Thomas Top Five: Flying Cars, Grain-Flinging Robots, More Top News
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Welcome to Thomas Top Five, where we highlight our most popular recent stories.
1. Flying Car Design Gets Federal Airworthiness Approval
If you grew up watching the 1960s cartoon The Jetsons, the saucer-like flying cars probably felt like a very distant reality. Soon enough, this will no longer be fiction, as the startup Alef recently received airworthiness approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for its Model A flying car. With the ability to not only drive on roads but also vertically take off into the sky, Alef’s Model A will be ready for customer purchase by 2025.
2. Flinging Robot Tends to Grain Bins so Farmers Don't Have to
The agriculture industry is also looking toward the future, specifically one that keeps farmers out of granaries. The company Grain Weevil developed a small, flinging robot that tends to grain bins, thereby reducing labor costs, maximizing airflow uniformity, and lowering spoilage risk.
3. Amazon Looks to Partner with Small Businesses for Delivery Program
In other company news, Amazon recently announced the launch of its Hub Delivery program, which pays small businesses to deliver packages locally. The program will begin operating in 23 states, and participating companies could earn up to $27,000 annually.
4. American-Made Products: By the Numbers
Speaking of small businesses, have you ever wondered how many there are in the United States? We did a deep dive into American-made products and the workers behind production. While there are approximately 132 million full-time employees in the U.S., 2.1 million manufacturing vacancies could be unfulfilled by 2030 — costing the economy $1 trillion.
5. Friendshoring: Definition, Benefits, and Key Characteristics
With American-made products growing as a manufacturing priority, reshoring has been a significant trend. But have you heard of friendshoring? Find out how it can improve resilience by heading to thomasnet.com/insights.
I’m Megan Conniff, and this is Thomas Top Five.
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