Four Israeli technology companies were included in TIME magazine’s list of The 100 Best Inventions this year for innovations “that are transforming how we live, work, play, and think about what is conceivable,” the magazine announced Wednesday.
Six Israeli inventions were included in TIME’s 2020 list, and nine inventions the year before.
The list of “groundbreaking technologies” includes COVID-19 vaccinations, a revolutionary pasta shape, waterless haircare products, a toy robot that assists hospitalized children, a smart shoe with a hidden breast pump, and eco-friendly jeans dye.
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The categories included accessibility, artificial intelligence, apps, and software, augmented and virtual reality, beauty, connectivity, consumer electronics, design, education, entertainment, experimental, finance, fitness, food and beverage, home health, household, medical care, outdoors, parenting, productivity, robotics, social good, style, sustainability, toys and games, transportation, travel, wellness and special mentions.
The following are four notable Israeli innovations:
OrCam has been named to TIME’s 100 best inventions list in the category of accessibility.
OrCam Read, is an artificial intelligence-based reading device developed by OrCam Technologies, to assist the blind and visually impaired in reading texts via audio feedback. launched in 2020, OrCam Reader was designed to assist with language processing problems, such as dyslexia. The $1,990 device collects and reads out entire pages of text and computer screens, as well as responds to voice instructions.
The company was selected by the magazine also In 2019 for OrCam MyEye, an artificial intelligence-powered gadget that attaches to the frame of glasses and can detect faces, cash, traffic signs or read out a text or other piece of information from everywhere.
OrCam was founded in 2010 by Amnon Shashua and Ziv Aviram, who also founded auto technology company, Mobileye, which was acquired by Intel Corp. for $15.3 billion in 2017.
Percepto
Percepto, an Israeli drone security company was featured in the category of artificial intelligence.
The company has developed Percepto AIM, a software tool solution that employs drones and robots to automates inspections, emergency response, and security for critical infrastructure and industrial facilities such as power plants, refineries, and mines by utilizing on-site drones and robots.
Percepto collaborating with Boston Dynamics, a US manufacturer of robotics, to develop a fleet of completely autonomous robots and drones for monitoring industrial sites
Founded in 2014 by CEO Dor Abuhasira, Sagi Blonder, Raviv Raz, and Ariel Avital, Percepto’s solutions are used by Fortune 500 companies in more than ten countries, including Italy, and in the United States.
“It is truly an honor to receive this award from TIME, a great and respected media brand for nearly a hundred years,” said Percepto CEO Dor Abuhasira. “Percepto created a new paradigm for industrial facility inspection by integrating AI and autonomous robot management with advanced visual data analysis. Being on this list is a testament to this accomplishment, and we thank the editors and staff at TIME for this recognition.”
SupPlant
SupPlant, an Israeli agtech (agricultural technology) which included in the category of sustainability has develops sensing technology for farming.
founded in 2015 SupPlant, which was , claims to use plant sensing, artificial intelligence, and gathered data to provide producers with irrigation recommendations that help them make more informed decisions. According to the company, its product “dramatically improves water use efficiency” while also increasing yield quantity and quality.
Its most recent endeavor is an irrigation platform aimed at India’s and Sub-Saharan Africa’s 450 million smallholder farmers.
ElectReon
ElectReon, an Israeli wireless “smart road” technology company was listed in the transportation.
Founded in 2013, ElectReon has developed a system for charging electric cars (EVs) while they are in motion on the roads. The wireless charging system utilizes copper coils embedded in the asphalt to transmit energy from the grid to the road and to communicate with approaching automobiles. Receivers are mounted on the vehicles’ floors to transmit energy directly to the engine and battery while the vehicles are in motion, eliminating concerns about limited driving range and battery life.
The company starts cooperation with the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality and the Dan Bus Company to begin commercial deployment of its wireless charging infrastructure for electric buses.
This summer, ElectReon appointed former Israeli President Reuven Rivlin as president, with the goal of “improving the company’s partnership with governments and worldwide enterprises, as well as sharing our actions with global decision-makers.”
ElectReon is now piloting its smart road technology in Germany, France, and Belgium through a variety of partnerships.
In Sweden, ElectReon implemented a 1.65-kilometer (1-mile) electric wires on the 4.1-kilometer (2.5-mile) road connecting the airport and Visby’s town center.
“We are honored by TIME’s recognition of ElectReon’s wireless charging solution as we work to raise awareness about the viability of this technology in increasing fleet owner vehicle efficiency, eliminating fuel costs, and lowering their full lifecycle carbon emissions,” ElectReon CEO Oren Ezer said in a statement. “As we accelerate our global deployments, we envision this technology playing a critical role in expediting the mass transition to total decarbonization.”
