We’ve all seen flying cars in the movies. At the just-concluded BEYOND Expo 2023, they are a reality. The three-day Beyond Expo brought together hundreds of professionals, entrepreneurs and academics at the Venetian Macao, with three component conferences looking at the impact of technology on our planet, our daily lives and our bodies.
It also showcased tech pioneers in the field of transport, who proudly displayed driverless machines that can take to the sky, land, and ocean. Here are five that Macao News was particularly taken with.
1. The flying car of your dreams
A 5-meter long, two-seater vehicle model from XPENG AEROHT, this sleek machine is made of carbon fiber, making the body lightweight and reducing the energy needed to keep it airborne. Although the product is still in the “research and testing stage”, the product could be brought to market as early as 2025, a company representative told Macao News at the expo.
2. Aerial vehicles to the rescue
Pilots are superfluous when it comes to these two flying machines designed by EHang, a leading company in the world of autonomous aerial vehicles. They are controlled by AI, adopting intelligent navigation technology and visual positioning that aims to help to make flying and landing more accurate and safe. The Chinese manufacturer claims to have the world’s first electric passenger-grade autonomous aerial vehicle. It is hoped that they can be applied not only for everyday transport but also in emergency situations that might be too risky or difficult for human rescuers.
3. All aboard the robot minibus
An unmanned minibus from QCraft with a capacity of eight people was on display during the three days of BEYOND Expo 2023. On top of this minibus, the company also manufactures electric autobuses that can carry up to 30 people. QCraft told Macao News that one of the biggest challenges of making a large autonomous vehicle is that blind spots are larger and vehicles consequently require a more developed sensor system.
[See more: What you need to know before purchasing an electric or hybrid vehicle]
4. A driverless vehicle that’s already in commercial use
The “BUS ME” vehicle is one of the autonomous vehicles at the expo that have already entered commercial service. The 11-seater vehicle is being used in several schools and some tourist spots in China. The CEO and founder of BUS ME, Lei Wei, told Macao News that the vehicle has enough energy for a day of driving, and can go up to 100 kilometres an hour.
5. Automated uncrewed vessels
The Chinese company Xiaotun Intelligence showed off both the remote control and the turbo models of its unmanned vessels at the Macau exhibition. Users can set a designated route for the vessels to navigate in the ocean, and people on the ground also have the option to manipulate the craft through a remote control. Right now, Xiaotun’s craft are used for patrolling, but there could be other applications such as deep sea exploration and ecology studies.
