Fed up of losing precious time in traffic? Here are a handful of innovations from VivaTech that could help make you queen of the commute!
Volocopter: Airport transfers without traffic jams
Founded in Germany in 2011, Volocpter is an electric vertical takeoff and landing plane inspired by the drone design. It has a range of 35 kilometres and is marketed as an airport transfer solution. It is still a little early to hail this ride, however, as it won’t be launched in France until the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics. This two-seater model is designed to be flown by a pilot, but long-term, the goal is to make Volocopters fully autonomous to save costs. Volocopter is designed for the mega cities of the world, however, there is clearly demand in any city where there is congestion.
GoRolloe: filter the air as you ride your bike.
Created in 2020, the idea for this UK startup came while the founder was cycling and breathing in the noxious gases and particulate matter of central London. Working out of a studio at the London South Bank University, the team is working on a prototype that would harness the energy of vehicles and capture pollution on Luxembourg’s smoggiest roads. If it hits the ground, it would could be a game-changer for congested areas like central Luxembourg.
The Smart Tire Company: no more punctures!
Using technology developed for NASA-designed vehicles destined for Mars, The Smart Tire Company produces high performance airless tyres for mobility, aerospace, trucking and any kind of transport. Conceived in 2020 as part of the FedTech NASA Startup Program, it is just a matter of time before Andy Schleck will be selling them out of his bike stores.
Jetson: When the commute flies by!
We have personal electric bikes and cars, why not planes? That was the thinking behind the Jetson personal electric aerial vehicle whose motto is to “make everyone a pilot”. The Swedish company behind the vehicle developed a poc in 2018 and is now fine-tuning the consumer-friendly version of the vehicle whose top speed is 102 k/hr. Much smaller than the Volcopter, the Jetson site says that users will be able to take off and land anywhere, though we are guessing it may be tricky from underground car parks!
biped: autonomous movement for the blind
For the blind and visually-impaired who use sounds to find their way around, soundless transport like electric vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians presented challenges. Biped’s smart harness, however, promises to help. Worn on the shoulders, the harness autonomously guides blind people, by acting as their copilot to alert them about obstacles, potential collisions and better understand the environment through navigation instructions and 3D sounds. Created in Switzerland in 2021, it is currently going to market.
