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The 9 coolest technologies that startups are pitching to NASA right now
The key to the Electron's success, the company says, is their new "Rutherford" engine, which is unlike any other in the world. Given that this is the brand behind the revolutionary "cubesat," we're excited to see what this new engine can achieve.
Right now, one of the worst parts of air travel is getting on and off the planes. The aisle is too narrow, and our boarding orders are mathematically absurd. The side slip seat, which would allow planes to temporarily widen aisles during boarding, might make a big difference for passengers and airlines alike. Also, the company claims that they would offer more room in your seat during flight.
Do you remember that awful 2005 film "Stealth"? About the self-guiding fighter plane that becomes self-aware and attacks major landmarks? This was before we all got used to the idea of Predator drones buzzing overhead and blowing up parts of Southwest Asia.
Well, DARPA-funded Qelzal wants to bring us another few steps closer to the "Stealth" world, with "brain inspired" computer vision and guidance systems for planes and drones.
You know how annoying it is that your personal jet can't land in your backyard? Well finally the world of ultra-luxury air travel has entered the 21st Century.
Built from carbon fiber and epoxy, XTI's plane will use three ducted fans set into its air frame to take off and land like a helicopter. Once airborne, they'll jet around at the speeds business demands.
Spektronic is an off-the grid power company. They've built hydrogen fuel cells for a few years now, but now they're ready for the next step: Easy-to-assemble "S.W.A.P" devices that produce hydrogen in a water-fueled reaction and use it to generate power.
If you want a company to remind you you're living in the future, look no further than Deep Space Industries. The startup plans to "industrialize the frontier," stripping asteroids for resource that are hard to get on Earth but exist in abundance in space. One of their proposed targets? Earth's second moon.
Amazon is building tiny little drones to haul packages to your house, and Natilus wants to do the same thing — but on a much larger scale. The company says its drones could haul 200,000-pound payloads at a speed of 300 mph over water.
No, that isn't a monster from the original Doctor Who series. Built to the specifications of an airplane trolley, the Germfalcon will trundle up and down airplan cabins (presumably in between flights), ruining germs' days with its creepy pinkish glow.
Augmented reality isn't just for smartphones anymore. The Daqri helmet offers practical applications: Virtual information overlays while you work and head protection, all in one device.
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