After exploring the exhibits at the prestigious GITEX Global technology and artificial intelligence exhibition and the Expand North Star startup conference in Dubai, experts from BBC Science Focus highlighted several intriguing and practical innovations that may soon hit the market.
Flying Taxi with an Autonomous Car Included
Imagine a docking with a four-wheeled vehicle. It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie rather than everyday life. Yet, this is precisely the concept presented by the Chinese company Guangzhou Automobile Group, which has unveiled the GOVY AirCab.
This electric aircraft, designed for urban air transport and tourism, features vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. It lands on an autonomous ground chassis that resembles a futuristic car. Thus, the vehicle can operate as both a ground and air taxi.
The company has already conducted test flights and is currently applying for safety certification for the GOVY AirCab. A public demonstration of the model is expected by the end of next year, with production slated to begin within the next two years. According to the developers, this innovative taxi could appear in other countries within five years.
Spider Silk That Heals
Did you know that is stronger than steel? Plus, it’s eco-friendly. Captivated by its advantages, the Latvian biotechnology company PrintyMed has developed synthetic spider silk. This material is produced in laboratory conditions, mimicking the natural spinning process. The result is remarkably strong, flexible, and biocompatible fibers (meaning they are not harmful to living tissues).
In collaboration with the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, the development team created proteins from which the silk threads are spun, drawing inspiration from spiders weaving their webs.
This eco-friendly material can be produced on a large scale. The inventors plan to use it for medical applications, such as creating durable, thromboresistant heart valves and wound dressings that promote faster healing.
PrintyMed is already working on developing artificial organs and tissue scaffolds using synthetic silk. In the future, this invention may help address the global shortage of organs for transplantation.
Smart Contact Lens That Replaces Screens
The high-tech company XPANCEO from the UAE aims to create the world’s first truly smart contact lens: a device that could one day replace , smartwatches, and glasses.
“Modern computers are bulky. They harm health and the planet. We need a single universal interface,” said co-founder Roman Axelrod. He believes that contact lenses could serve as this ideal interface.
It’s still hard to imagine how a weightless, invisible lens could integrate all gadgets into one, while also featuring capabilities like real-time biosensing, health monitoring, night vision, and zoom.
The company plans to have a fully integrated prototype by the end of next year—a monochrome display capable of showing simple data and measuring biological signals from the eye.
Interactive 3D Holograms
Real holograms are still considered the stuff of science fiction. However, the Australian company Voxon is gradually turning fiction into reality with its VLED technology, which allows for the creation of live three-dimensional images that float in the air.
Unlike flat 3D projections, Voxon’s volumetric displays consist of millions of points of light suspended in space, creating 360-degree images. These images can be viewed from all angles as you walk around them.
For example, the Voxon VX2 is a desktop device that generates holograms using a rapidly rotating LED matrix. In this device, which resembles a large inverted glowing flask, you can see anything from medical scans and molecular models to game characters and architectural designs.
High-Tech Dog House Protector
Leaving your outside a store or in the car may soon become inconvenient and even embarrassing. Every dog owner will likely want to invest in a smart dog house developed by the Serbian startup Smartsy. This innovative shelter provides pets with a secure space featuring climate control.
The elegant Smartsy houses come equipped with automatic security locks, real-time video surveillance, and sound- and thermal-insulated walls to ensure that dogs feel calm and comfortable. The super dog house also includes a ventilation system and a UV lamp for sterilizing the interior space.
