The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) on Wednesday unveiled a graphite membrane-based technology that can draw water from the air.
The technology was recognized this year at the US-based R&D 100 Awards, the institute told a news conference at an innovation forum at its Southern Region Campus in Tainan’s Lioujia District (六甲).
The graphite oxide membrane is housed in a “ubiquitous water wand,” which collects water vapor from the air and condensed water from it, potentially helping people in arid climates, the institute said.
Photo: CNA
Scientists are exploring possibilities to make use of the material on a large scale, which could provide a technological response to water scarcity, it said.
Other inventions highlighted at the forum included a miniaturized 3D sensing module that enables robots to grab objects with precision and a kilowatt-class fuel cell technology that boosts the efficiency of hydrogen batteries, it said.
Institute senior vice president Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文), who is director-general of the southern campus, said that the semi-public foundation is working with the government to upgrade industry in southern Taiwan.
The institute has collaborated with nearly 4,500 enterprises to integrate the technological research and innovation resources of the private sector, academia and the government, Wu said.
Tainan Deputy Mayor Chao Ching-hui (趙卿惠) said that the city has established complete industry value chains that are to be augmented by other projects, including the Shalun Green Energy Technology Demonstration Site and expansions to the Tainan Technology Industrial Park.
The ITRI is a valued partner in the city government’s efforts to promote economic growth via investments in technology and renewable energy, Chao said.
Yangmingshan National Park authorities yesterday urged visitors to respect public spaces and obey the law after a couple was caught on a camera livestream having sex at the park’s Qingtiangang (擎天崗) earlier in the day. The Shilin Police Precinct in Taipei said it has identified a suspect and his vehicle registration number, and would summon him for questioning. The case would be handled in accordance with public indecency charges, it added. The couple entered the park at about 11pm on Thursday and began fooling around by 1am yesterday, the police said, adding that the two were unaware of the park’s all-day live
Fast food chain McDonald's is to raise prices by up to NT$5 on some products at its restaurants across Taiwan, starting on Wednesday next week, the company announced today. The prices of all extra value meals and sharing boxes are to increase by NT$5, while breakfast combos and creamy corn soup would go up by NT$3, the company said in a statement. The price of the main items of those meals, if ordered individually, would remain the same. Meanwhile, the price of a medium-sized lemon iced tea and hot cappuccino would rise by NT$3, extra dipping sauces for chicken nuggets would go up
Yangmingshan National Park’s Qingtiangang (擎天崗) nature area has gone viral after a park livestream camera observed a couple in the throes of intimate congress, which was broadcast live on YouTube, drawing large late-night crowds and sparking a backlash over noise, bright lights and disruption to wildlife habitat. The area’s livestream footage appeared to show a couple engaging in sexual activity on a picnic table in the park on Friday last week, with the uncensored footage streamed publicly online. The footage quickly spread across social media, prompting a tide of visitors to travel to the site to “check in” and recreate the
Minister of Digital Affairs Lin Yi-ching (林宜敬) yesterday cited regulatory issues and national security concerns as an expert said that Taiwan is among the few Asian regions without Starlink. Lin made the remarks on Facebook after funP Innovation Group chief executive officer Nathan Chiu (邱繼弘) on Friday said Taiwan and four other countries in Asia — China, North Korea, Afghanistan and Syria — have no access to Starlink. Starlink has become available in 166 countries worldwide, including Ukraine, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, in the six years since it became commercial, he said. While China and North Korea block Starlink, Syria is not