Hydrogen-Powered Motorcycle
The ENV motorcycle can reach speeds of 80 km/h and operates silently using hydrogen fuel. With just 140 grams of hydrogen (priced at $4), this 90 kg motorcycle can travel continuously for 150 km.
The ENV motorcycle, developed over three years by Intelligent Energy, is set to hit the market by the end of 2006.
Airless Tires
The Tweel tire, developed by Michelin in France, consists of a hard rubber layer surrounding a polyurethane wheel. Air is compressed between the rubber and the metal wheel. When the vehicle moves, the air within the polyurethane structure absorbs shock and supports the weight of the vehicle. With this invention, the risk of tire punctures or blowouts during driving, which can lead to traffic accidents, is eliminated.
Self-Driving Personal Car
This personal vehicle, the I-Unit, stands 1.8 m tall and 1 m wide, constructed from biodegradable materials by Toyota, Japan. Notably, the I-Unit runs on electric power, automatically extending when traveling at 40 km/h and retracting at speeds of 5-10 km/h. It is seen as an ideal personal transportation solution for future urban environments due to its eco-friendly design and ability to reduce traffic congestion.
Non-Stop Global Flight
Designed by aerospace expert Burt Rutan (creator of the civilian spacecraft SpaceShipOne), the twin-fuselage aircraft Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer successfully circumnavigated the globe on March 1, 2005, departing from a Kansas airport. It covered over 37,000 km in 57 hours, 2 minutes, and 35 seconds without refueling.
Portable Water Filtration Device
Life Straw is a portable water filtration device developed by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Vestergaard Frandsen. It can purify water from ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams using seven different filtration systems, including mesh, activated carbon, and iodine. The Life Straw can filter up to 700 liters of water and is essential in disaster-stricken areas such as those affected by earthquakes, storms, and floods. Priced at $3, the Life Straw will be available on the market in 2006.
Muscle-Assisting Robot Device
HAL, short for Hybrid Assistive Limb, is a robotic system designed to support human muscles, helping the elderly and those with limb disabilities to walk independently. HAL can also assist healthy individuals in carrying heavy objects across various terrains. The system consists of robotic arms and legs attached to the user’s limbs, controlled by a microprocessor linked to a small computer. Sensors along the robotic limbs respond to user movements, activating the robot’s limbs accordingly. This invention comes from researchers at the University of Tsukuba, Japan.
Home Security Robot Apri Alpha
Developed by Toshiba, Japan, the Apri Alpha robot can recognize the voices of homeowners and family members. If an unfamiliar voice is detected, it will issue questions to verify the identity of the person. If the voice does not match recorded voices, it will alert the nearest police station.
Waterproof Paper
Ecology Coating, a U.S. company, has developed a chemical to produce waterproof paper at a cost 500 times lower than traditional waterproof papers. This new material is a nano-coating that forms a waterproof membrane around each sheet of paper without altering its surface characteristics. Any paper soaked in the coating solution can become waterproof. This innovative technology is set to be widely available by 2006.
Skin-Protecting Bikini
British scientists have invented a bikini named Tan-Timer, featuring a special function. It includes an electronic timer that beeps every 15 minutes to remind sunbathers to change position to avoid sunburn. The Tan-Timer bikini is priced at £20 and is available at New Look stores in the UK.
A Room in a Wheel
An architectural firm in Vienna, Austria, has introduced a unique housing concept. The “tumOn” prototype from AllesWirdGut combines four different living spaces into a single wheel-shaped room. Architects hope this idea will encourage builders to reconsider current housing standards, which they believe have changed little in the last 2,000 years. In the tumOn room, architects arranged four distinct living areas along an axis that wraps into a circle. A person in the room could be sitting in the living room while a dining table hangs overhead on the wall.
Odor-Based Anti-Theft Device
To deter thieves, Tri-dent Triple Action (UK) has created a unique self-defense device. This small spray contains a powder that emits an extremely unpleasant odor.
When the user presses the spray nozzle, an alarm attached to the cap activates, producing a sound at 138 decibels while the powder adheres to the thief’s skin and clothing, making it difficult to wash off. This substance can disorient the thief and provide time for the victim to react. Thieves escaping the Trident Triple Action can be easily identified by their lingering odor, and police, aided by sniffer dogs, will easily locate them. The device is priced at $26.
Dancing Robot
Japanese researchers have developed a robot capable of dancing by predicting the dancer’s movements. The dancing robot, named PBDR, resembles a woman and features sensors around its waist, allowing it to move in all directions on three hidden wheels within its ballroom gown.
As the user dances, the robot analyzes their movements and mimics them using its shoulders, elbows, waist, and neck. PBDR stands 165 cm tall, weighs 100 kg, and comes in red and blue outfits. A male version is currently under development.
Kazuhiro Kosuge, the head of the research team, stated that the robot does not yet have the agility and richness of movement needed to match human dancers. However, it serves as a stepping stone towards another development direction: caregiving robots for the elderly.
