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Hyundai and Kia have unveiled an innovative EV drivetrain design called the Uni Wheel during their “Uni Wheel Tech Day” event in Seoul. This new Universal Wheel Drive system relocates primary components to the wheel hub, creating extra interior space within the vehicle.

While electric vehicles (EVs) have revolutionized design, the traditional drivetrain has persisted. EVs typically maintain the power transmission method found in internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, despite replacing the engine and transmission with a motor and reduction gear. Hyundai and Kia’s Uni Wheel system is a paradigm-shifting solution, placing main drive components within the EV’s wheel hub.

Unlike previous attempts by other developers, the Uni Wheel utilizes a unique planetary gear configuration with a central sun gear, pinion gears on each side, and a surrounding ring gear. The system’s efficiency remains high, regardless of wheel movement or suspension articulation, providing a wide range of motion.

This innovation increases platform space, contributing to more spacious EV interiors, including cargo and trunk space. Additionally, the Uni Wheel system enables non-conventional seating configurations, offering design flexibility for future autonomous driving integration.

While the timeline for implementing this technology in commercial EVs remains uncertain, Hyundai and Kia have already applied for and registered eight patents related to Uni Wheel in South Korea, the US, and Europe. The companies express their commitment to perfecting the Uni Wheel system to provide customers with a unique and innovative mobility experience.

Hyundai and Kia’s ‘Uni Wheel’ EV Drivetrain Revolutionizes Interior Space

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Bob’s Burgers has reliably delivered a Christmas-themed episode going back to season three—which gives us great hope we’ll be getting one as part of its current 14th season. But even if we don’t, the Fox show has already gifted us with a sleigh full of silly joy, cringe-inducing snafus, and useful wisdom. Here are 13…

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TikTok has introduced the Artist Account, which offers up-and-coming musicians new ways to curate their profiles in ways that boost discoverability. The new suite of tools are not just meant for rising stars: established pop icons can also add an artist tag to their profiles, giving their music its own tab next to their videos, likes and reposted content.

To be eligible for an artist tag, TikTok says you will need at least four sounds or songs uploaded to the app. Artists can also pin one of their tunes so it appears first in the music tab. If a musician drops new content, the app will tag songs as ‘new’ for up to 14 days before and up to 30 days after it goes live. Any new tracks will automatically be added to a profile’s music tab.

TikTok says over 70,000 artists are already using the new tools. The app has proven to be a breeding ground for content to go viral for new artists and established music makers alike thanks to the lightning speed of dance and lifestyle video trends. TikTok’s impact on the music industry has been so massive that even streamers like Spotify have looked into experimenting with video-first music discovery feeds.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tiktoks-new-profile-tools-are-just-for-musicians-201723244.html?src=rss

When you make the third highest-grossing film of all time, the first thing people will ask about is a sequel. That’s exactly what happened when 2021’s Spider-Man No Way Home had its incredibly successful run. For the film’s star though, Tom Holland, a sequel isn’t a sure thing. To him, there’s more to it than money.…

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US Senators John Kennedy (R-LA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced a bipartisan bill Wednesday to end involuntary facial recognition screening at airports. The Traveler Privacy Protection Act would block the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) from continuing or expanding its facial recognition tech program. It would also require the government agency to explicitly receive congressional permission to renew it, and it would have to dispose of all biometric data within three months.

Senator Merkley described the TSA’s biometric collection practices as the first steps toward an Orwellian nightmare. “The TSA program is a precursor to a full-blown national surveillance state,” Merkley wrote in a news release. “Nothing could be more damaging to our national values of privacy and freedom. No government should be trusted with this power.” Other Senators supporting the bill include Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

The TSA began testing facial recognition at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in 2018. The agency’s pitch to travelers framed it as an exciting new high-tech feature, promising a “biometrically-enabled curb-to-gate passenger experience.” The TSA said this summer it planned to expand the program to over 430 US airports within the next few years.

The program at least technically allows travelers to opt-out, but that process isn’t always transparent in practice. Merkley posted the video above to X in September, demonstrating how agents guided travelers to the facial scanner without mentioning that it’s optional. No signs near the booths said it was optional or explicitly mentioned the gathering of facial data, either. The booths were arranged so that flyers would have difficulty entering their driver’s license or ID (required) without stepping in front of the facial scanner.

Advocacy groups supporting the bill include the ACLU, Electronic Privacy Information Center and Public Citizen. “The privacy risks and discriminatory impact of facial recognition are real, and the government’s use of our faces as IDs poses a serious threat to our democracy,” wrote Jeramie Scott, Senior Counsel and Director of EPIC’s Project on Surveillance Oversight, in Markley’s press release. “The TSA should not be allowed to unilaterally subject millions of travelers to this dangerous technology.”

“Every day, TSA scans thousands of Americans’ faces without their permission and without making it clear that travelers can opt out of the invasive screening,” Sen. Kennedy wrote in a separate news release. “The Traveler Privacy Protection Act would protect every American from Big Brother’s intrusion by ending the facial recognition program.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bipartisan-senate-bill-would-kill-the-tsas-big-brother-airport-facial-recognition-191010937.html?src=rss