Energy & Technology

BEIJING: WiMi Hologram Cloud Inc., a leading global hologram augmented reality (AR) technology provider announced a blockchain consensus mechanism based on improved distributed consistency and hash entropy. The consensus mechanism combines the advantages of a distributed consistency algorithm and hash entropy algorithm, aiming to improve the efficiency and security of the blockchain network. It uses an improved distributed consistency algorithm, which can achieve a consistent state for all nodes in the network through message passing and state synchronisation between nodes. The distributed consistency algorithm is efficient, scalable and fault-tolerant, and can effectively solve the performance bottleneck and single-point-of-failure problems that exist in traditional consensus mechanisms. Traditional consensus algorithms are susceptible to attacks and delays in large-scale networks and malicious node environments, and the security and performance of blockchain systems can be improved by utilising the improved distributed consistency algorithm and introducing more efficient message-passing and inter-node communication mechanisms. At the same time, the hash entropy algorithm is introduced to enhance the security of the consensus mechanism. The hash entropy algorithm utilises the principle of cryptography and the characteristics of the hash function to encrypt and verify the transaction data in the blockchain to ensure the integrity and tamper-proof of the data. Hash entropy is an entropy indicator based on the hash function, which is used to assess the security and randomness of the blockchain. By introducing the hash entropy algorithm to improve the randomness and unpredictability of the data, it can effectively resist potential attacks and frauds and improve the security of the blockchain network. The blockchain consensus mechanism based on improved distributed consistency and hash entropy has higher security, scalability and efficiency, and it is believed that it will play an important role in future blockchain applications and provide new ideas and methods for the development of distributed systems. As the blockchain ecosystem continues to evolve, interoperability between different blockchain systems becomes increasingly important. In the future, WiMi will also work on designing mechanisms for cross-chain interoperability to enable seamless connectivity and data sharing between different blockchains. It will also explore ways to further enhance the security of the blockchain system, including resisting various attacks and malicious behaviours, and ensuring the reliability and stability of the system. Through further research and innovation, it is believed that the blockchain consensus mechanism based on improved distributed consistency and hash entropy will be more widely used in the future and contribute to the realisation of a more secure, scalable and sustainable blockchain system. The future blockchain consensus mechanism, based on the integration of the improved distributed consistency algorithm and the principle of hash entropy, will achieve a balance of greater efficiency, security and scalability. This mechanism will not only significantly improve transaction processing speed and reduce energy consumption, but also enhance the network’s ability to resist attacks and ensure data integrity and consistency. It will be widely used in finance, the Internet of Things, supply chain management and other fields to promote the development of the trust economy, build a more robust infrastructure for the digital society, and open a new era of decentralised applications.

TAIPEI: Solomon, a leader in advanced vision and robotics solutions, is excited to announce a collaboration with NVIDIA at COMPUTEX 2024. This collaboration focuses on integrating Solomon’s product offerings with the NVIDIA Isaac robotics platform to enhance Solomon’s 3D robotics vision and augmented intelligence solutions. “We are thrilled to integrate the NVIDIA Isaac platform into our products,” said Solomon CEO, Johnny Chen. “NVIDIA’s advanced AI and robotics tools will enhance our product capabilities in 3D machine vision, robotics control, and augmented intelligence, helping drive greater innovation in industrial automation,” he added. A key highlight of this collaboration is Solomon’s bin-picking system, enhanced by NVIDIA Isaac Manipulator accelerated libraries, which are based on NVIDIA Isaac ROS. It delivers 8 times faster path planning and execution and reduces path singularity occurrences by 50% compared to conventional algorithms. Combined with AccuPick’s advanced image recognition, these advancements enable smaller robot cells without compromising cycle time, essential for efficient bin picking in factories and order picking in logistics centres. The NVIDIA Isaac platform leverages generative AI to offer powerful foundational models for robotics. Solomon will continue to deliver innovative products and applications by incorporating multiple NVIDIA Isaac technologies, with the goal of bringing smarter automation to manufacturing, retail, logistics, and other sectors. “The era of AI robotics has arrived. To meet this demand, NVIDIA is building a full-stack, accelerated robotics platform to enable ecosystem leaders such as Solomon advance deployment of autonomous machines across the world’s largest industries,” said, NVIDIA Vice President of Robotics and Edge Computing, Deepu Talla.

KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Holdings Bhd announced its first-ever Malaysian electric vehicle (EV), Proton e.MAS 7, which marks the beginning of a new chapter in the country’s automotive history. The national automotive company said the e.MAS 7 underscores Proton’s commitment to the Malaysian government’s EV agenda which calls for national carmakers to introduce electric vehicles by 2025. “While the full launch will occur later in the year, the confirmation of the name and preview of this exciting new model highlights Proton’s proactive approach to leading the country’s automotive industry towards a more sustainable future,” Proton said. Since the announcement of the e.MAS brand name and the subsequent introduction of 18 Proton e.MAS outlets in June, the company said that Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (Pro-Net) has now expanded its reach to a total of 29 outlets. Pro-Net, a subsidiary of Proton, aims to have 25 Proton e.MAS showrooms operational before the public launch of the e.MAS 7. “Co-developed with Geely, the Proton e.MAS 7 is a C-segment sports utility vehicle (SUV) designed to cater to the needs of modern lifestyles offering ample space and utility,” it said. According to Proton, the e.MAS 7 has undergone rigorous testing with 700,000 manhours and 10 million kilometres of testing performed to verify its durability and reliability in ensuring that the vehicle is road-ready and safe.

KUALA LUMPUR: Offshore gas production in Southeast Asia is poised to unlock a US$100 billion potential driven by a flurry of planned final investment decisions (FIDs) expected to materialise by 2028. According to global research and energy intelligence company, Rystad Energy, the upcoming period of rapid growth is bolstered by deepwater projects, recent discoveries in Malaysia and Indonesia as well as positive carbon capture and storage (CCS) advancements. “This represents an over double increase of the US$45 billion worth of developments that reached FID from 2014 to 2023 and signals a surge for the region’s offshore gas industry,” it said in a statement. Rystad Energy said oil and gas majors are expected to drive 25% of these planned investments through 2028 while national oil companies (NOCs) will account for a 31% share. Notably, East Asia’s upstream companies are emerging with a 15% share and show potential for growth through their focus on merger and acquisition opportunities and upcoming exploration ventures. “The role of majors could further expand to 27% following TotalEnergies’ substantial acquisition efforts in Malaysia,” Rystad Energy said. Earlier this year, it was reported that TotalEnergies had signed an agreement with OMV to acquire its 50% interest in Malaysian independent gas producer and operator SapuraOMV Upstream Sdn for US$903 million, a move that will increase the French oil and gas major’s presence in the region. “Recent discoveries and the involvement of NOCs will play a vital role in the growth (of new project investments and capital commitments in the region), particularly in deepwater developments, which are pivotal in determining how much of this anticipated US$100 billion boom can be realised, Rystad Energy Vice President of Upstream Research, Prateek Pandey said in the statement. Indonesia stands out in its efforts to accelerate its offshore gas activities driven by major projects, making it a formidable contender for Malaysia’s established dominance in the field. Nevertheless, the research firm said that Malaysia continues to maintain robust activity levels with recent FIDS, exploration success and planned exploration efforts. Malaysia’s upcoming FID projects underscore significant discoveries made since 2020, primarily managed by Petronas, Thailand’s national oil and gas company PTTEP and Shell. — BERNAMA

CHUKAI: Eastern Pacific Industrial Corporation Bhd (EPIC) plans to expand its service network through its subsidiary EPIC Solar Sdn Bhd (ESSB) in the field of solar energy and green technology in Malaysia. ESSB Chairman Dr Mamad Puteh said the plan is in line with the company’s mission and supports Malaysia’s aspiration to achieve the use of 40% renewable energy by 2035. Dr Mamad said that in order to achieve that wish, ESSB has become a pioneer and driver in solar projects on the East Coast with the opening of a 28-hectare solar farm with a capacity of up to 18.5 megawatts (MW) in Teluk Kalong. “The power plant in Teluk Kalong supplies solar energy with a capacity of up to 18.5MW to Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) through the national grid for a period of 21 years until 2039. “It was developed with an investment of around RM80 million in 2017,” he said in a statement in conjunction with a ceremony to celebrate 150,000 Accident-Free Working Hours at the ESSB Solar Farm in Teluk Kalong Industrial Area. Also present were EPIC Group Chief Executive Officer Mukhtar Suhaili and ESSB Company Head Azman Muda. Dr Mamad said that in line with the goal of making Kemaman Port a green port, ESSB also carried out the installation of solar street lights and solar floodlights at the East Wharf terminal. According to him, the installation of street lights and floodlights, which are categorised as support services, are also extended to EPIC’s customers at Kemaman Supply Base (KSB), including Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd. “EPIC has a great desire to make Kemaman Port a green port one day. Facilities based on solar energy generation such as street lights and floodlights will help the operations of not only EPIC’s subsidiaries but also our customers at the wharf and KSB,” he said. In the meantime, Dr Mamad said ESSB has also taken a step forward by producing the EMC Solar Car (ESCAR) which is environmentally friendly. ESCAR innovation is the result of a collaboration between ESSB and Universiti College TATI (UCTAT) in the Kemaman district. Dr Mamad said that initially ESCAR was only used in ESSB’s solar farm, but it was expanded to several premises of the subsidiary, namely Kuala Terengganu Support Base (KPKSB) and Sukna Samudra Sdn Bhd (SSSB). “ESCAR is an innovative light vehicle (buggy) that is usually used in golf clubs, the hospitality industry and tourist areas. “It uses electricity powered by solar energy stored in the battery. One of the advantages of ESCAR is that it can save on electricity,” he added. He further said that ESCAR will be improved in terms of increasing capacity and existing features for commercial purposes in the future. Dr Mamad said ESSB is also developing the ability to become an investor, supplier and installer of solar-powered roofs. Boosted by an experienced and highly skilled workforce, he is confident that ESSB will be a leading competitor in the renewable energy industry and further generate economic resources for Terengganu. — BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR: inDrive, the global ride-hailing service, revealed how artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into every aspect of its ride-hailing app to enhance efficiency and accuracy, lower costs, improve safety and elevate user experience. This integration is pivotal in a rapidly evolving market like Malaysia, where urbanisation and technological advancements are shaping the future of transportation, aligning with the Malaysian government’s initiative to actively promote AI through the National AI Framework and the Malaysia AI Blueprint, with the aim to position the country as a regional leader in AI technology. inDrive differs from many of its competitors in that it adopted a peer-to-peer negotiation model, allowing drivers and passengers to directly negotiate the price for a ride by utilising machine learning in the pricing models to improve the accuracy of the recommended price when customers bid for rides, providing a starting point for negotiation that is fair to both customers and drivers. Using pricing and matching models, inDrive can account for local conditions such as traffic surges, sporting events, and accidents, becoming more accurate in its predictions with more local data collected. These conditions can also affect the number of drivers available and, in turn, customers’ ability to book rides. inDrive uses this information to create heat maps, guiding drivers to hotspots to increase supply where it is needed and better serve its users. “Internally, AI can be used to improve operational efficiency by streamlining processes, for example, during security checks. When a driver wants to register in the app, they must supply several documents, including an Identification Card (IC) and driver’s licence. These are manually and digitally verified by a dedicated team of professionals using different filters, currently testing machine learning-based features to better identify fraudulent documents,” said inDrive Chief Technology and Product Officer (CTPO) Stephen Kruger. Meanwhile, in some countries, inDrive uses a facial recognition tool to validate its users’ identities and machine learning to review users’ profile images and exclude sensitive, potentially dangerous, or commercial content. As inDrive operates in many countries, it adapts to the different laws and regulations, balancing technological advancement with privacy protection and societal well-being on a regional basis. As in many other industries, AI and machine learning are enabling the ride-hailing sector to rapidly evolve in quality, safety, and efficiency, impacting every aspect of the business. The use of AI has transitioned from a futuristic concept to a fundamental component of the present, with its benefits being experienced each time a ride is hailed. On this, inDrive Malaysia Regional Driver Acquisition & Activation Team Lead, Mohamed Khalil says, “As we continue to integrate AI and machine learning to improve our services, inDrive remains committed to enhancing the ride-hailing experience in Malaysia by improving efficiency, safety, and customer satisfaction to benefit both drivers and passengers – paving the way towards transforming the local ride-hailing scene.”

BUTTERWORTH: Gas Malaysia Bhd, a member of MMC Group remains steadfast in its commitment to solidify its position as a provider of innovative energy solutions through its Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technology. The CHP system, also known as cogeneration, generates both electricity and heat from a single fuel source. Gas Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Hashimi Abdul Manap said this technology is particularly beneficial for industrial sector customers who require both electricity and thermal energy such as steam or hot water. “Gas Malaysia Energy Advance Sdn Bhd (GMEA), a joint venture between Gas Malaysia and Tokyo Gas Engineering Solutions Corporation (TGES), is spearheading the CHP business. GMEA operates 3 plants with a combined capacity to generate 41.7MW of electricity, 165 tph of steam and 1,684kW of hot water with a potential to reduce about 72,261 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year,” he said in a statement. Ahmad Hashimi said the CHP system is projected to make a significant contribution to its customers’ sustainability pledge. He said this effort aims to foster a greener future as industries place greater emphasis on adopting environmentally responsible business practices, adding that CHP also contributes towards reducing carbon footprint. — BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) is expected to increase its capital expenditure (capex), particularly in its transmission and distribution division, to accommodate technology companies’ setting up data centre facilities in the Klang Valley and Johor. In a note, Public Investment Bank Bhd (PIVB) said Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) is seen as the prime beneficiary in the telco space, and the thirst for more energy should lead to an unprecedented surge in TNB’s power demand. “We estimate that its partnership with Singtel to establish a greenfield data centre in Iskandar Puteri could potentially result in an earnings uplift of about 24% beyond the financial year 2026 (FY2026). “Hence, a higher tariff would be justifiable to capture adequate return on investment,” it said. PIVB noted that TNB is expected to roll out about RM90 billion in capex for 6 years until 2030 to support energy transition initiatives and system upgrades. It also said more infrastructure development such as power connectivity, internet exchange points, cable landing stations and fibre optic cables is expected to be laid to cater to the expanding information technology (IT) workloads. “Currently, the total IT load in Malaysia is estimated at about 900 megawatts (MW) in 2024, but this is expected to balloon to about 1,400MW by 2029, translating to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8%” it said. PIVB raised the target price (TP) on TNB to RM16 with an ‘outperform’ call from RM13 previously. The investment bank said other beneficiaries from the increased data centre investments in Malaysia include construction sector players such as Gamuda Bhd (TP: RM9.20) and IJM Corporation Bhd (RM4.20) for their track record in securing more data centre jobs. “Their next-generation industrial building system would help shorten the construction period as the speed of deployment is crucial to these data centre operators,” it said. PIVB added that key risks to its recommendation include competition from regional data centres, power and water scarcity, an oversupply condition in the domestic market, and environmental impact due to overconsumption of natural resources, as well as heat and wastewater generation. — BERNAMA