Photo credit: CNET
There are a host of self-driving cars on the road today, but John Deere wanted to make life easier for farmers with the latest autonomous technology. So, they combined Deere’s 8R tractor, a TruSet-enabled chisel plow, GPS guidance system, and new advanced technologies, to make a fully autonomous version that will be available later this year. It comes equipped with six pairs of stereo cameras, which enables 360° obstacle detection and distance calculation. Read more for two videos and additional information.
Segway’s Ninebot S Self-Balancing Electric Scooter can be safely ridden day or night, and it’s being offered for $474.50 shipped, today only, originally $569.99. To ensure it can handle any kind of terrain, the Ninebot S comes equipped with 10. 5″ pneumatic tires that not only provide a comfortable ride, but can smoothly glide over bumpy roads. Use the knee control bar for more precise steering and easy lifting. Product page. Read more for a hands-on video review and additional information.
UK-based startup Bellwether Industries announced that it has recently completed the first untethered test flights of its two-seat Volar eVTOL prototype in Dubai using a half-scale model. This prototype flew to 13-feet and managed to hit 25 mph. The production model will measure approximately 10.5-feet wide and designed for intracity travel with seating for four to five adults. It will take a few more years of testing before it hits the skies in 2028. Read more for a video, additional pictures and information.
Huawei AI engineer Zhihui Jun has always been intrigued by autonomy, whether it be smart cars or military vehicles. So, he decided to put his passion to work by developing a self-driving bicycle. This electric bicycle, powered by a lithium-ion battery good for 2-3 hours on a single charge, comes equipped with various sensors like LiDAR, accelerometers, and gyroscopes, to help it navigate obstacles as well as stand on its own. Read more for a video and additional information.
At first glance, this may appear to be some type of unmanned watercraft, but it’s actually the Syroco Moonshot #1. The startup behind this unique watercraft hopes to shatter the world sailing speed record of 63.7 mph, set by Paul Larsen in his Vestas Sailrocket 2, by reaching at least 92 mph. It hopes to do this with the help of a pod that glides a few feet above the surface, using foils to keep it grounded to the water, while kites provide propulsion. Read more for two videos, additional pictures and information.
No, this DMV isn’t a place where you take driving tests, but rather the world’s first dual-mode vehicle. This means that it not only functions on the road, but actual railroads as well. This bizarre vehicle made its public debut on Saturday in the Japanese town of Kaiyo in Tokushima Prefecture. Read more for a video and additional information.
Simon has spent the past 3.5-years converting an old sailboat into an off-grid, solar-powered floating home. It started out as a 1976 Wharram Oro 47, which is essentially a Polynesian canoe cat-style boat, that was purchased for around $3900 USD. Next, the diesel engine was replaced with an HP EV AC 12 kW engine, powered by 16 x 330 Watt solar panels (5280 Watts combined), and approximately 20 kW hours of lithium battery power. Read more for a video tour and additional information.
Eviation Aircraft has just revealed the production version of its electric Alice plane with a new executive cabin. The original commuter version boasts a 9-passenger capacity, while this new design seats 6 passengers with wider seats, allowing each to peer out large 16.5-inch-wide windows. That’s not all, the company also unveiled a cargo configuration that sports a temperature-controlled cargo compartment of 450 cubic feet in volume. Read more for two videos, additional pictures and information.
Three inventors from Kentucky, who are farmers by trade, came across old liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage tanks and wanted to put them to good use. So, they decided to turn them into a working submarine. The body structure is composed of two storage tanks, with the larger being the main body, while a section of the smaller one was welded to the top, thus creating a superstructure that provides headroom to occupants. Read more for a video of it in-action and a bonus.
The Q is known for his crazy inventions, like this hubless bicycle, and his latest project is definitely no slouch either. He decided to build a chainless bicycle that can still be ridden normally, without any extra accessories or parts. Typically, a bicycle chain transfers the driving power from the bike’s pedals to its rear wheel for propulsion. Read more to see how this chainless version works.