Dutch TNO and Airbus go ‘ultra+’ in laser communication
Within a year, secure and accurate laser communication between airplanes and satellites will be possible. This is thanks to a pan-European project called UltraAir.
Mobility
First electric flights in the Netherlands within five years
A number of Dutch airports are going to jointly research regular scheduled flights with electric aircraft within the Netherlands and Europe as a way to connect regions.
One in five flights can be electric (and the rest are being worked on)
City trips and business trips across Europe, island hopping in the Dutch Antilles or just the daily commute to work, it will all be possible in the future with electric aviation.
‘Battery and hydrogen powered planes are the future of intra-EU travel’
A report by Deloitte outlines the feasibility of battery and hydrogen powered aviation as leading way to become climate neutral by 2050.
HORIS: Better protection for pedestrians when using autonomous vehicles
Scientists from three Fraunhofer institutes have worked out a radar sensor system that can use AI to interpret entire traffic scenarios and warn autonomous vehicles of dangers.
The battery as a building block
The 'massless' battery is designed to be not only a source of energy but also a solid structural material. The electrical components are cleverly incorporated into the other materials.
Mercedes-Benz is spraying info on icy roads
Mercedes-Benz drivers may not know it, but thanks to their onboard communication system, they provide valuable information to road authorities about the slippery conditions of roads.
Opibus want to electrify the whole of Africa – one vehicle at a time
The company can retroactively convert any regular vehicle into an electric one and is aiming to tackle Kenyan public transport next.
Leaving the lockdown smarter
The traffic jams and full trains will probably return. But now that we have all learned that things can easily be done in a much smarter way, we, as a society, should stop thinking that's a bad thing.
New early warning system for self-driving cars warns of overly complex situations
A research team at TU Munich has developed a new early warning system for autonomous vehicles that uses AI to learn and warn of situations that require driver intervention.
Drones are now delivering smartphones in Ireland
Autonomous drones are now delivering Samsung products in Ireland via the start-up, Manna. The partnership is the first of its kind.
Automotive industry can no longer ignore solar cars
Solar cars are on the verge of a breakthrough. Such is the conclusion of a research report on solar energy in the automotive industry.
“Green Operation for Future Aviation” – Climate-neutral production of hydrogen aircraft
In Hamburg, scientists are working on an overall concept for the aviation of the future to provide a cost-effective and efficient supply of hydrogen to the Airbus site.
Maybe there is a future for the internal combustion engine after all
Each week, we follow up on a well-read story in this section. This week: will we get a clean combustion engine that runs on gas?
Lightweight and efficient battery thanks to 3D technology and solid-state materials on thin film
The spin off from TNO, LionVolt BV, has promised a 3D solid-state thin film battery that is lighter, safer and more efficient than current lithium batteries.
Triplane catches two birds with one stone
A hybrid airplane (electric-biofuel) that is both a city hopper and a cargo plane is the new kid on the block of emission-free aviation.
Autonomous mobility comes to life in Berlin’s government district
At TU Berlin, researchers are developing AI possibilities for the mobility of the future based on platform economics and are allowing AI applications in autonomous mobility to be experienced.
The dirty road towards a liter of gasoline
Soon, we will no longer refine fuel from crude oil but produce it from clean electricity in places where enough cheap clean energy can be generated.
3D radar sensors enable autonomous driving without blind spots
Fraunhofer IZM researchers have developed 3D radar modules for autonomous driving vehicles that enable 360° all-round vision when integrated into a sensor network
Cleanup of space debris takes flight
A Ukrainian company is building a fleet of recyclable spacecraft for the maintenance and removal of satellites in orbit.