Detroit Finds

The F-Series dates back to the 1940s, and while today’s F-150 is technologically advanced, the truck might not seem like the most logical inspiration for modern robotics. But for Shadi T. Mere, chief executive officer of Ann Arbor-based Bedestrian, the F-150 is a touchstone for “understanding the really long-term aspect of making something like this operational, servicing it, making sure it’s safe.”

Shadi Mere is chief executive officer of Ann Arbor-based Bedestrian. Photo by Nick Hagen.
His company is partnering with Beaumont Health to introduce robots that serve hospitals by transporting lab supplies from the pharmacy to the cancer center in heated and cooled compartments. Bedestrian is using this initial application to help determine hospital cost savings per robot, which they currently estimate to be between $80,000 and $230,000. From there, the company hopes to expand their work with Beaumont and move into other health-care systems, senior living facilities and pharmacies.

Bedestrian is just one example of a mobility company that is innovating to move goods and services in new and efficient ways -- and they’re succeeding in part by taking inspiration from the design and manufacturing strength of Detroit’s automotive industry.
Eventually, Bedestrian wants to expand the uses for these autonomous machines into communities to deliver medical supplies to people at home, helping serve a growing number of people who want to age in place. Living longer at home in familiar, well-supported communities rather than in nursing homes and other institutions can positively impact quality of life for America’s aging population, says Mere.

In a market segment with huge potential, Mere believes the Ford F-150 provides a case-study in managing millions of vehicles with millions of parts--wisdom that he can apply to Bedestrian. “You really need to kind of make your vehicle with that same approach,” he says.

Bedestrian is partnering with Beaumont Health transport lab supplies by robots. Photo by Nick Hagen.
For resources, Detroit region is first choice

Bedestrian isn’t alone among software companies, manufacturers and robotics companies choosing Southeast Michigan as a base for operations. Among the reasons for choosing Metro Detroit over Silicon Valley, Mere cites the automotive talent in the region, world class hospitals and universities that are especially important for his company, community support from mobility-focused organizations like Planet M and a much lower cost of living and doing business.

All of these factors are encouraging companies to leverage skills and innovations from the auto-industry to develop mobility technology--and to do it in Michigan.

Part of the reason for this trend is the nature of robots themselves. Although people may envision robots as delicate and toy-like, Mere says Bedestrian builds robust machines that incorporate disruptive elements of engineering much like Tesla and Apple, to create an easy user interface. Critical to a successful product is automotive technology that helps them create a durable product with a sleek design.

For FarmWise, the Detroit region has already proven its manufacturing expertise. Photo courtesy of FarmWise.

Leveraging manufacturing experience

FarmWise is another company doing similar work in a very different sector. They are partnering with Roush Industries to manufacture robots that can weed crops on large farms, something that would reduce labor needs and the use of herbicides. FarmWise is based in California with a small team that’s mostly skilled in software and robotics. The partnership with Roush will allow them to scale up the manufacturing side of their company for their machines that essentially look like utility vehicles, albeit without windows or drivers.

Sebastien Boyer (left), chief executive officer, and Thomas Palomares, chief technical officer of FarmWise. Photo courtesy of FarmWise.
In a blog post, Thomas Palomares co-founder and chief technology officer of FarmWise outlined his reasons for manufacturing in Metro Detroit, saying that “robots are just another type of car.” Palomares emphasized that the region is home to “about 2,200 facilities conducting automotive research.”

In Roush, FarmWise found a company in this network that “could combine low-volume production, high-end manufacturing, experience in building robust long-lasting vehicles, and an ability to scale.” Roush combines manufacturing experience with a flexibility to do both small runs of hardware to facilitate multiple iterations in the development phase as well as larger ones when the robots go to market.

For FarmWise, the Detroit region has already proven its manufacturing expertise. Access to venture capital in the Bay Area may be important for a company like FarmWise–along with California’s large industrial farms–but they believe that Michigan has what it takes to actually make their robots.

Easing last-mile pain points

The Detroit region is increasingly important for software development as well, especially as it relates to mobility. “What's unique about southeastern Michigan,” Jake Sigal, chief executive officer of Tome Software says, “is that there's representation from every single OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and every single tier one manufacturer. They're all here. So, if you want to get groups of people together to collaborate, this is where it's going to happen. It's not going to happen anywhere else.”

Tome has worked on projects like the bicycle-to-vehicle safety (B2V) project to help vehicles recognize and register vulnerable roads users (VRUs), which are people on bikes, riding scooters, or pedestrians using cellphones or other beacons that connect with a car’s advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) to improve safety by avoiding collisions.

They’re also working with Ford on MoDe:Link, a program that’s being piloted in London, which will assist contractors and delivery people who carry items by bike or on foot, by providing them with supplies from a single van in a central location, so that everyone doesn’t need to have their own vehicle, thereby reducing the number of vehicles in highly congested urban environments.

Tome has worked on projects like the bicycle-to-vehicle safety (B2V) project to help vehicles recognize and register vulnerable roads users.

Like Bedestrian, MoDe:Link is addressing the last mile problem of how people or goods get from larger transportation networks to a specific address. Solving this problem could create more efficient and sustainable transportation networks and supply chains. And it’s important for Michigan that companies here are taking a lead on the issue.

In order for businesses like his to be successful, Sigal says that it’s crucial they have access to pre-competitive technology that will allow them to connect vehicles and other users across platforms so that, for example, a car built by one company can recognize an electric scooter built by another for the safety of both users. He also points out how groups like Techstars are connecting large operations with smaller ones, joining innovative solutions from companies like Tome with businesses large enough to “make a significant impact” as Ford could do with MoDe:Link.

“Seeing that large businesses are leaning forward is a great sign for southeastern Michigan,” he says. All this could help grow mobility technology beyond its historical roots in automotive manufacturing into an endless variety of applications.

Photos by Steve Koss, unless otherwise indicated.

Three things.

#1 THE PRICE ISSUE. Whole Foods' 365 Brand products are generally pretty affordable and always of good quality. An excellent store brand that even the most die-hard cheapskate can buy regularly. Things like organic instant oatmeal for about $2 a box, half gallons of great-tasting organic juices for $3.99 a carton, massive packages of pasta for $.99, storemade hummus for $1.99 a tub, organic wheat crackers for about $2 -- the list goes on. The quality is outstanding, and if it costs a few pennies over another chain store's generic brand, then so be it. I can taste the difference, and so would anyone who gave it a shot. But instead, too many people get hung up on their expensive prepared food and some of the very pricey produce. You don't have to buy that stuff if you don't want to. Then again, it is easier to whine than it is to become a savvy shopper. Whatever. Go peddle your nonsense somewhere else, because you're wrong.

#2 THE SIZE ISSUE. Some people have wondered if 20,000 square feet -- the size of the planned Detroit store -- is too small. Again -- welcome to Detroit, where nobody knows shit about shit, but is happy to chat to you anyway. Fact: The Maple Road store, as in, the closest one to Downtown Detroit right now, is only 23,000 square feet. It's got everything you need. I should know. I shop there all the time. I'm thrilled to be able to not have to do a nearly 35-mile round-trip to buy my cheap, organic store brand dry goods anymore. (Well, I will be, in 2013.)

#3 THIS ISN'T REALLY ABOUT YOU. Even just the announcement of this store is an immense brand boost for the city. Bigger than many people realize. It's not just a grocery store opening. Whole Foods is one of the most upscale brands in the country. Having that attached to Detroit does things for this town's image on a national level that even the most well-meaning, community-involved, PR-savvy Detroiter never could. Detroit's growing reputation as a cool new frontier town/art center/fill in the blank is great and all, but that is not going to save Detroit alone. People with money are going to do that. People who shop at places like Whole Foods. Show those people that something like this could thrive in the city of Detroit, and suddenly, they're feeling a lot more at ease.

You don't have to like any of this, but then again, it isn't really about you.

Source: http://theincorrigiblecity.blogspot.com/2011/07/hello-whole-foods.html

By Marcy Oster

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Scientists in Israel made a 3D print of a heart using human tissue and vessels.

It is the first time that an entire heart has been successfully printed that includes cells and blood vessels, the AFP news service reported, citing Tal Dvir of Tel Aviv University, who led the project.

It will be a long time, however, before such a printed heart will be fully functioning and ready to be transplanted into a human patient, the scientists said.

The next step is for researchers to teach the printed hearts to act like real ones.

Related

Source:

You guys called it play by play here from the start exactly how it would end up,poor guy wanted to put a restaurant in an old firehouse and the community put a stop to it,but yet here we are,funding with taxpayer money something that you knew front the start was funny.

Where was Rasida Tlaib for the community at that time?

One supervised the public school system in the Midwest’s top education state. Another led efforts to improve failing schools in Georgia. Three more are well-established superintendents in Michigan.

The field of candidates to become Michigan’s next State Superintendent has been narrowed to five candidates, with deep but different backgrounds in public education. The five will be publicly interviewed by the State Board of Education later in April. The board is expected to pick a new superintendent after public interviews of finalists on May 7.

State Superintendent Brian Whiston passed away in 2018, and Chief Deputy Superintendent Sheila Alles was appointed Interim State Superintendent while State Board of Education conducted a search for Whiston’s replacement.

Whoever takes the helm will have a tough job. Michigan’s schools are failing to keep up with schools in other states. The state’s ranking among states has plummeted since 2003, with Michigan students now scoring in the bottom third in almost all subjects and grade levels measured by the National Assessment of Educational Performance, often called the “nation’s report card.

Michigan also is below average in the percentage of adults with college degrees, which hobbles the state’s economy. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has set a statewide goal of 60 percent of adults with a college degree or credential by 2030. Currently, fewer than 45 percent of adults have a degree or credential.

The five remaining candidates, announced Friday by the State Board of Education, are:

Jeanice Swift, superintendent of Ann Arbor Public Schools. Swift, a 30-year veteran teacher and administrator, was named 2018 Superintendent of the Year by the Michigan Association of School Administrators. She was an assistant superintendent in Colorado Springs before coming to Ann Arbor in 2013. According to biographical information on the Ann Arbor Public Schools website, the district’s enrollment has increased and funding has stabilized under her leadership. She was a finalist last year for a post as superintendent of Seattle Public Schools.

Michael Rice, superintendent of Kalamazoo Public Schools. Rice was the 2016 Superintendent of the Year in Michigan. Since 2007 he has been superintendent of Kalamazoo. Under his watch, the district developed full-day pre-K for the city’s 4-year-olds, quintupled the number of kindergarten students and tripled the number of Advanced Placement courses available to high school students. Rice and the district have been heavily involved in the growth of the Kalamazoo Promise, which pays college expenses to Kalamazoo students.

Randy Liepa, superintendent of Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency, an intermediate school district that provides services to school districts in Wayne County. Before becoming Wayne RESA superintendent in 2015, Liepa was superintendent of Livonia Public Schools, one of the largest districts in the state. Liepa took part in the School Finance Research Collaborative, in which community, business and education leaders made a pitch for increased school funding, and funding that varies with student needs.

G. Eric Thomas, chief turnaround officer for Georgia Board of Education. Thomas was Georgia’s first turnaround officer, with broad authority over schools ranked in the bottom 5 percent in the state. Before 2017, he worked as a school turnaround officer in a program at the University of Virginia.

Brenda Cassellius, former Minnesota Commissioner of Education. Casselius stepped down in January after eight years at the helm of Minnesota schools, when Minnesota’s newly elected governor Tim Walz chose a new commissioner. Minnesota ranks 13th in the nation in school performance, as based on the National Assessment for Educational Performance, and is tops in the Midwest.

Michigan ranks in the bottom third of states in most subjects and most grades.

On April 24, the State Board will select those who will become finalists. Those finalists will come in for a public interview on May 7, after which the State Board is expected to select Michigan’s next State Superintendent.

“We wanted to make sure we had a lot of different perspectives,” Casandra Ulbrich, president of the State Board of Education, said in a news release. “This has been a very open, transparent, and inclusive process.”

Melancholic Tulip, 1938, by André Kertész, © Estate of André Kertész/Higher Pictures

André Kertész (1894-1985) brought a fresh eye along with his own perception of time and place to the art of photography. He worked intuitively – from the heart – most often without preconceived notions of the outcome of his photographs. His attention to light and composition was unique in his time.

Recently the Detroit Institute of Arts opened the exhibition An Intuitive Eye: André Kertész Photographs 1914-1969, which celebrates the artist’s work from over five decades.  The exhibition, drawn primarily from the DIA’s permanent collection, surveys his long and impressive career with 60 black-and-white photographs taken in Hungary, Paris and New York.

André Kertész was born in Budapest, Hungary, and obtained his first camera at the age of eighteen. He frequently photographed in his native countryside, and found meaningful subject matter in the landscape and among local farmers, family and friends. During World War I (1914-18) Kertész joined the Hungarian army and continued to take photographs, although he did not depict the horrors of war and instead made casual photographs of fellow soliders.  The DIA is fortunate to have a selection of these early photographs which are on loan from the Museum of Art at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Shadows of the Eiffel Tower, Paris, 1929, by André Kertész © Estate of André Kertész/Higher Pictures

But Kertész is largely known for his photographic work made in Paris in the 1920s and 1930s. Looking to prove himself as a serious photographer, he moved to the city in 1925. There he captured famous artists, writers and other creative individuals he met, but he became best known for his photographs of the city, mostly made on foot while he wandered around in neighborhoods, parks and other public spaces as a solitary observer. Kertész found great success in Paris. His workwas  included in exhibitions and was published frequently in magazines.

Melancholic Tulip, 1938, by André Kertész © Estate of André Kertész/Higher Pictures

In 1936, Kertész moved with his wife, Elizabeth, to New York. He made the  photograph Melancholic Tulip just two years after their arrival around 1938. Using distortion mirrors, a technique he had experimented with in Paris, he created it as a self-portrait representative of his disillusionment over a stalled photographic career and difficult transition to life in America. Although he only intended to stay in the U.S. for a short time, the outbreak of World War II made his return to Paris impossible.  It was a difficult period for the artist, and he had problems making professional connections in New York.

Washington Square, New York, 1954, by André Kertész, © Estate of André Kertész/Higher Pictures

Eventually he signed a contract with House and Garden magazine, to photograph interiors and architecture from 1947-62. His personal work diminished, but the DIA has a few photographs from these years including photographs of Washington Square Park, a frequent and familiar subject that he captured from the height of his 12th floor New York City apartment. It was not until he retired from the magazine in the early 1960s that he returned to his personal work with a renewed enthusiasm. He also finally achieved recognition that had alluded him for years when a renewed interest in his work led to international exhibitions and publications.

Just in time for the holidays, An Intuitive Eye: André Kertész Photographs 1914-69 is now on view in the Albert and Peggy de Salle Gallery of Photography and will run through April 10, 2011. The exhibition is free with museum admission.

DETROIT - Michigan State Police are investigating a nonfatal shooting that happened around 3:30 a.m. Saturday. 

Inkster police received a call from a man who reported he was shot in one of his legs by an unknown person while driving near Avondale Street and Middlebelt Road.

MSP detectives responded to the scene to investigate the shooting. Evidence gathered at the scene does not match up with the victim's story, police said. 

The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.  Detectives are still working to solve the case.

Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

Tyson Ross finally pitched at Comerica Park — and certainly enjoyed his new surroundings.

Ross pitched seven impressive innings, and the Detroit Tigers extended their winning streak to five with a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

DETROIT, MI – APRIL 7: Tyson Ross #38 of the Detroit Tigers pitches during the first inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park on April 7, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Ross signed with the Tigers in the offseason, and Comerica was the last current ballpark he hadn’t pitched in. The 31-year-old right-hander allowed a run and five hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.

“It feels good,” he said. “Beautiful mound out there. It was nice to be out there for the first time and have such great defense behind me.”

DETROIT, MI – APRIL 7: Tyson Ross #38 of the Detroit Tigers warm up prior to the start of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park on April 7, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Rookie outfielder Christin Stewart, whose grand slam lifted Detroit to a win Saturday, drove in two more runs to help the Tigers complete a three-game sweep of their first home series. Joe Jimenez pitched the eighth for Detroit and Shane Greene finished. Greene has saves in all seven victories this season for the Tigers and has not blown any.

With two outs in the ninth and a man on base, center fielder Niko Goodrum ended the game with a diving catch. Greene became the first pitcher since saves became an official stat in 1969 to earn seven in his team’s first 10 games.

Ross (1-1) and the Detroit relievers got plenty of help from their fielders. Catcher John Hicks threw out both Billy Hamilton and Whit Merrifield trying to steal.

DETROIT, MI – APRIL 7: Tyson Ross #38 of the Detroit Tigers warm up prior to the start of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park on April 7, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Brad Keller (1-1) allowed three runs in six innings for the Royals, who have dropped six in a row. Because of off days, Keller was starting for the third time in his team’s first eight games.

DETROIT, MI – APRIL 7: Brad Keller #56 of the Kansas City Royals warms up prior to the start of the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 7, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

“Going into the second inning, he was like 45 pitches before we got an out,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. “But he got it settled down a little bit, and was able to give us a good, strong six in that situation. I thought he threw the ball extremely well, too.”

Merrifield and Hamilton had three hits each for Kansas City. Merrifield extended his hitting streak to 28 games dating to last season. He’s just two shy of George Brett’s franchise record.

Merrifield led off the game with a double and eventually scored on Alex Gordon’s one-out groundout. Stewart tied it in the second with an RBI triple, and the Tigers took the lead when he scored on Gordon Beckham’s double play grounder.

DETROIT, MI – APRIL 7: Alex Gordon #4 of the Kansas City Royals grounds out scoring Whit Merrifield during the first inning of the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 7, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Stewart added an RBI single in the sixth.

CHANCES

The Royals had two on with one out in the third and didn’t score, and they had men on first and third with one out in the eighth and came up empty again. Merrifield was caught stealing second in the eighth.

The speedy Royals were 6 for 7 on stolen base attempts before going 2 for 4 on Sunday.

“It’s just part of who we are. It’s our identity as a team,” Merrifield said. “The goal is to be more successful than not.”

STARTING STRONG

Remarkably, Ross was the first starter for Detroit credited with a win this season — even though the Tigers’ rotation has a 2.02 ERA through 10 games.

“It is about throwing the ball over the plate and catching the ball. We’ve been doing a pretty nice job of that,” Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Our catcher threw out a couple guys — none bigger than one of the last ones — and our starting pitcher threw the ball over, really attacked, gave us another great performance out there.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Hamilton stole second base in the third inning, but he paid a price when the throw hit him in the left arm, and his head appeared to crash into the glove of Detroit’s Josh Harrison. Both players were a bit shaken up but remained in the game.

Tigers: Detroit reinstated RHP Drew VerHagen (right shoulder) from the 10-day injured list to replace LHP Matt Moore, who went on the IL with a right knee injury.

UP NEXT

Royals: Kansas City returns home to face Seattle. RHP Homer Bailey (0-0) starts for the Royals on Monday night against RHP Felix Hernandez (1-0).

Tigers: Detroit has Monday off before hosting a series with Cleveland. Jordan Zimmermann (0-0) takes the mound Tuesday for the Tigers against Corey Kluber (0-2).

© 2019 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.