of delivering a sporty yet controlled and smooth ride that matches her appearance due to her stepped hull design. Mercury joystick controls as an option complement her graceful lines with graceful in-harbor handling. All-in-all, it is a gorgeous and refreshingly practical nautical accomplishment.

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Pro AirPod Pro

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The Apple Air Pod Pros have come along at a time when one would think that performance was pretty much at its apogee. The bivouac has been fortunate to use in-ear and on-ear noise-canceling headphones from manufacturers, including Bose, Sony, Bang, and Olufsen. Apple’s newest Air Pod Pro represents a genuine change in comfort and performance over the competition.

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Apple’s noise-canceling technology does an excellent job of providing a private sanctuary, regardless of where you are. The technology works surprisingly well in busy open-plan offices, commuter trains, or airplane flights with fussy infants. The audio quality is excellent. New nuances of songs can be heard when listening to favorite tracks. This is the case at the high end and low in the bass range, allowing you to enjoy your music collection anew.

Long-term wearability has been an issue with other in-ear headphones, with some causing chaffing, but there are no signs of that with Apple’s new iPod Pros. Fit is remarkably comfortable. The shape of the ear covering is “squircular”, or rectangular with rounded corners, which, depending upon the shape of your ear, aids in seamless sealing. This provides the first line of defense from unwanted ambient noise. Aesthetics are better with these headphones as well. The earphones are a bit more subtle. The descending microphone elements are shorter, and angle slightly inward to more naturally follow the profile of the outer ear.

Apple has fit an impressive amount of technology into these tiny but powerful headphones. With the Air Pod Pros, Apple has pushed the packaging envelope even further to accommodate the active noise-canceling technology. Controls are well thought out, providing an intuitive haptic sensation associated with clicking the headphones. One-click pauses playback. Two clicks advance a track. A long hold toggles through “active noise canceling,” “transparency,” and “off” modes.

While familiar, the case takes a bit of getting used to. Grasping the Air Pod Pros to take them out of the case can be tricky, and placing them back into their recesses is more involved. Thankfully, there are still magnets assisting the Airpods in finding their place. That said, if the case is dropped, they are not strong enough to keep the AirPods anchored, and they will most likely launch out of the case. Another nice touch is the subtle but distinctively pleasant scent of the Air Pod Pro ear pads. There is no funky plastic or rubber scent here. It smells more like how one might imagine a desirable blue-sky future smelling.

Charge levels seem fine for use throughout the day, and topping up the charge in the case and is quick and straightforward. Pairing is also straightforward and similar to the method used with the original Air Pod case.

Transparency mode gives one a sense of almost having superhuman powers. Reminiscent of The Bionic Man, conversations or announcements around you come through clearly. They made presenters at a conference compromised by ambient noise easier to hear. In summary, Apple’s Air Pod Pros are much more than an incremental innovation.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Wireless Ear Buds with USB-C Charging, Up to 2X More Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones, Transparency Mode, Adaptive Audio, Personalized Spatial Audio Buy on Amazon

Note: Since this original post was published, Apple has improved the Airpods, offering a second-generation version available from Amazon via the link below.

As an Amazon Associate, designbivouac may benefit/earn from qualifying purchases.

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