Air Taxi, Bacteria-Powered Lanterns and 4 More Amazing Technologies That Make Cities Better

1. living lanterns

Small French town of Rambouillet launched experiment with street lighting. The mayor's office has signed a contract with Glowee, which produces lanterns based on the bioluminescence process. The principle of their work is based on the ability of the marine bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri to emit a soft turquoise glow. But this superpower is activated only in the natural habitat. To reproduce it, microorganisms are placed in glass tubes with salt water, where food and fresh air enter. To turn off the light, the access of oxygen is blocked: the bacteria become anaerobic, and bioluminescence is interrupted. ‎

The management of Rambouillet invested 100,000 euros in the project. If the experiment is successful, it may cause to the transformation of the system of electrification of public spaces throughout France.

2. air taxi

It seems that the residents of Dubai are ready to change stuffy traffic jams for flights with a breeze. In February, Sheikh Mohammed Ibn Rashid Al Maktoum, Emir of the city and Prime Minister of the UAE,

wrote on Twitter that the government "approved the design of flying taxi stations that will start operating in the city within 3 years." Equip such sites are planned in busy places: near the airport, on the Palm Jumeirah Islands and not far from the Dubai Marina skyscraper district.

Prototype collected at the American aviation company Joby Aviation. Outwardly, it resembles a miniature aircraft with six propellers, thanks to which the air taxi takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter. Such a device can reach speeds of up to 320 km / h and overcome about 240 km without recharging.

3. "Flying" houses

In Japan, they came up with housing that is not afraid of earthquakes. Air Danshin engineers designed active seismic protection system for private houses. The principle of its operation is simple: at the first shocks, the building is separated from its base with the help of a sliding air chamber and rises 2–3 cm above the ground. Due to this, the pressure on the foundation is reduced and the walls do not collapse. When the sensors sense that the shaking has stopped, the house lowers into place.

The success of the Japanese in the construction of earthquake-resistant buildings is explained by necessity. Islands are located at the intersection of two tectonic plates, so earthquakes are not uncommon here. About 100 "flying" houses have already been built in the country.

4. Robot Police

No, it's not about Robocop yet. However, such technologies already exist. For example, in the arsenal of American police there is a pistol that, while chasing an offender, can shoot on it with "bullets" with GPS navigators. And the Boston Dynamics robot dog will be used in New York in dangerous situations for humans, for example, when taking hostages. In South Korea, similar devices are going bring to the streets within the next 30 years. And China plans by 2025 implement artificial intelligence patrols in most of their cities. By the way, the world's first robot, which was accepted into the service of law enforcement agencies, was Russian production. It happened in 2017 in Dubai. It is equipped with a camera that transmits a real-time image to the police station and is able to identify wanted suspects.

Despite the ambitious plans of supporters of robotic police officers, disputes over the ethics of such measures do not subside. For example, opponents are sure that racial discrimination will not disappear. Software used to train machines badly recognizes black people, which means there will be more of them to identify like criminals. And the question of the use of force remains open. Suppose, during protests, robots may spray gas or disperse the crowd with rubber bullets when it is not necessary.

5. City farms

These are converted sea containers in which vegetables, fruits and herbs are grown right in the cities. The advantage of such farming is that in a small space due to the vertical arrangement of the beds, automated lighting and irrigation, you can get a crop all year round. Moreover, products grown in this way greener: pesticides are not used here, and special software helps to save water.

Kimbal Musk, brother of Elon Musk, is considered one of the ambassadors of technological and compact farms. Now his company Square Roots is actively deploying a network of similar installations in the United States. For example, such work in Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky.

In Russia, urban farms too There is. Only in Moscow there are already more of them ten, and the authorities of the capital are even ready to allocate grants to start an eco-business. By the way, polls confirm the trend towards green development of megacities. For example, many Russians considerthat in the future technologies will help improve the ecological situation in cities and make them more comfortable.

6. Vehicles with wireless charging

South Korean engineers were the first to master this technology. In 2013 Olev designed buses that are recharged on the go literally from the asphalt. Energy is transferred by induction through coils installed in the roadway.

Now, many companies and startups are engaged in the development of a wireless system of electric highways. For example, Electron launched nine pilot sites in Israel, Sweden, Germany and Italy. The technology looks not only environmentally friendly, but also commercially viable. If vehicles can be charged while moving, downtime will be reduced, which means the truck will carry more goods and the bus more passengers.