If CES is good for anything, it's good for Graphic Novel Inspiration

As you probably already know if you are reading this blog, it was originally intended to showcase my graphic novel which is a neo-noir futuristic thriller. It's dark and very Blade Runner like in a not so distant future. To keep things interesting while I work on the story and art (which can take years) I post some of the latest or future technologies that can and do appear in my graphic novel.

This year, CES has outperformed to supply us with future tech. These interesting images are of their futuristic self driving cars. You can bet I'm going to include one of these in my story.

The R.E.A.D. (Real-time Emotion Adaptive Driving) system tracks passengers' state of mind by monitoring facial expressions, heartbeat and other bio-markers. Then it optimizes the cabin to influence you in the direction of a better mood, using lighting, audio, climate control, aromatherapy and even seat vibration.

Kia at CES 2019(Credit: C.C. Weiss/New Atlas)

All of this is great news if you are terrified of the sun and birds. Take a look at this bizarre video showcasing the cars mood altering capability.

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Two Hands Are Better Than One

So, here's a thing made by a company called Youbionic. Things are getting weird now. This is a quote from their site. " This is the first wearable robotic devices that will evolve the human race in a something new, to turn the Native Human to Augmented Human." I would say you are right on that statement.

I am sitting here racking my brain trying to think of what I would use this for... and, I mean the obvious would be if you needed to lift something heavy or pull something larger than yourself. Maybe, something with a pole or maybe push a car stuck in the mud. But, there is a fundamental problem here. No matter how much you push, pull or lift, you are still limited by the users own strength, because it's attached to a human arm. Right? I guess if you covered it in velvet it might be a fun sex toy.

You can check out the video below to see it in action for yourself.

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WE MAY NOT HAVE FLYING CARS YET BUT WE ARE GETTING CARS THAT WALK

Welcome to 2019 the year when science fiction becomes reality. Oh, wait, it kinda already is. 

Who knew that the company that brought us the Hyundai Excel in 1986 for under $5000 new, would develop a concept car that has legs.

The Hyundai Elevate is a blend of car, robot, and Mars rover as a machine for first responders, off-roading and explorers. 

A normal car or 4 x 4 truck would get stuck at the edge of an accident site of collapsed buildings, cars and debris. The Elevate can climb over and walk to the area in need of assistance. 

Hyundai says that, with its CRADLE modular platform, the main body that sits on top of the walking wheels and drive train can be exchanged for different options, including an autonomous option directed by AI. They have a taxi concept that can climb stairs to an entrance of a building, allowing a disabled person to exit closer to their front door.

Check out the video below to see all of the possibilities. 

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It's 2019, but we're not getting flying cars until 2020

Flying taxi's seem to be the motivation for us to take to the air and Uber might just do it with this new Bell NEXUS aircraft. 

There are so many vehicle concepts already for this type of service, and Bell has just dropped another one at CES in Las Vegas. The newly unveiled Nexus is a look at future transportation that we have been following for some time. This aircraft is an all electric, tilting six-rotor design to take off vertically and propel itself through the air carrying up to 4 passengers.

Bell has it's sights on having this Air Taxi in flight over several major cities sometime in 2020. Check out the video below to see the model at CES.

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Big Ass Robot!

A year ago VICE founder Suroosh Alvi recently traveled to Gunpo, South Korea, to try out the Method 2 prototype, a hulking manned robot made by Hankook Mirae Technology. Weighing in at over one and a half tons, and standing 13 feet tall, the Method 2 looks like something out of science fiction. 

Specifically, this exoskeleton robot looks like something you’ve seen in a movie, and that’s by design: Hankook Mirae Chairman Yang Jin-Ho and his team collaborated with a Hollywood designer to make the Method-2.

Jin-Ho spent $200 million of his own money on the project, and claims his creation is the world’s first manned bipedal robot. 

The robot is designed to mimic hand and arm movements, and is suspended by two metal cabals in the ceiling to keep it balanced.

So far the Method-2 is only used for fun, but its creator envisions it will play a critical role in future crises. 

“It’s more likely it’ll be used in fires and disaster relief situations,” Jin-Ho said. “But also find application in military operations.” Check out the video below!

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NASA'S COMPLETE MEDIA LIBRARY IS FREE!

Yes, you read that correctly.

NASA just made their entire media library free to use without copyright. It includes their entire collection of images, sounds, and video all searchable by subject here. More than 140,000 photos and other resources available for you to download and use it any way you choose.

This is an amazing resource if you are an artist, filmmaker, sculptor, historian, writer or just enjoy space exploration.

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The Hexa Multi Rotor Electric Aircraft is here!

Promoted as "THE WORLD'S FIRST ALL ELECTRIC, PERSONAL FLYING MACHINE." The Hexa sure looks interesting and very different from other Personal Flying Machines. This comes to us from a company called Lift Aircraft out of Austin Texas

DISTRIBUTED ELECTRIC PROPULSION

Eighteen independent electric motors and propellers are the only moving parts needed for perfectly stable, controlled flight. 

AMPHIBIOUS

Four perimeter floats provide stability while a large central float provides buoyancy for safe water landings.

SIMPLE TO FLY


A triply redundant autopilot computer with a single, 3-axis joystick is all that is needed to fly. Or tap on the seven inch touchscreen in "Look mom, no hands!" mode.

Check out the video below to see for yourself.

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