Latest news with #R2
TimesLIVE
4 hours ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
How an opportunity in defence could make flying taxis a reality
Opportunities in defence, emergency healthcare and cargo could help make flying taxis a reality in the next few years after the sector recently received backing from US President Donald Trump's administration, executives in the industry said at the Paris Airshow. Trump this month told regulators to speed up certification to accelerate the development of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), aiming to secure a US lead over Asia in the technology. The executive order gave fresh impetus to an industry that has struggled to win over critics and regulators. "We take a lot of spears, people are like 'batteries are too heavy'," Kyle Clark, founder and chief executive of Beta Technologies, said at the show. "But the reality is, if you put the airplanes in the right places, the benefits are real." Flying taxis - seen in predictions of the future for decades - need to shake off the idea that they are only for the rich to become viable at scale. Their manufacturers said emergency medical services, cargo and defence could help, where they offer a cheaper and quieter alternative to helicopters in areas from passenger and goods transport to rescue missions. BETA, Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are in the US air force agility prime programme, which aims to develop technologies for autonomous cargo and hybrid-electric aircraft. Joby and Archer have previously signed military contracts worth $131m (R2,357,768,942) and up to $142m (R2,555,943,200), respectively. "We have two aircraft at Edwards air force base, and we are grateful for all the support an learning out of that," said Joby Aviation's founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt. "We think there are incredible opportunities on the defence side." Clark, who flew Beta's conventional takeoff and landing aircraft in Paris, said the company had a clear position in defence: reliable aircraft that showed up to every mission.
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Mpumalanga man claims R2 million for police assault, awarded R130,000
A man claimed R2 million form the police after he was locked-up for two days in a police cell. He also claimed he was severely assaulted by the SAPS Image: File A damages claim of R2 million by a Mpumalanga man against the police for unlawful arrest and detention and 'severe' assault resulted in the court only granting him compensation of R130,000. This, after the Mbombela High Court found that Lwazi Mdluli exaggerated somewhat about the injuries he had suffered at the hands of the police. Mdluli claimed R1 million from the police for his suffering in being locked up in a police cell for two days, as well as another R1 million for the assault he said he endured. He told the court that in January 2023, near Newscom Trust in Mpumalanga, he was travelling in his car with his wife and daughter. He was stopped by the SAPS at Kabokweni Police Station on allegations that he had committed robbery and attempted murder. Mdluli testified that the officers blocked his car, and when he got out, he was pushed to the ground. He said he was assaulted several times on the face with open hands by four police officers and was trampled upon with booted feet. He said he was taken to the police vehicle, where he was instructed to touch a firearm in the vehicle. When he refused, the officers continued to assault him. Mdluli described how, at one point, his hands were cuffed behind his back along with his feet. His face was covered with a plastic bag. When the bag was eventually removed, water was poured into one of his ears, and he was slapped several times with an open hand on the ear. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading He claimed his nightmare ordeal did not end here, as he was taken to the police cells, where he was accused of breaking into the house of a police officer and stealing his firearm. He was taken to court, but he never appeared before a magistrate, as he was told he could go home. Mdluli testified that it humiliated him to have been assaulted in the presence of his wife and 15-year-old daughter. The assault took place in public, and members of the community gathered and took pictures and videos of the incident. Those pictures were posted on Facebook, thus injuring his dignity. On the conditions of the cells, he testified that, whilst in custody, he had to take a cold shower, and he did not have toiletries. The cells were filthy, and he was detained with five other inmates. They had no privacy in using the ablution facilities. Although he was provided with two meals a day, they were not of the same standard that he was used to at home. Mdluli said he was used to having three meals per day. The court commented that his evidence was riddled with exaggerations, and if regard is had to his injuries, it cannot be found that the assault was grievous to the extent testified to by Mdluli. He was awarded R80,000 in damages for being detained for two days and R30,000 for the assault he had to endure.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The $45,000 EV That Could Change Everything: Latest Rivian R2 Details Unveiled
The $45,000 EV That Could Change Everything: Latest Rivian R2 Details Unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog. Rivian announced its new R2 midsize SUV in March 2024, and now, the electric automaker has updated the public on the model's progress leading up to its planned launch during the first half of 2026. The car manufacturer's newest information on the R2 includes insider looks at the SUV's design studio, powertrain test lab, and electrical lab. According to Rivian, its in-house design studio spent hundreds of hours creating sketches to form the R2. Rivian described the design studio as a space where creativity meets feasibility, and one of its primary challenges with the R2 was acknowledging and working with its cost constraints without compromising appeal. The automaker's design studio works on and approves solitary segments ahead of time so that there are 'no surprises at the end,' with smaller elements like a glovebox receiving high amounts of individual attention. The powertrain test lab's highlights featured a closer look at Maximus, Rivian's in-house next-generation drive unit, primarily serving in its upcoming R2 and R3. Improvements from the last drive unit, Enduro, include Maximus's smaller size, lighter weight, lower cost, and simpler manufacturing, achieved by reducing its fasteners by 30%. Maximus's inverter, converting direct current (DC) energy to alternating current (AC) energy, is now side-mounted, providing additional clearance for the lower R2. Rivian noted that the R2's drive unit uses a continuous winding e-machine, generating higher performance and further simplifying manufacturing by reducing the number of welds. According to its manufacturer, Maximus is 40% more power-dense than its predecessor, much cheaper, and easier to build—all of which facilitate scaling, something Rivian struggled with while producing its R1T and R1S models. Rivian said the Enduro was its first drive unit to transition directly to hard tooling, meaning it went straight from digital designs and engineering to building production-ready manufacturing tools used for high-volume creation. Maximus is undergoing month-long testing in extreme high and low temperatures, along with simulated rainfall conditions. Rivian's electrical lab works on the R2's stack, or integrated hardware and software acting as the vehicle's brain. The automaker has spent the last few years vertically integrating its tech and zonal architecture as well as organizing electronics by location, which helps it design a stack entirely in-house. Rivian uses a midsize platform lab car for active R2 development and testing, where it can evaluate harnessing, endpoint devices, and everything on the low-voltage side that code from the SUV's brain touches. A Rivian mule bridges the midsize platform lab car stage and design validation builds just before mass production. One of Rivian's mules, 3.2, shows seats, screens, motors, and more that will be represented on the design validation build while still allowing design accessibility. Last month, reports emerged that Rivian remains on track to sell the R2 for $45,000, with a newly completed extension at the automaker's Normal, Illinois, plant housing R2 production. LG Energy Solution's batteries for the R2 will initially come from South Korea before being sourced from LG Energy Solution's new Arizona factory. The $45,000 EV That Could Change Everything: Latest Rivian R2 Details Unveiled first appeared on Autoblog on Jun 17, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Citizen
a day ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Ring introduces the high-resolution Outdoor Cam Plus
Ring's award-winning smart home security product line offers consumers affordable whole-home security. Building on the success of its home security range, Ring has now launched the formidable Outdoor Cam Plus in South Africa. Powered by Ring Vision, this cam is the first to offer 2k resolution and a wider field of view. The high pixel count provides users with the highest resolution and full-colour picture of their homes. You can effortlessly tap into the brilliant 2k live feed video on your phone via the Ring app to check on the security of your property, even in low light. This cam offers the previous features that Ring fans have come to expect, including two-way talk, motion detectors, and a remote-activated siren. Ring's intuitive mobile app allows you to monitor your home, receive instant alerts, and, if necessary, act, all with just a few taps on your smartphone. Picture: Supplied South African consumers have enjoyed the convenience and protection of having 'eyes' around their homes with the versatile Ring cams, which can easily be positioned according to your property's unique layout. Ring products are easy to install and can be powered by battery packs, solar panels, or plug-in adapters. The Outdoor Cam Plus joins the group of their most versatile products – weather resistant and can be mounted anywhere, including gardens, perimeter walls or driveways. The Outdoor Cam Plus's new development in picture quality ensures that even after dark, the video quality of the property remains very detailed, and all recorded 24/7. Picture: Supplied Ring's award-winning smart home security product line offers consumers affordable whole-home security. The Outdoor Cam Plus illustrates how Ring continues to innovate with products that offer peace of mind to its users. The Outdoor Cam Plus is officially available in South Africa for R2 199 through: Takealot, Incredible Connection, Hirsch's and Computer Mania at a variety of costs to suit your budget needs.
IOL News
a day ago
- General
- IOL News
Mpumalanga women in legal battle for estate after late husband secretly marries both of them
The Mpumalanga High Court has declared a second marriage invalid, upholding the rights of the first wife who maintained to be the deceased's legal wife. In a ruling that highlights the intricacies of customary marriages, the Mpumalanga High Court has declared a second marriage invalid, upholding the rights of the first wife who maintained to be the deceased's legal wife. The case centres on an emotional legal battle following the tragic death of a 43-year-old man, who died in a car accident in February 2023, leaving behind two women fighting to be recognised as the legal wife in order to claim from his government pension fund. The first wife, who entered into a marriage under customary law with the deceased, approached the high court seeking to assert her status as the sole legal wife. She argued that the deceased's second marriage, celebrated in 2020, was invalid as it occurred without her consent and without a legal dissolution of their original union. According to court documents, the couple's union began in 2017, when emissaries were sent to negotiate lobola between the families, culminating in an agreement that included a lobola of R12,000 which was paid in cash and 13 cattle which were to be delivered in future. The couple's marriage was celebrated in a customary ceremony, and they had one child together. However, the marriage was not registered with the Department of Home Affairs until after the husband's death. Two years later, in 2019, the deceased fell in love with another woman; he left his first wife and moved in with the new woman and their relationship blossomed, leading to a civil marriage in 2020 which was registered at Home Affairs. In the second marriage, during lobola negotiations, a payment of R20,000 being ten cattle each valued at R2,000 was agreed upon and it was paid immediately. All this took place without the first wife's knowledge, while she was still married to the deceased. After the husband's death, the first wife played no role in his funeral; she watched from a distance as his family accorded the widow's status to the second wife who had ascended to the seat of a chief mourner. The obituary even reflected the second wife as the deceased's surviving spouse.
