James Technologies supplies the mining and mineral processing industries with highly qualified and licensed electrical, mechanical and civil engineers and tradesmen, so as the director, I am often asked if starting a career in the mining industry is a good choice. Well, as we all know, a career in the mining industry pays well. A mining engineer for example, can be a lucrative job depending on your skills, qualifications, and level of experience. As a mining engineer, you will be asked to ensure the safety and efficiency of process involve in the development of mines and other underground operations. The role will require you to have an in-depth understanding of the effects of these structures to the environment. In return, you can expect up to $200,000 per annum. But let's talk about salary specific information later on, first let me give you a background on the industry to help you decided if it's the career path for you.
If you're considering starting a career in the mining industry in Australia, you'll be happy to know that this sector is a significant contributor to the country's economy. Currently, the mining sector employs a total of 2.2% of the total labour force. Large quantities of minerals and resources are extracted in this country including iron ore, nickel, aluminum, copper gold, silver, uranium, diamonds, opal, zinc, coal, oil share, petroleum, natural gas, and even rare earth elements. Currently a number of large multinational mining companies are operating in Australia and there are also several small mining and mineral exploration companies that are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. These companies provide several opportunities for people who are looking to start a career in the mining industry. Click here to find out more.
The Australian mining industry offers a career path for everyone. Areas that you can focus on are technical, exploring, scientific, planning and general services.
If you approach problems in systematic fashion and if you enjoy technical and engineering work, the jobs that are available to you in the mining industry include, metallurgist, electrical and mechanical tradesman, mining, mechanical or electrical engineers. However, if you want to try the area of exploration, you could be a geoscientist, surveyor, field assistant, geophysicist, or resource geologist. Alternatively, you could be a haul truck operator, truck driver or a welder if you have good spatial skills and you're curious about machinery.
Having scientific knowledge can also offer you a career in the mining industry with available jobs as a health and safety officer, geological engineer, environmental science engineer or a chemical or process engineer. Depending on your skill set, you could also be a production manager, commercial business manager or a business administrator and be involved in the planning stage. Click here to find out more.
It's a common knowledge in the engineering field that the mining industry pays the highest wages. In February 2013, Australian Bureau of Statistics have released official figures confirming that this industry offers the highest level of remuneration to workers in Australia, with average take home earnings of $2,388.20. The hourly rate is reported to be at $52.30. This is considerably higher especially when compared to wages by sales workers ($607/week), personal service workers ($707/week), and labourers ($779).
Of course, there is a difference in salary depending on your job. Let me give you an idea.
If you like the information provided in this article and you're now seriously considering starting a career in the mining industry, get your education and training, then apply for a job here at James Technologies; a leading engineering job agencies in Australia.
Being one of Australia's biggest industries, mining can offer countless of opportunities for individuals who are looking for a lucrative job. Depending on your skills, you can jumpstart your career in the mining industry by getting the training and education required to be successful. If you're ready to apply and get started, all you need to do is to contact James Technologies and we can assist you.
Are you currently searching for electrical tradesmen to perform specialised construction related jobs that include the design, installation, and maintenance of electrical systems for either small or medium projects? Then, this article is for you.
At James Technologies, our Labour Hire division supplies skilled electrical tradesmen for the building and construction, mining, electrical and mechanical supply and contracting industries. Jamestech Management has a wealth of experience when it comes to knowing what to look for in order to make a well-informed decision when hiring tradesmen. When hiring, we take a holistic view of the candidate and take into consideration various elements.
Below, I discuss all the factors you should take into consideration when hiring electrical contractors.
Qualification – Selecting qualified electrical tradesmen can be challenging especially if you don't have references or recommendations. So, what do you need to look for? First is technical proficiency. The two most important considerations here are electrical system reliability and electrical safety. Thus, it is important that electrical contractors follow recognise standards of safety and quality like the National Electrical code, which is recognised Australia wide. Of course, membership in notable trade associations and high-ranking respective institution should help you in making smart decisions. Besides the qualifications, you must also be assured of securing indemnification in case of dispute or damages.
License – You'll want to make sure that all electrical tradesmen are licensed to perform the job in the jurisdiction of where the project is located. This means that the potential contractor must have in-depth understanding and complies with the NEC. This also means that the electrical contractor has at least four years of relevant experience and has passed electrical C-10 License examination. This gives you an assurance of their competence.
Check the reputation – Look for electrical tradesmen who are highly recommended by previous employers, who are financially stable, and have a good reputation. If this is your first time hiring tradesmen, ask for the list of their previous employers and referees that you can contact. This helps you get an idea on their work ethic and if they have what it takes to get the job done satisfactorily.
Take out the worry, Hire a full-service electrical contracting company – With contracting companies, you normally don't have to worry if the tradesmen comply with government regulations or if they are fully licensed. In addition, this route means you'll most likely work with tradesmen who are fully equipped to install, design, maintain, and repair industrial, residential, and commercial electrical systems and electrical projects. Such companies can typically provide and supply all electrical elements needed to complete the project. Note that your requirements for electrical services may vary a great deal. Therefore, it is my expert opinion that you hire electrical contractors who can provide wide range of services, that way you can be assured that they can offer you with solution for each electrical problem that you may encounter. Dealing with one reputable company for all your needs is definitely easier than dealing with several individual electrical tradesmen.
Ask for a quote – If you need an electrical contractor for a specific project and will not be paying them a salary wage, it is important that they give you a detailed quote. When they present their quotation, the figures must be reasonable, within your budget, and price expectations. Also, if you're considering several electrical contractors for your project, don't hesitate to shop and compare. Keep in mind that those who charge the highest do not necessarily mean that they are the best.
There are several factors to take into consideration before hiring electrical tradesmen and contractors. To ensure you hire reliable and qualified electrical tradesmen you need to practice due diligence and do some research to make sure that you make a wise decision when choosing the personnel or the company you'll be working with. Be sure to look at their qualifications, license, and reputation or consider hiring a full-service electrical contracting company. By following my recommendations listed above, I'm sure you'll be able to compile a list of electrical contractors without too much difficulty.
Bigger is not always better, here at James Technologies, we provide personal electrical contracting services tailored to each customers needs. Due to the fact that we have Electrical Contracting and Engineering Licenses Australia wide, we are capable of providing you with comprehensive EPCM contractors for both small and medium size project. If you have questions all you need to do is to give us a call. Our phone number is 1 300 732 881. Contact us now and we'll be ready to discuss your needs.
As a registered training organisation, here at James Technologies we know just how important training courses are for the mining, construction, and engineering industries. These training courses, which include first aid training, mine inductions and compliance audits, are specifically designed to keep staff safe in the workplace and to make sure that they follow established protocols and regulations to ensure a zero harm workplace.
Ensuring that your staff has general knowledge on how to work safely and without risks to health.
Developing a positive health and safety culture.
Avoid accidents in the workplace.
As an employer, making sure that your employees attend training courses will help you meet your legal duty to protect the safety and health of your employees. This can also help you avoid the financial costs of ill health and accidents that are not covered by your insurance.
Safety is the number issue in the field of engineering. Due to the fact that accidents are often reported on-site, safety and first aid skills are something that employees need to learn before they carry out their jobs. This is where first aid training, which covers several qualifications, comes in. First aid training covers DRSABCD action plan, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, use of an automated external defibrillator, medical emergencies, bites and stings, and trauma & emergencies.
Tailored to the engineering industry – First aid training programs can be tailored fit to your workplace, current risk management strategy, and the industry in which you operate. Here at James Technologies we make sure that your First Aid and CPR training are focused on the requirements of your business.
Cost – The main purpose of giving your employees the appropriate training is to make sure that they remain safe in the workplace. Providing training for everyone can help you significantly reduce, if not eliminate the numbers of accidents and their severity. This actually offers great financial impact on your business in the long run.
Boost employees' morale while ensuring their health and safety. Employees are more likely to appreciate their job and be good at what they do if they know that necessary precautions were taken to make sure that they remain safe while in the workplace.
First Aid and CPR training save lives. Perhaps, the biggest benefits of first aid training is that it can save lives. In circumstances where accidents resulted to the need of immediate medical attention, trained personnel can offer first aid instead of just waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
If mining is your business, getting your employees to attend a generic mining induction course is non-negotiable. This covers surrounding safety, procedures, policies, and risk control. Participants are also taught about their responsibilities regarding WHS and the required documentation that are relevant to working in a mine. This training, which typically runs for two days, covers both theory and practical related mining scenarios. Click here to find out more.
A compliance audit is a comprehensive review, which are carried out by IT consultants, independent accounting or security officials, to ensure that an organisation adheres to regulatory guidelines. They review your compliance to relevant laws, act and regulation, reviewing policies, risk management procedures, and user access controls among others. Jamestech can develop training courses for our customers and their employees, specific to their needs, to ensure compliance to relevant regulatory requirements. Click here to find out more.
Safety is the number one priority in any type of workplace. As an employer, you would want to make sure that your staff are safe and aren't in harm's way when they're fulfilling their duties. Giving them training courses, can help you make that happen. If you're in the process of looking for an accredited organisation that offers first aid & electrical safety training, custom & generic mine inductions, and even high voltage training courses & compliance audits, know that you can count on James Technologies.
Electrical power engineering as a Career, what you can expect?
As a licensed electrical contractor that specialises in electrical engineering recruitment, we are regularly asked about electrical power engineering and what one can expect should they consider it as a career. As long as you are qualified, competent and confident, which include educational attainment, experience, expertise and certifications, then electrical engineering is indeed a financially rewarding job.
What is electrical power engineering?
Electrical power engineering is a subfield of electrical engineering that generally addresses the problems of three-phase AC power and in the conversion between AC and DC power. It basically deals with power transmission, power generation, and power distribution. It is also involved in the development of specialized power systems such as those that are used electronic railway networks and aircrafts.
With a greater emphasis on green technologies and the rapid transformation that occurs across industries, electrical engineers are expected to play an extremely important role in our society's future.
How do I become an electrical power engineer?
If you're thinking about starting a career as an electrical power engineer, it's important for you to know that you'll be given the opportunity to do your share in addressing global challenges including environmental preservation, climate change, renewable energy generation, sustainability, and even healthcare.
The first requirement of becoming an electrical power engineer is to get the needed education and qualifications. There are several electrical engineering courses you can take advantage of depending on your career goals. Your first option is to complete a four year Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) degree which offers specialised areas in computer and bioelectronics, telecommunications, and power. You can also take advantage of a five year degree program that is combined with law, medical science, arts, and commerce. It's crucial that you take undergraduate programs from institutions that are accredited by Engineers Australia if you want to start a career in this country. There are other programs that you can take advantage of after completing a four or five degree program. These postgraduate programs provide mathematical, scientific, and engineering foundations that are required if you want to specialise in high-performance computing, satellite communications, signal processing, telecommunications, biomedical engineering, and energy generation. Find out more from the University of Sydney's website.
Aside from educational attainment, there are also certain skills that you need to possess. These include general understanding of power plants, awareness of efficient design system, and the ability to optimise a process for maximum efficiency. As electrical power engineering is an evolving profession, it's crucial that you are willing to think outside of the box and that you are willing to gain new skills. It's also a must that you are updated with the latest technologies and latest research in this field.
What is the salary for electrical power engineering?
When electrical power engineers apply for position here at James Technologies, one of the questions that they usually ask during interviews is the salary. Well, as mentioned above, starting a career as an electrical engineer is financially rewarding. In Australia, the starting salary for junior power electrical engineers starts at $65,000 per annum. This increases to as much as $200,000+ per annum for engineers who are able to work up the ladder to senior level position. Keep in mind that salary can vary according to your educational attainment, years of experience, employment, and expertise. Currently, the average hours for full time electrical engineer are about 42 hours per week. Find out more from Open Universities Australia's website.
If you're wondering what exactly it is that an electrical power engineer does, then it's a good idea to understand the job description. As an electrical power engineer, you will be tasked to design and develop renewable utility systems and energy efficient power grids. You will also be involved in researching and implementing techniques to efficiently integrate renewable power technology, which may involve public work projects or federal projects that require the integration of large power grids.
Power engineers are expected to maintain network of components to effectively convert forms of energy into electricity and to manage the transmission subsystem, generation subsystem, and the distribution system. They are also responsible for various devices used in this field, which include motors, generators, and transformers. However, the most important duty that they need to perform is to ensure that all electrical devices are working properly and that they meet safety regulations. Read more of the Job Description for this link.
If you're thinking about starting a career in electrical power engineering, it's crucial that you have the needed education, skills, and knowledge of the established processes and protocols in this field. Whether you're looking to hire electrical engineering contractors or you're looking for an electrical engineering job, know that James Tech can be of assistance to you. Our phone number is 1 300 732 881 while our email address is info@jamestech.com.au. We'll be more than happy to assist you.


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Station, TechCrunch, turns
The Station: ADA turns 30, Panasonic's new battery tech and delivery (data) woes
The Station is a weekly newsletter dedicated to all things transportation. Sign up here — just click The Station — to receive it every Saturday in your inbox.
Hello and welcome back to The Station, a newsletter dedicated to all the present and future ways people and packages move from Point A to Point B.
Before we get into all the mobility news and analysis of the week I wanted to flag an upcoming event that might be of interest to the budding entrepreneurs out there. TC Disrupt, that BIG annual event we hold each fall, is virtual this year. I can't tell you everything yet, except we put a lot of effort and tech into making this interactive and exciting. This is not going to some boring webinar.
We're adding a bunch of new events to Disrupt this year, including something we're calling Pitch Deck Teardown. Top venture capitalists and entrepreneurs will evaluate and suggest fixes for Disrupt 2020 attendees' pitch decks. Investors who signed up for the Pitch Deck Teardown, include Aileen Lee of Cowboy Ventures, Charles Hudson with Venture Forward, Niko Bonatsos of General Catalyst, Megan Quinn with Spark Capital, Cyan Banister of Long Journey Ventures, Roelof Botha from Sequoia and Susan Lyne with BBG.
Only pitch decks of registered Disrupt attendees will be selected. Here's a complete breakdown of the event and how to register.
The Pitch Deck Teardown couldn't come at a better time either. During our Early Stage event last month, Jake Saper with Emergence Capital talked about how to time your Series A fundraise. September just so happens to be a big month for investors to review pitch decks.
Alrighty then. Vamos.
Friendly reminder that you can reach out and email me anytime at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com to share thoughts, criticisms, offer up opinions or tips. You can also send a direct message to me at Twitter — @kirstenkorosec.
Micromobbin'
This summer is turning out to be a crucial period for scooter companies vying for permits in a handful of markets. Cities learned a thing or two during that first wave of electric scooters that hit the streets a couple of years ago. This time around, city leaders are placing more restrictions on e-scooters and limiting the number of companies allowed to operate in an urban area. That's an important change, and one that raises the stakes for scooter companies.
First there was Paris, which awarded Dott, Lime and Tier permits to operate in the city. Now, Chicago has issued permits to Bird, Lime and Spin for its second pilot program. Chicago is limiting scooter use to 15 mph between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. And there are few areas, like the Lakefront Trail, where scooters are prohibited.
Each scooter company is limited to no more than 3,333 devices, 50% of which must be deployed with an equity priority area. New to the second pilot is a requirement that all e-scooters must have locks that require riders to secure the scooter to a fixed object to end their trip.
On a side note, Lyft did not apply for the scooter permit. I asked Lyft, 'why not?' The company said it's focusing on its expansion of Divvy, Chicago's bike-sharing system. The city made Lyft the exclusive operator of Divvy last year and now starting to expand. The Divvy system will eventually include 16,500 bikes and 800 stations. Here's what Lyft had to say:
"We have spent the better part of the last year working with communities in Chicago's South and West Sides to prepare for new stations and ebikes. In order to prioritize our work with CDOT to expand Divvy and provide the highest possible experience for Divvy members, Lyft opted out of submitting an application that mirrored requests of this year's scooter pilot. We are dedicated to the long-term success of micromobility in Chicago, and we look forward to future opportunities to work with the City to combine the benefits of bikes and scooters into one Divvy membership."
In other micromobbin' news …
Bird said Friday it is launching its shared e-scooters in Yonkers, New York as an "exclusive" operator. The word "exclusive" is one of those buzzwords that is tossed around a lot so I asked what this actually means. And Bird says it is the only company that will be issued a permit to operate in Yonkers. So there you have it. The company's fleet of next-generation Bird Two scooters will be available to rent starting August 10.
Image Credits: Bird
Revel, the shared moped startup, has shut down operations in New York City following two deaths within days of each other. The startup' blue mopeds had become a common sight in New York City. Revel, founded in March 2018 by Frank Reig and Paul Suhey, started with a pilot program in Brooklyn and later expanded to Queens. Revel has been on a fast-paced growth track, expanding to Austin, Miami and Washington, D.C in its first 18 months of operation. In January, the company launched in Oakland and recently announced plans to expand to San Francisco this August.
The company said in a statement that is reviewing its safety measures and does plan to return to New York.
Prickly relations between China and the United States, particularly around trade, has not slowed the march of Chinese companies hoping to list on American stock exchanges. Li Auto is just the latest example, Rita Liao reported this week.
Li Auto is aiming for a growing Chinese middle class that aspires to drive cleaner, smarter and larger vehicles. Its first model, sold at a subsidized price of 328,000 yuan, or $46,800, is a six-seat electric SUV that began shipping at the end of last year.
The five-year-old Chinese electric vehicle startup raised $1.1 billion through its debut on Nasdaq. Li Auto priced its IPO north of its targeted range at $11.5 per share, giving it a fully diluted market value of $10 billion. It also raised an additional $380 million in a concurrent private placement of shares to existing investors.
Image credit: Li Auto
Other deals that got my attention this week …
Argo AI is now valued at $7.5 billion, a figure that was confirmed Thursday, nearly two months after VW Group finalized its $2.6 billion investment in the autonomous vehicle technology startup. You might recall that Argo came out of nowhere in 2017 with $1 billion (to be spread over several years) in back from Ford. Last year, VW announced it was going to invest in Argo as well.
Under the deal that was finalized last month, Ford and VW have equal ownership stakes, which will be roughly 40% each over time. The remaining equity sits with Argo's co-founders as well as employees. Argo's board is comprised of two VW seats, two Ford seats and three Argo seats. Ford said Thursday it netted $3.5 billion in the second quarter from selling some of its Argo equity to Volkswagen.
AUTO1 Group, the European digital used-car trading platform, raised 255 million euros ($300 million) in the form of convertible notes. The round was led by Farallon Capital Management and the Baupost Group as well as existing investor Softbank Group, the NYT reported.
Cargo.one, a Berlin-based startup that runs a marketplace for booking air freight, closed an $18.6 million Series A round of funding led by Index Ventures. Other participants in the round include Next47 as well as prior backers Creandum, Lufthansa Cargo and Point Nine Capital. A number of angel investors also joined in, including Tom Stafford of DST Global and Carlos Gonzalez-Cadenas, the COO of GoCardless and former chief product officer of Skyscanner.
LINE MAN, the Thai food delivery platform that is a unit of Japanese chat app LINE Corp, raised $110 million from BRV Capital Management and merged with a local restaurant aggregator. LINE MAN is loading up on capital as it aims to compete with Singapore-based Grab, Indonesia's Go-Jek and Foodpanda of Germany's Delivery Hero SE, Reuters reported.
FreightWaves, the freight data and analytics company, raised $37 million in a round led by Kayne Partners Fund. Other investors include 8VC, Fontinalis Partners, Revolution Ventures, Hearst Ventures, Prologis Ventures, Story Ventures and Engage Ventures.
Theeb Rent-a-Car is looking into a potential initial public offering. The Saudi Arabian rental company hired Saudi Fransi Capital to advise on the IPO, Bloomberg reported.
Toyota is taking a 10% stake in BluE Nexus, a company that makes electric drive modules. The investment is part of a deepening collaboration between the two companies.
Xpeng, the Chinese electric vehicle startup and Tesla rival that just announced a $500 million Series C+ round, is reportedly in talks to raise around $300 million ahead of an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. (back to my earlier point about interest among Chinese companies to list on U.S. stock exchanges)
Delivery and data (breaches)
Image credit: Getty
If you hadn't noticed, delivery has been cast as one of the big success stories to emerge during the COVID-19 pandemic. I use the term "cast" because it's not all sunshine, roses and rainbows for the delivery industry or its users.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a spike in demand for delivery services. It has also helped propel unprecedented consolidation as companies like Uber seek profitability.
There are challenges though, including an area that perhaps deserves A LOT MORE ATTENTION. I'm talking about data and privacy. Delivery companies, which includes a growing number of autonomous and teleoperated services, collect a ton of personal data from its customers. The kind of valuable data, like home addresses and credit card numbers, that are sold on the dark web.
This week, our cybersecurity editor Zack Whittaker reported on two data breaches involving delivery companies. The first was Drizly, one of the biggest online alcohol delivery services in the U.S. and Canada, raising over $68 million to date. Drizly told customers a hacker "obtained" some customer data. The hacker took customer email addresses, date-of-birth, passwords hashed using the stronger bcrypt algorithm and, in some cases, delivery addresses.
As many as 2.5 million Drizly accounts are believed to have been stolen. Here's something to take note of, Drizy told TechCrunch that no financial information was compromised. However, a listing on a dark web marketplace from a well-known seller of stolen data claims otherwise. TechCrunch, of course, didn't link to it. But Whittaker did take and share a screenshot.
Meanwhile, online shopping and delivery service Instacart is blaming customers who reused passwords for a recent spate of account breaches. The data breach compromised 270,000 Instacart customers. The company published a statement late on Thursday saying its investigation showed that Instacart "was not compromised or breached," but pointed to credential stuffing, where hackers take lists of usernames and passwords stolen from other breached sites and brute-force their way into other accounts.
Customers can't shoulder all of the responsibility. Instacart, as Whittaker notes, still does not support two-factor authentication, which — if customers had enabled — would have prevented the account hacks to begin with.
Other delivery news …
Flipkart, which is owned by Walmart, launched a hyperlocal service in suburbs of Bangalore, four years after the e-commerce group abruptly concluded its previous foray into this category.
The new service called Flipkart Quick uses the company's supply chain infrastructure and a new location mapping technology framework to deliver within 90 minutes to customers more than 2,000 products across grocery, perishables, smartphones, electronics accessories and stationary items.
It's electric
Remember the days when electric vehicle news was relegated to Tesla, the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt? Times have changed and, well, stayed the same. Tesla still dominates the headlines and this week wasn't any different. (more on them later). But now, there are dozens of other electric vehicle models coming to market. The upshot: charging infrastructure is becoming more important. (Hey, not everyone has a garage).
This week, GM and EVgo announced plans to add more than 2,700 new fast chargers. The rollout, which will take five years, will triple the size of the EVgo network. The first of these new EVgo fast charging stations will be available to customers starting early 2021.
The companies are targeting high-traffic areas like grocery stores, retail outlets, entertainment centers, areas where people typically spend 15 to 30 minutes. The stations, which will be powered by renewable energy, will feature new charging technology with 100 to 350-kilowatt capabilities, the companies said.
The charging partnership follows a numerous announcements from GM around its electric vehicle strategy. Earlier this week, GM said steel construction has started on the nearly 3-million-square-foot factory that will mass produce Ultium battery cells and packs. The Ultium battery, along with a modular propulsion system and electric vehicle platform, is the cornerstone of GM' strategy to bring 20 electric vehicles to market by 2023.
GM recently released a video of its upcoming GMC Hummer EV and next week plans to reveal the Cadillac LYRIQ.
Image Credits: GM/EVgo
Other electric news this week …
BMW said it will offer the all-electric versions of X1 compact SUV and the 5 Series as part of the German automaker's plans to have 25 electrified models in its portfolio by 2023.
Electric Brands is working on a VW Bus-inspired EV called the eBussy, via The Drive.
Fisker Inc. revealed in a presentation that was filed with the SEC that a "cornerstone agreement" with Volkswagen has been delayed, the Verge reported. Fisker wants to use Volkswagen's modular EV platform for its upcoming electric vehicles.
Kandi Technologies Group, the Chinese electric vehicle and parts manufacturer, bringing two EVs to the United States through its subsidiary Kandi America. The two models, which are priced under $30,000 before federal incentives, will be the cheapest EVs in the United States.
Lucid Motors provided new details about its upcoming electric vehicle, the Air. In short, this luxury EV sedan is loaded up with hardware — dozens of sensors, a driver monitoring system and an Ethernet-based architecture — for an advanced driver assistance system that aims to match and even surpass its rivals.
There will be 32 sensors in all, according to Lucid, which has branded its advanced driver assistance system DreamDrive. Lidar, a sensor that gets a lot of attention, will be on the vehicle. But I was struck by the number of radar sensors on the Air. There will be five radars in all, giving the vehicle 360 degrees of radar coverage.
Panasonic revealed to TechCrunch this week that it developed new battery technology for the "2170" lithium-ion cells it produces and supplies to Tesla, a change that improves energy density by 5% and reduces costly cobalt content. The new, higher energy dense 2170 cells will be produced by Panasonic at Tesla's factory in Sparks, Nevada. Improvements on the battery tech will continue with a 20% improvement in energy density over the next five years and a goal to be cobalt free.
Rivian's retail strategy is starting to emerge. The company has said it will try and repurpose existing buildings for its stores, when possible. This week, the company said it is pursuing the purchase of the historic Laguna Beach South Coast Cinema. The theater's present structure, was opened in 1935 and stood as the city's only cinema until it closed its doors in August 2015.
Tesla's sales in China are becoming increasingly important to its bottom line. An SEC filing this week shows that revenue in China climbed 102.9% year-over-year to $1.4 billion. That means China now makes up 23.3% of Tesla's total revenues of $6 billion in the quarter, compared to just about 11% in the same period a year before.
Tesla also revealed in the same SEC filing that it received payroll-related benefits from the government, funds that helped reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on its business, Reuters reported.
Speaking of Tesla … CEO Elon Musk took to Twitter on Tuesday night to say that the automaker would be "open to licensing software and supplying powertrains & batteries" to other automakers. Musk added that that would even include Autopilot, the advanced driver assistance software that Tesla offers to provide intelligent cruise control in a number of different driving scenarios. No word on whether any companies are biting.
ADA and mobility
Image Credits: iStock / Getty Images
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 paved the way for decades of incremental changes to the way buildings, businesses and laws accommodate people with a wide variety of disabilities. As reporter Devin Coldewey notes, the law's effect on tech has been profound.
There is still a lot of work to do. I'm looking at all of you autonomous vehicle engineers, designers and founders.
Here are a few stories that highlight the impact of ADA.
Start with Coldewey's overview on ADA and tech. Then move over to Streetsblog, which digs into the role bicycles have played as mobility assistive devices. Finally, check out this story on Fable, a startup that aims to make disability-inclusive design easier by providing testing and development assistance from disabled folks on-demand.
See ya'll next week.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A communications satellite, dubbed the "Indian Angry Bird", meant for the exclusive use of the Indian Air Force, took off from the launchpad of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh and was placed in orbit this evening. The GSAT-7A will connect all IAF assets like planes, airborne early warning control platforms and drones with each other and ground stations, and work towards a network-centric warfare capability.
It will also reduce the possibility of snooping and leakage of information that's possible while using satellites launched by foreign operators.
GSAT-7A has been placed in the geostationary orbit and this communication satellite is expected to help the IAF to interlink different ground radar stations, airbases and AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control System) aircraft. The idea is to improve the IAF's network-centric warfare capabilities.
It is an advanced communication satellite with a Gregorian Antenna and many other new technologies.
It is the heaviest satellite being launched by GSLV with an indigenously developed cryogenic stage.
It is the 39th Indian communication satellite of ISRO to provide services to the users in Ku-band over the Indian region.
The satellite, being dubbed as 'angry bird' by some, is likely to enhance the range of communication and also aid in aircraft to aircraft communication.
The GSLV is ISRO's fourth generation launch vehicle that has three stages. The four liquid strap-ons and a solid rocket motor at the core constitute the first stage. The second stage is equipped with a high thrust engine that uses liquid fuel.
The cryogenic upper stage forms the third and final stage of the vehicle. The GSLV-F11 was the seventh flight carrying indigenously developed cryogenic upper stage.