Advanced robots and automation are taking jobs from humans.
2013 has been a fast moving year. We thought we would revisit some of the year’s most notable stories in exponential technology before we dive headlong into 2014. Just keep in min this list is by no means all-inclusive.
Continue reading… “Top 8 stories in exponential technology in 2013”
A sample of the cellular composite material is prepared for testing of its strength properties.
Researchers at MIT have developed a lightweight structure whose tiny blocks can be snapped together much like the bricks of a child’s construction toy. The new material could revolutionize the assembly of airplanes, spacecraft, and even larger structures, such as dikes and levees, according to the researchers.
Continue reading… “Making big things out of small 3D printed pieces”
Atlas
Meet Atlas, a massive humanoid robot was unveiled by DARPA at the headquarters of Boston Dynamics, just outside Boston. Atlas was built by Boston Dynamics for the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC), whose goal is to advance disaster response robotics. The hope is that Atlas is the first step towards the day when robots, not humans, will be sent to help mitigate major catastrophes, such as the Fukushima nuclear accident. (Photos and video)
Continue reading… “DARPA unveils the Atlas DRC robot”
Abe Karem, father of the drone.
Abe Karem, the aerospace engineer behind America’s most successful and most feared military drone said, “I was not the guy who put missiles on the Predator. I just wanted UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) to perform to the same standards of safety, reliability and performance as manned aircraft.”
Continue reading… “Father of the drone continues to pioneer airborne innovations”
Nicknamed “Blade Runner,” South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius competed in the Olympic Games in 2012.
Just how futuristic did things become in 2012? at the Olympic Games we watched a cyborg compete. We marveled at the news that NASA was actually working on a faster-than-light warp drive. 2012 also featured the planet’s first superstorm, the development of an artificial retina — and primates who had their intelligence enhanced with a chip. Here are 16 predictions that came true in 2012.
QuadCopter
War isn’t the only thing drones can be used for. Companies like FedEx are counting the days until drones are admitted to standard US airspace. The FAA will officially allow it starting in 2015, but the drones cannot fly higher than 400 feet above the ground and must be at least five miles away from any airport.
Continue reading… “Personal drones are coming”
Chinese workers go about their chores at a textile factory.
The real estate and infrastructure bubbles are a great concern in China. But these challenges are short term that China may be able to spend its way out of. The real threat to China’s economy is bigger and longer term: its manufacturing bubble.
Continue reading… “The end of China’s manufacturing dominance”
Lego
We’ve seen some pretty awesome Lego creations in the past, including a Volkswagen van, Angry Birds, and even the heart of the Large Hadron Collider. But what about Lego inventions that actually work? Here are some of our favorite, fully functional Lego creations. (pics and videos)
Continue reading… “5 cool Lego inventions that really work”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.