The tech industry is all about innovation, and some exhibitors at CES this week will be able to show off their creativity more than others thanks to the accolades they’ve earned in the show’s annual competition.
The CES Innovation Awards recognize top design and engineering in consumer technology. Winners and “Best of Innovation” winners submit their products and services for judging. Awards are divided into 28 product categories, including artificial intelligence, fitness and sports, digital health, robotics and streaming.
According to programming company Consumer Technology Association, this year’s awards program had a record number of entries, with more than 2,100 applicants. The best innovation products include the first public blockchain voting app, an improved OLED screen, and an inflatable tent with power generation capabilities.
Here are some of the key innovations at CES 2023.
waste of cutting water
ACWA Robotics takes the top spot in the smart city category for its efforts to improve drinking water. The company’s Clean Water Pathfinder is an autonomous robot that helps reduce water waste by identifying poor conditions in urban water utility systems. Shaped like a Star Wars lightsaber, the robot sits inside a pipe and provides data that helps create a digital twin that can optimize investments in a city’s water infrastructure without impacting water distribution.
driverless tractor
Heavy equipment manufacturer John Deere received an award for best innovation in robotics for autonomous tractors. The vehicle utilizes GPS guidance, stereo cameras, sensors and AI technology to cultivate fields without an operator in the driver’s seat. The tractor is cloud-connected and can be managed with a smartphone app.
John Deere CEO John May spoke about the new technology during his keynote at The Venetian Expo on Thursday morning, just before the show floor doors opened to attendees at 10am.
“John Deere is more than just a manufacturing company, it has quickly become one of the world’s leading robotics and AI companies,” May said in his speech. “Our solutions leverage technologies such as computer vision, advanced sensing and computing, machine learning, and data analytics to help farmers do more with their limited resources.”
help
With more and more people using ride-hailing services, Bosch has developed a security dashcam specifically for drivers. This includes cameras inside and outside the vehicle and a wireless SOS button that the driver presses to activate an emergency call to his 24/7 call center at Bosch. The system won the Best Innovation Award in the Automotive Entertainment and Safety category.
transparent tv
If you’ve ever wanted to camouflage your TV when you’re not using it, check out LG Electronics’ innovative winner of video displays. The company has unveiled a transparent TV that can mirror your surroundings and display graphics that match your home’s aesthetics. The TV consists of a combination of glass and wood to create a unique screen. Also, opaque mode allows users to watch TV or display images on other screens.
“When the TV is off, it’s black, but there’s usually nothing black in[your]house, so it gets a lot of attention in the house,” said an LG booth attendant. Ace declined to reveal his last name.
Secure voting on blockchain
Billed as the first public blockchain voting app, zkVoting provides voter confidentiality without revealing identity or voting details while ensuring accurate voting results. This mobile app was named Best Innovation in Cybersecurity and Personal Privacy. Developed by his Zkrypto Inc. of Hanyang University in South Korea, the app uses “zero-knowledge proof” technology.
McKenna Ross is a member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. Please contact her at mross@reviewjournal.com. Follow @mckenna_ross_ on Twitter.
