Awesome Prototypes

The prototype of Aston Martin’s topless, V12-powered 2-seater takes to the English countryside as it prepares for more rigorous dynamic testing. Created by the company’s Q division, the sexy 700 hp car pays homage to Aston’s racing traditions. Just 88 will be made, with deliveries starting in 2021. (Thanks Nathan!)

Among the rows of giant televisions and folding computers at CES 2020, Samsung turned up with something we’ve been dreaming of since we were kids – a robotic assistant for your kitchen. The lightweight robot arms attach to the bottom of cabinets, and can download recipes to help with meal prep and assembly.

Industrial designer Chia-Wei shows off a slick prototype for a mini-cruiser skateboard that can be collapsed down into a circular shape when not in use. It uses a series of hinged braces that unfold into a familiar oval skateboard shape with enough strength to be ridden on.

The NiteLanding lamp is a framed map of one of the world’s famous cities. It doubles as a night light, illuminating the structures with LEDs. The end result is a nighttime cityscape. Sign up on their website to be notified when its crowdfunding campaign launches.

Lenovo has unveiled a prototype of its folding ThinkPad X1 touchscreen laptop. It has a 13.3″ 2K OLED display, a sturdy hinge, and batteries that are at the “bottom” half so it stays stable in laptop mode. The final version will come with a Wacom stylus and a keyboard when it drops in 2020.

LEGO is testing a set of special bricks with studs that form Braille symbols. The kit will consist of 250 pieces, which consist of the alphabet, numbers, math symbols and more. LEGO will make it available to select institutions for free by 2020.

Genesis’ Mint is an electric car made for the city. Despite its compact size, it offers a spacious and luxurious interior for two people. Its storage area is accessed via unique scissor doors, and inside it has has a central touchscreen console mounted on its steering wheel.

Volkswagen turned its Atlas family SUV into a trail-ready camping vehicle. The Atlas Basecamp Concept has a custom body, lift kit, custom wheels, all-terrain tires, roof rack with bike mounts, and LED light bars. It also comes with a HIVE EX trailer that has a queen size bed.

Jeep and Mopar’s concept vehicles for the 2019 Easter Jeep Safari include the tent-equipped Gladiator Wayout, the 1980’s Gladiator Rubicon JT Scrambler, and the badass supercharged 700hp Gladiator M-715 Five-Quarter resto-mod.

MIT’s food computers are small robotic gardens that let people control, gather and share data about the conditions of a plant’s growth. Such systems can be built anywhere in the world, greatly accelerating learning and experimentation to improve crop yields.

Audi’s concept for a smaller and more affordable electric SUV. Like the e-tron, the Q4 e-tron has two motors that provide all-wheel drive. There’s a 200hp rear motor and a 100hp rear motor. It goes up to 112 mph and has a range of over 280 mi.

While many carmakers unleashed their biggest guns at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen brought out this silly little number. The ID. Buggy is a modern take on the Meyers Manx buggy. This electric off-roader has a 201 hp motor and has a 155 mi range.

IKEA’s innovative curtain has a mineral-based coating that is activated by both indoor and outdoor light. When activated, it breaks down odor-causing compounds as well as formaldehyde. The coating can be applied to different kinds of textiles. Available in 2020.

Apeel Sciences’ revolutionary coating slows down oxidation and water loss in fruits and vegetables, making food stay fresh for far longer. The non-toxic coating is made from a mixture of pulp, peels, and seeds that is dissolved in water then applied to the skin of produce.

Researchers at UC Berkeley have developed a 3D printing method called Computed Axial Lithography. It projects 2D slices of a 3D model into a cylinder of resin, creating an object in one go. It’s much faster than other 3D printing methods, which deposit material layer by layer.

Robomart is an automated platform that combines food delivery with ride-hailing systems. The idea is to have autonomous vehicles carrying produce or meals roving around, ready for nearby customers to hail them. Stop & Shop will test the system in 2019.

Xiaomi co-founder and president Lin Bin teased the company’s prototype for an OLED phone that folds on both sides. This allows it to transition from a mini tablet to a smartphone with no bezels on the side. It’s certainly impressive, but its palm rejection better be on point.

The Azaris ATV is one of Ferox’s proof-of-concept designs for its technology. Instead of using a drivetrain to deliver power, the Azaris’ engine – it can be gas or electric – pumps a water-based fluid to each of the six wheels, driving their in-wheel motors.

3D printing company BigRep shows us how far the technology has come by creating NERA, an electric motorcycle. With the exception of its electronics, all of the motorcycle’s components were 3D printed. That includes its airless tires, frame, fork and seat.

Orbis’ Ring-Drive wheel can be added to existing gas-powered cars, turning them into hybrid vehicles. For their proof-of-concept, they added two wheels to a Honda Civic Type R, adding a total of 100 hp and 140 lb-ft. of torque.

Astro’s Elroy is a single-passenger electric drone. All you need to do is to enter your destination and it will do the rest, though it also has on-board controls for manual override. It can carry up to 265lb, go up to 44 mph and lasts 25 min per charge.

Someday your entire wall or floor can be a source of light. European scientists are working on a modular tile called Lumentile that looks like an ordinary ceramic but is actually touch-sensitive and has RGB LEDs. Multiple tiles can even be turned into a video display.

Microsoft’s Project xCloud is an upcoming video game streaming service that will allow people to play Xbox One games on their PC, tablets or phones. It will work with the Xbox One controller and supports streaming via 4G connections. Public tests will begin in 2019.