The world has witnessed countless transformative innovations since the invention of the wheel thousands of years ago. Today, modern science and technology have taken the invention game to unprecedented levels. Here is a list of 14 such incredible, futuristic, and useful inventions.
Robotic Surgery System
The Da Vinci Surgical System which uses multiple robotic arms to accurately replicate a surgeon’s hand movements has been a game changer in the healthcare industry worldwide.
A brainchild of the biotechnology company Intuitive Surgical, this system has integrated intelligence with in-built sophisticated mechanisms. It can help surgeons perform the most complicated surgeries with minimal invasion.
Future Car Park
According to the 2023 Global Driver Survey, 92% of respondents highlighted challenges in finding parking spaces. There is a high demand for accurate parking and in-car commerce services.
Hangzhou Future Car Park, a project by Daniel Statham Studio, is a state-of-the-art invention to solve this issue sustainably. It is a fully automated vertical car park hub resembling a futuristic tower. It utilizes a lift and stacking system to park cars.
Rolling Ruler
Tiroler adds a new dimension to the standard measuring tape. This titanium rolling ruler is a cutting-edge tool to measure irregular, curved, or corner surfaces. It’s an infinite loop and infinite extension design gives users creative freedom.
It is so compact that it can fit into a pocket or be worn as a pendant. It also doubles up as a meditation toy.
Reusable Water Filter Straw
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that contaminated water is linked to transmission of several diseases. Moreover, finding pure water can be a hassle for travelers.
The reusable steel filter straw from LifeStraw is designed to eliminate bacteria, parasites, and microplastics from water. It can last up to 1000 liters. This product also features on the ‘The Best Inventions of 2024’ list of www.time.com.
Electric Boat
Electric bikes and cars have already hit the road. However, it is the 100% electric luxury cruiser called ‘Arc One’ that is making waves among water outing lovers. This 500-hp power boat has a speed of 40 mph with zero emissions.
The company has also created an advanced wake boat for water riders.
Hoverbikes
Flying motorbikes are no longer the figment of a sci-fi saga. Hoverbikes are becoming a reality in air transport. They have uses in aerial photography, military surveillance, crisis management, and ground traffic congestion management.
It is estimated that the hoverbike market will grow at a CAGR of 17.38% by 2032.
De-Ice Heating Strips
Flight cancellations and delays during winter cause financial losses to airlines and dissatisfaction among customers. Hot chemicals are sprayed on airplanes to remove the ice. However, this method is time-consuming.
When MIT grad school student Alex Bratianu-Badea experienced this firsthand, he found inspiration to find a sustainable de-ice solution. He developed a high-frequency electric current and chemical-free technology. The de-ice heating stripes made their debut with its first customer Air Canada in 2023.
Wheelchair Fitness
Fitness, entertainment, and mobility are major constraints for wheelchair-bound people. However, ‘Wheely-X’ from South Korea-based tech startup Kangsters is designed to put an end to all these issues. This pioneering product allows wheelchair users to do fitness activities, race, and play games.
Wheely-X featured at the 2024 Paris Olympics to support inclusivity in sports.
Foldable Smartphones
Foldable smartphones are one of the best examples of pushing technological boundaries. They can function as both a phone and a tablet. The two display screens in a single device give a seamless multitasking experience to the users. They are also easy to carry due to better portability design.
It is estimated that the global foldable smartphone market will grow at a CAGR of 14% by 2030 driven by shifting consumer preferences.
Affordable Advanced Satellites
The global communication systems rely heavily on satellites. However, 2.6 billion people in the world lack internet access, primarily due to affordability, accessibility, and usability. Astranis, a space technology company, has built small, powerful, and low-cost satellites for high orbits.
Currently, Astranis has more than 10 satellites connecting millions of people. It plans to launch 100 satellites by 2030 and make broadband internet available to even the remotest areas.
Humanoid Robots
Humanoid robots can perform and behave in an almost human-like manner. They also have super-realistic looks of humans and are considered emotionally intelligent. They are here to be part of the workforce, especially in customer-facing roles.
The humanoid robot Sophia is the world’s first robot citizen and has made several public appearances. KIME robot serves food and beverages at restaurants with less than a 1% possibility of error.
Neural Sleeve
A winner of Fast Company’s ‘2024 Innovation by Design Awards’, Neural Sleeve is a wearable tech product developed by Cionic. People with leg mobility issues can wear it as a giant sock to improve their strength, walking, and motions. The Neural Sleeve provides electrical stimulation at the right time.
It has a sleek and lightweight design for easy comfort. It has a battery life of eight hours.
Rollable Laptop
When Lenovo unveiled its rollable laptop at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in 2023, it created a buzz in the personal devices market. All it needs is a touch of a button and its screen expands a few inches upwards within a few seconds.
It has the look and feel of a regular laptop with the expandability as a cherry on top. It is expected to be a fast-selling product after it hits the stores.
Organ Printing
The organ shortage crisis is worsening worldwide. 17 people die every day waiting for an organ transplant in the United States. In such a scenario, bioprinting is a blessing for mankind.Bioprinting is a 3D printing technology that can produce human organs such as hearts, kidneys, and livers with functional properties of natural tissues in the human body. It is a complex procedure and yet to become mainstream. However, it is expected to be integrated into the healthcare sector within 10 years of timeframe.
