Concept / Prototype

Neuralink's brain-computer interface technology is transforming people's lives with mobility challenges. Their latest participant, Alex, a quadriplegic automotive technician, has already demonstrated unprecedented control and adaptability with the Neuralink Link device, paving the way for greater independence and communication abilities.

MIT engineers have developed an ultra-tiny, self-powered battery that could revolutionize the field of miniature robots. This zinc-air battery, just the size of a human hair, generates power by oxidizing zinc using oxygen from the air, providing up to 1 volt of electricity.

Researchers at Peking University have developed the world's first tensor processing unit (TPU) using carbon nanotube transistors, a remarkable achievement in the quest for energy-saving AI hardware. This innovative TPU, boasts high efficiency and low power consumption, showcasing the potential of carbon nanotube technology to revolutionize the future of AI computing.

Concept designer Antonio De Rosa, known for his high quality conceptual designs of possible Apple products, has received a letter from the tech giant’s legal team, informing him that some of his designs seem “too real”, and requesting a discussion about making certain changes to them. Without revealing specifics, De Rosa has said that discussions with Apple’s team are currently underway.

The highly anticipated Cosmic desktop environment has finally launched in alpha version alongside the Pop!_OS 24.04 alpha. The new Linux desktop environment is also available for Arch, Fedora, NixOS, and Serpent OS, with plans for openSUSE and Redox OS launches underway.

Logitech has seemingly killed its 'forever mouse' project which had sparked widespread controversy by suggesting users pay a regular fee to get some kind of updates for their mice, required for said mice to remain usable. The Swiss company now claims via a statement that it never seriously considered releasing such a product; that it was merely an internal exploration of future possibilities.

As Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber announced in an interview, the company is currently testing a particularly durable mouse that will receive permanent updates and could be financed via a subscription model.

Tesla claims it has almost completed the development process of the next-gen Roadster EV, despite nearly seven years having passed since the electric sports car was announced. Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, says the company is still working on additional features, and that the car will be “something special,” adding that it should enter production “next year.”

The most recent test of a Tesla-powered VW Bug built to tackle Pikes Peak sees the lightweight custom EV attack a drag strip with all 738 HP from its dual Tesla Model S P100D motors. After all is said and done, the electric Beetle was able to complete a 1/4-mile in under 11 seconds, with 0-60 mph times of under 3 seconds.

Yesterday, in the Lei Jun Annual Speech 2024, Lei Jun (the Xiaomi CEO) announced the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra prototype as a light-weight high-performance vehicle which is scheduled to enter production in 2025. He also said Xiaomi is aiming to have the fastest 4-door EV in the next 10 years.

Ford appears to be developing a hub-motor driven F-150 Lightning to challenge the Cybertruck's recent rise to popularity. Spy photos of a heavily camouflaged F-150 Lightning reveal what appears to be a set of hub motors and a heavy payload, indicating a possible Lightning Super Duty.

CheckMag Imagine yourself transported back to the 1800s, a time when gas lamps were the primary source of illumination in cities and horse-drawn carriages were at the pinnacle of transportation. Now imagine yourself in the shoes of someone from the 1800s, transported to 2024. How would they view mobile phones, gas-driven motor vehicles and the internet? It would be pure magic! Let’s explore this concept.

Taza Aya, a University of Michigan startup says it has developed an 'invisible mask' technology which kills 99% of pathogens in the air while also keeping out 99.8% of aerosols. The University of Michigan says its effectiveness has been proven by independent third-party testing.

The upcoming Tesla Model Y Juniper refresh has finally made an appearance. The new electric crossover sports similar visual upgrades to the Model 3 Highlands refresh under its bumper camo. It looks like Tesla is finally testing the new Model Y on public roads after it was seemingly postponed.

A Tesla Model Y has been spotted on California's highway 101 with a large LiDAR sensor array mounted to its roof. The bulky hardware suggests that Tesla is conducting testing, either to validate its camera-based self-driving or as part of its engineering efforts for a LiDAR-based robotaxi.

Hyundai has officially teased its next EV, the Inster. Although it didn't give away too many details, what is obvious is that the Inster will be built around the boxy, Korea-exclusive Casper and feature the same retro-inspired pixel lighting scheme as the Ioniq 5. Hyundai also teased that the Inster will have a middling WLTP range of 355 km (ca. 221 miles).

YouTube's resident mobile device destruction expert has plated a Tesla Cybertruck in $60,000 worth of 24 karate gold in his latest video on Tesla's controversial electric pickup truck. The gold electroplating process required moderate disassembly and copious amounts of pink goop.

Stanford Computational Imaging Lab engineers have developed a lightweight, AR glasses prototype. Key to this innovation is an AI-powered display that projects a 3D image through a thin, optical waveguide without using bulky lenses. This opens the door to commercial, holographic AR glasses that are lighter than currently available headsets

A Rivian R1T was recently seen hiding under some camo undergoing cold-weather testing, the purpose of which was unclear at the time. Now, a new report seems to indicate that the electric pickup truck will get a 2025 refresh, with some interesting battery upgrades and downgrades also expected.

Kia's upcoming electric pickup truck has been spotted in the US, giving us a glimpse at what to expect from the Korean carmaker's foray into Ford's home ground. The new Kia EV looks like it has more than a dash of the EV9's styling cues, and, while it has previously been confirmed for a US launch, this is the first time a prototype has been spotted on US soil.

Volkswagen has showcased its latest developments in automotive design at the 2024 Auto China event. The next-gen features are projected to come combined with Level 4 autonomous driving in the upcoming ID. CODE e-SUV. The new range of youth-friendly ID.UX electric vehicles has also been announced during the event.

The new Range Rover EV has gone for a spin on the icy lakes of Sweden. Land Rover has also teased some details of its impressive-sounding in-house motor design and revealed a very familiar design for the upcoming luxury electric SUV.

A ship powered by ABB's Dynafins is expected to be feasible by 2026. A study conducted by ABB together with Ritz Carlton revealed that the propulsion system, which is modeled on the animal kingdom, requires up to 20% less energy and, above all, runs quietly.

System76's COSMIC desktop, designed to run on the Pop!_OS Linux distribution now plays better with Nvidia GPUs, has fully fledged theming capabilities, and as well as a number of exciting third party contributions.

Volvo subsidiary Polestar might have only a fraction of Tesla's market share, but they don't lag behind in terms of design. While not a concept coming directly from the tech company, the Polestar 8 imagined by Turin-based designer Salvatore Ville follows the brand's visual approach and might actually be close to how the yet-unconfirmed electric SUV will end up looking.

Nothing wants the community to collaborate on a custom Community Edition of the Nothing Phone (2a), with four design stages over the span of six months. The tech startup imposes no limitations on submissions, and the community will vote for which ideas get to go through to production.

MIT Self Assembly Lab has prototyped the 4D Knit Dress that achieves perfect fit through heat treatment. Heat shrink fibers are computer woven into a dress, then selectively shrunk and shaped by a robotic arm-mounted heat gun to achieve the perfect fit.