Remote-controlled airplanes are nothing new, but Dipper, created by researchers at ETH Zurich, is a flying machine that not only takes to the skies, but is capable of to diving from the air directly into water. To reduce water resistance, Dipper folds its wings into laminated carbon fiber. Will there eventually be drones you can buy that do this? Most certainly, and we hope sooner than later. Read more to see it in-action and for additional information.
Eugeni Quitllet has revealed GalaXsea, a proposed solar-powered sailboat that can be 3D-printed directly in space. He envisions it as a place where space visitors, artists, and scientists alike can embrace the future, all the while surrounded by the great expanse of the unknown and immersed in a unique spatial experience to awaken the senses. Read more for a video and additional information.
Oppo’s all-new 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 technology is set to make its debut on the company’s upcoming Reno Ace smartphone, and it’s capable of fully recharging a 4000mAh battery from 1% to 100% in a mere 27 minutes, and top off the battery in just 30 minutes. This technology is made possible with Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors, complete with five different safety measures throughout the wire, adapter, and handset. Read more for a video demonstration and additional information.
Photo credit: Behance via Car Scoops
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world’s oldest active sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since 1923 near the town of Le Mans, France and often called the “Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency”. It’s only a matter of time before we see an all-electric version of this race, as it represents one leg of the Triple Crown of Motorsport; other events being the Indianapolis 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix. The Mercedes Vision Mantilla concept is what one future electric Le Mans racer might look like. Read more for additional pictures and information.
Sony unveiled a massive new 16K Crystal LED screen earlier this year, and now, this massive 63-foot display system will soon be available for home installations. Don’t need all that screen? The system is completely modular, which means you can shrink the setup down to 16-foot 4K to the commercial-sized 63-foot 16K. The systems are all based on micro-LED technology, but unlike OLED, each one of these modules measure 16×18 inches in size at 360 x 360 resolution with three tiny LEDs per pixel that produce 1,000 nit of brightness even though they are nearly half the width of a human hair. Read more
Always wanted a single pen that was able to write in any color? If so, then look no further than the Artera Pen. It utilizes an integrated scanner on the non-writing end of the pen to scan just about any colored surface, while an integrated microprocessor detects the exact combination of cyan, magenta, yellow, black or white dyes needed to reproduce it. Read more for a hands-on video and additional information.
Photo credit: The Verge
If you love flip phones, and only need the most essential functions, then you might want to check out the Nokia 2720 Flip. In addition to integrated AI technology and familiar flip-phone design that combines simplicity and reliability in a durable device, the 2720 also comes with WhatsApp and Facebook pre-installed on KaiOS to make sure you’re connected to what matters. Read more for a hands-on video and additional information.
MIT engineers have created the blackest ever material, or to be more specific 10 times blacker than anything that has previously been reported. The yet to be named material is made from carbon nanotubes that were grown on the surface of aluminum foil. Why? The chlorine-etched aluminum foil captures more than 99.96% of any incoming light, making it the darkest on record. Read more for a video and additional information.
Many already know that Vantablack, developed by Surrey NanoSystems in the United Kingdom, is the darkest substances known, absorbing up to 99.96% of visible light. We covered the BMW X6 that was covered in Vantablack a couple weeks ago, but now, this material has been put to the test against LiDAR at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Read more to see what happened.
Projection mapping is nothing new, but what if the technology was used on a full-sized ice rink? That’s exactly what this company specializes in and ice is a perfect surface to work with for projections because the material reflects light and images perfectly. Plus, typical professional ice rink surfaces measure 200’ x 85’, which means lots of canvas to work with, and just enough detail on its surface to allow is to create some incredible 3D effects, like scenes from Game of Thrones. Read more for a video and additional information.