Technology
News about defense technology, AI, robotics, and innovative systems.
Your next delivery driver flies: Uber and Zipline target a million deliveries a day (video)
Uber and Zipline aim to make a million drone deliveries a day in 2029. Amazon is expanding Prime Air. Flying deliveries are becoming a real service.
Unitree robot smashes a car: robots keep getting stronger, but is that what we want? (video)
Unitree shows a humanoid robot leaping onto cars, landing heavy blows and performing rescues. The technology is increasingly impressive, but how safe do we want such powerful robots to be?
Huawei challenges Nvidia with an AI machine that links 4,096 chips
With the Atlas 960E, Huawei is building an alternative to Nvidia’s AI infrastructure. The system links up to 4,096 AI processors using optical interconnects and liquid cooling.
X-BAT is meant to take off like a rocket and then fly like a jet fighter (video)
Shield AI is building an AI-piloted combat aircraft designed to fly without a runway. The X-BAT combines a jet engine with a vectoring exhaust nozzle and autonomous flight control.
In Shenzhen, police drones simply live on top of the traffic lights (video)
Shenzhen has installed fifty drone stations on traffic-light and camera poles in Futian district. The drones fly out during rush hour and return on their own.
This Chinese robotaxi will cost less than many family cars (video)
Pony.ai wants to bring the cost of a robotaxi below 230,000 yuan. With nearly 2,000 vehicles and an Uber deal for Europe, the Chinese challenger is growing fast.
For 60 dollars, two humanoid robots will come and clean your house (video)
Tau Robotics sends two humanoid robots on cleaning visits for 60 dollars an hour. They vacuum and wipe surfaces, remotely controlled by a human operator.
BYD wants to conquer the world’s oceans: after eight car carriers, possibly ten more (video)
BYD already operates eight large car carriers and is exploring an expansion with ten more ships. The Chinese carmaker wants to control its own global exports.
China tests autonomous air taxis: EHang leads the way in pilotless transport (video)
China is betting on autonomous air taxis. EHang leads the way with the EH216-S, a pilotless electric aircraft for two passengers. How far has the technology come?
BYD drives on three wheels: China turns from copier into inventor (video)
BYD shows its Yangwang driving on three wheels. More than a stunt, the active suspension shows how Chinese carmakers increasingly innovate on their own.
Bizarre: the Tesla Roadster can really fly! (video)
Tesla’s new Roadster actually makes short jumps and aerial manoeuvres using SpaceX thrusters. How does this bizarre technology work, and will it ever reach public roads?
Tesla Roadster gets SpaceX technology: can Musk’s new supercar really hover? (video)
Tesla is set to present its new Roadster with technology from SpaceX. Can the electric supercar really hover? This is what is known.
Chinese self-driving scooter shows how fast autonomous technology is evolving
China has taken another step in autonomous mobility with a self-driving scooter that can balance and navigate on its own…
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Defence This heavy drone lifts a wounded soldier over a minefield (video)
A wounded soldier is in a place that even an uncrewed ground vehicle cannot safely reach. Ukrainian troops choose another route: through the air. According to the units involved, a heavy Gurzuf Defence drone retrieved the soldier from the front.
Defence This combat drone is designed to fly alongside the F-35 (video)
A fighter pilot deploying a team rather than a single aircraft: that is the idea behind Vectis, an uncrewed jet designed to fly independently or alongside an F-35. Lockheed Martin shows what that flying partner is intended to look like.
Defence This Dutch radar spots drones while driving down the road (video)
Spotting a drone from a moving off-road vehicle is exactly what Robin Radar developed IRIS for. A compact rooftop radar scans all around, measures the height of objects and helps identify whether a bird or a drone is flying nearby.
Defence Reliable Robotics is making existing aircraft increasingly autonomous (video)
A cargo plane that taxis out, takes off and lands by itself: Reliable Robotics is working on much more than an ordinary autopilot. It fits the technology into existing aircraft, giving the familiar Cessna a very different role.
Defence The Netherlands wants anti-ship missiles for the Caribbean (video)
Flying low over the waves and recognising a ship: modern anti-ship missiles pack in plenty of technology. The Netherlands wants such weapons for the Caribbean.
Robotics Chinese inventor flies a home-built hoverboard over a river (video)
Chinese maker Ayu shows an electric flying board with ten motors. According to the accompanying text, two smartphones and an AI coach help him learn to fly. What makes this experiment interesting for defence?