MAROKO133 Eksklusif ai: China to sink servers off Shanghai in world’s first commercial und

📌 MAROKO133 Eksklusif ai: China to sink servers off Shanghai in world’s first comm

A Chinese company is preparing to submerge a capsule of servers in the sea off Shanghai in mid-October. The project aims to curb the huge energy costs of traditional data centers and marks one of the world’s first commercial services of its kind.

The world’s websites and apps rely on physical servers. Artificial intelligence has accelerated demand, creating an urgent need for more efficient infrastructure. Data centers on land use energy-heavy cooling systems. By contrast, ocean currents can naturally regulate the temperature of submerged servers.

“Underwater operations have inherent advantages,” said Yang Ye of maritime equipment firm Highlander, which is developing the Shanghai pod with state-owned builders.

Workers have finished constructing the large yellow capsule on a wharf near Shanghai. Once submerged, it will serve clients including China Telecom and a state-owned AI computing company.

Microsoft trialed a similar idea off Scotland in 2018 but never went commercial. In China, the project is part of a government push to cut the carbon footprint of data facilities.

“Underwater facilities can save around 90 per cent of energy consumption for cooling,” said Yang, Highlander’s vice-president.

Powered by renewable energy

Government subsidies are fueling these ventures. Highlander received 40 million yuan (US$5.62 million) for a 2022 project in Hainan, which is still operating.

The Shanghai pod was built in components onshore before being readied for installation at sea. It will draw most of its power from nearby offshore wind farms. Highlander says over 95 per cent of its energy will come from renewable sources.

Zhou Jun, an engineer on the Shanghai project, admitted the build posed challenges. “The actual completion of the underwater data center involved greater construction challenges than initially expected,” he said.

Protecting servers from seawater is critical. Highlander uses a steel capsule coated with glass flakes to resist corrosion. An elevator will connect the underwater pod to a section above water, allowing crews to perform maintenance.

Environmental and technical risks

Experts warn of environmental risks. Heat released by underwater data centers could disturb marine ecosystems.

“The heat emitted could in some cases attract certain species while driving away others,” said Andrew Want, a marine ecologist at the University of Hull, as quoted by SCMP. “These are unknowns at this point – there’s not sufficient research being conducted yet.”

Highlander cited a 2020 assessment of its test project near Zhuhai, which found surrounding water temperatures stayed well below thresholds. But experts say scaling up operations could magnify thermal effects.

“For megawatt-scale data centers underwater, the thermal pollution problem needs to be studied more carefully,” said Shaolei Ren from the University of California, Riverside.

Ren also noted practical hurdles. Laying internet connections between offshore servers and land is more complex than for traditional centers. Researchers in the US and Japan have even warned of vulnerabilities to sound-wave attacks under water.

Despite the hurdles, Ren believes subsea facilities may find a role. “They’re probably not going to replace existing traditional data centers, but can provide service to some niche segments,” he said.

🔗 Sumber: interestingengineering.com

📌 MAROKO133 Breaking ai: Self-driving military vehicle that can conduct high-risk

A new type of autonomous military vehicle is all set to be developed. BAE Systems and Forterra have joined hands to rapidly prototype an autonomous Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV).

The partnership is aimed at developing a highly survivable, self-driving AMPV prototype at speeds that rapidly outpace traditional development cycles.

The plan is to showcase the capability option and its technologies in 2026.

Broad autonomous mission capabilities

“This partnership isn’t about buzzwords – it’s about rolling up our sleeves and presenting tangible options that empower the Army to maintain its dominance on any battlefield against any current or emerging threat,” said Bill Sheehy, Ground Maneuver product line director for BAE Systems.

“Bringing together two of the best in both worlds—to include combat vehicle production and autonomous technology development—means we can move faster, think bigger, and give soldiers the edge they deserve.”

Forterra, a Maryland-based company, provides broad autonomous mission capabilities with an interoperable mobile platform designed to enable seamless integration of diverse payloads to support a wide range of missions.

Modular approach to enhance next-generation systems

Using a modular open systems and collaborative approach to enhance next-generation systems being fielded to soldiers today, this capability kit will feature Forterra’s AutoDrive full-stack autonomous vehicle system on the modular chassis of the AMPV.

Last month, the U.S. Army had also selected Forterra to support the agency’s plan to prove out autonomy for Unmanned Systems (UxS).

With this, the U.S. Army seeks to acquire an autonomous solution capable of operating across all Operational Design Domains (ODD) to meet future combat demands.

The company claims that it integrates a common autonomy stack across every mission system, ensuring seamless interoperability.

Designed for extensibility and integration, Forterra’s autonomy stack allows vehicles to operate independently or as part of a connected, resilient force.

This combination of robust autonomy with seamless communications and networking ensures Forterra-equipped platforms can adapt to the evolving complexity of modern battlefields.

AutoDrive is a pathway to stronger networks

“Forterra designs and develops its technologies with the most complex challenges in mind,” said Forterra Vice President of Defense Growth, Patrick Acox.

“AutoDrive is a pathway to stronger networks and smarter operations, providing the necessary infrastructure to support the AMPV capability kit. Working with BAE Systems to build an integrated AMPV will be another breakthrough that becomes a stronger shield for national security.”

This technology-forward approach is not limited to one combat vehicle family – it’s also compatible with other modern systems fighting in the U.S. Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Team today, including the Bradley A4 and the M109A7 Paladin Self-Propelled Howitzer, according to a press release.

The AMPV is the U.S. Army’s program to replace the Vietnam War-era and legacy M113 Family of Vehicles.

The program is essential to the future of the Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) and will fulfill the Army’s strategy of protection, mobility, reliability, and interoperability.

The AMPV will be integrated with the ABCT and is required to operate alongside the M1 Abrams tank and the M2 Bradley, according to BAE Systems.

🔗 Sumber: interestingengineering.com