The electric vehicle industry is forever growing and now reaching the aviation world with start-up, Zunum Aero. The Boeing and JetBlue-backed company plans to launch their hybrid electric plane by 2022 flying 12 passengers 500 miles. Ambitious maybe but according to reports, Zunum Aero is well on the way to achieving their goal.
Earlier this month JetSuite signed up as the launch customer for Zunum’s first hybrid electric plane. The Southern California charter air service announced a deal to
What does Uber have in common with NASA and the US Army? Well, nothing really besides the new partnership for developing commercial flying taxis by 2023. The new UberAir service wants to launch electric flying taxis within the next five years and working with NASA and the US Army may just realise those ambitions.
It’s always only a matter of time before countries explore each other’s successes (or failures) and this is no different. Combat drones, powered by advanced technology like artificial intelligence, are the new ‘wingmen’ to Chinese carrier-based fighter jets. Essentially, it appears to be an attempt to compete with the prowess of the United States’ unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs. Some believe that it’s China’s version of the US Navy’s Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS).
According to Shi Wen, chief engineer and designer of China’s Caihong (CH), or Rainbow UAV series, “The joint operations of manned military aircraft, like fighter jets, and UAVs is the drone’s future. We are making efforts to promote artificial intelligence (AI) for UAVs to allow manned aircraft to co-pilot UAVs.”
Construction is a $10 trillion global industry and robots are set to revolutionise the industry by 2020. Productivity in manufacturing, retail and agriculture has grown exponentially since 1945 but it has barely gone up in construction. How will robots be used to increase productivity and if they do, how will it impact the workforce?
One wouldn’t normally associate electric military vehicles with performance and durability but this off-roader is in a class of its own. Late last year Nikola Corp showcased the world’s most advanced electric UTV and recently, the US marines had a go. Electric military vehicles have never looked this good and fun to drive.
Aviation and aerospace technology has been at the forefront since the Concorde but now, there’s this. A supersonic jet that could travel at 1513 km/h (940 mph) considerably shortening commercial flight times. NASA has signed a deal with Lockheed Martin to develop a supersonic “X-plane” that could break the sound barrier but with one major difference – no sonic boom.
Flying cars have been in the news all over the world and competition is rife to produce the first commercial model. Besides finding the perfect balance between road and air capabilities, companies need to contend with legal, safety and regulatory issues. At this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Dutch company PAL-V certainly raised some eyebrows with their road-legal Liberty flying car.
Firmly in the driving seat of innovation, the PAL-V Liberty is set to undergo compliance demonstrations after the Geneva Motor Show. This is the final step in the certification process where we could very well see the world’s first flying car take to the skies as early as 2019.
Transport is changing rapidly at what seems to be on a daily basis. From the Hyperloop One, autonomous ships, self-driving cars to flying taxis and now, a high-performance maglev train. We’ve come so far in the last 5 years alone, it’s hard to imagine what will be next.
Elon Musk has already provided some insights with the Hyperloop One and now it’s time for China to shine. Let’s be honest, they’ve always been known for their impressive railway systems and outrageously fast trains. Their high-speed rail certainly remains one of the most
Naval warfare could be on the brink of a total makeover through cutting-edge technology and innovation. Making waves at the center is the Sea Hunter – a new breed of unmanned, autonomous vessels launched in 2016. It forms part of the DARPA Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) program. DARPA has already completed trials of a prototype unmanned submarine hunter and claims it could lead to a new class military vessel.
Over the last few years the flying taxi has become somewhat crowded with the Ehang 184 being the latest addition. Bell Helicopter, Boeing, Airbus and Intel are all in the advanced stages of their respective autonomous aerial vehicles (AAV’s). Although designs vary, all flying taxis seem built for the same purpose. They transport people autonomously across city environments to overcome pollution, congestion and
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