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Dec 28, 2023 • 4 min read

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Apple Watch Dispute:

Apple Watch models, including the Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, are back in U.S. stores and online after a federal appeals court temporarily halted an import ban. The dispute, involving a patent infringement claim by Masimo and Cercacor Laboratories over blood oxygen tracking technology, led to an initial ban by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).
However, following the Biden administration's decision to uphold the ITC order, Apple successfully appealed for a temporary block on the ban. Masimo accused Apple of infringing its patent, leading to the ITC's October 2022 order to ban certain foreign-made Apple Watch models. In response, Apple filed lawsuits against Masimo for infringing its patents with a similar smartwatch.
The U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Katherine Tai, upheld the ITC's decision after careful consideration, but Apple's emergency request to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit led to the temporary stay of this exclusion order. The controversy centers around the Apple Watch Blood Oxygen app, which allows users to measure blood oxygen levels directly from the wrist.
This feature, though available only in certain regions, is a significant aspect of Apple’s health and wellness offerings. The court's decision enables Apple to resume sales of its latest watch models, including the blood oxygen feature, just in time for the new year.

DARPA Vertical Takeoff Project:

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is collaborating with Aurora Flight Sciences, Bell Textron, Northrop Grumman, and Piasecki Aircraft Corp. on the SPRINT program (Speed and Runway Independent Technologies). The aim is to create a vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft capable of speeds far exceeding the V-22 Osprey, mainly for use in areas lacking traditional runways.
The initial contracts, valued between $15 million and $20 million, target the completion of design and prototyping, with the first flight anticipated by spring 2027. DARPA's specific requirement for the SPRINT aircraft is a forward flight speed between 400 and 450 knots (460 to 520 mph), significantly surpassing the Osprey's 270 knots. The program emphasizes high speed, stable hovering, a seamless transition between hovering and forward flight, and an effective distributed power system.
Concept designs so far suggest a variety of approaches. Aurora, a Boeing subsidiary, proposes a fan-in-wing aircraft with a blended wing body for forward flight and embedded lift fans for vertical lift. The current phase, lasting six months, involves conceptual design, with DARPA to evaluate and potentially narrow down contenders by May 2024. The program envisions a wide range of applications, including special operations, logistics, medical transport, and personnel recovery.

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