Obama to be Shown Special Exhibit Featuring Israel’s Top Technological Achievements

Israeli hi-tech district.

During his visit to Israel next week U.S. President Barack Obama will get a comprehensive view of Israel’s impressive technological sector without having to make much effort at all. A special exhibit is being put together in his honor, “Israeli Technology – For a Better World,” which will be held at the Israel Museum.

The exhibit is meant to highlight several sectors of the industry and will feature products in the fields of renewable energy, the war on traffic accidents, medicine, search and rescue, and robotics.

He will visit the exhibit with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Below is a list provided by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office of the products that will comprise the exhibition.

In the field of energy alternatives:

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.)

Watch a video about Phynergy here:

In the field of the struggle against traffic accidents:

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.)

Watch a video about Mobileye below:

In the field of medicine:

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.)

In the field of search and rescue:

The snake robot is designed to enter spaces in collapsed structures with minimal disturbance. The robot thus assists in location andrescue 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.)

Watch a video about the robot below:

In the field of medicine:

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.)

Also in the field of medicine:

A headset, MiniDesktop, 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.