Boeing Transonic Wing Concept

Supersonic concepts and on-demand people-carrying drones have been getting most of the headlines, but most real-world flights still take place in the transonic range. Which makes this Transonic Truss-Braced Wing concept from Boeing arguably a bigger deal. Created in collaboration with NASA, the folding wings measure 170 feet, a span made possible by trusses that support the added length. As a result, they are far more efficient than the wings found on current commercial planes and are optimized for a cruising speed of Mach 0.80, or roughly 614 mph.

Apple Watch Pod Case

The 6th-generation iPod nano was a small, squarish device people strapped to their wrist and wore like a watch. In many ways, it was the precursor to the Apple Watch, which makes this Pod Case its functional opposite. Designed by C.O. Design Labs for Caseology, this concept takes the Series 4 and wraps it in an iPod-shaped case, complete with a (non-working) scroll wheel. While it obviously puts a damper on fitness tracking, the watch's screen, scroll wheel, and side button are still accessible, making it a functional, potentially wireless-enabled modern day iPod. The case has yet to launch but is said to be coming soon.

Photos: Joyce Kang

Magic UX Smartphone Interface Concept

Moving between real-life objects on a desk is easy. Moving between apps can be a chore. The Magic UX concept interface lets you pin apps to specific areas, and move between them just like you would sheets of paper on a table. To do so, you just move the device itself back and forth, dragging any content you might want to use in the next app with you as you go. Developed by UK-based consultants Special Projects, it's still a concept, but it's such an intriguingly simple idea we wouldn't be surprised to see it make an appearance in a future official OS release.

TouchCal Scientific Calculator Concept

It looks like an app. That's on purpose. Drawing inspiration from smartphones, Gavin Rea's TouchCal is a concept design that brings the scientific calculator out of the '90s and into the future. Physical buttons at the bottom retain the tactile experience preferred by frequent users, but cover only basic functions, while more advanced options are presented on the color touchscreen on a context-specific basis. As a result, it provides the best of old and new, all hidden behind a protective cover that doubles as a kickstand.

Audi Patrone Police Drone

Thankfully still just a concept, the Audi Patrone Police Drone offers a look at the potential future of law enforcement. It has an aerodynamic body meant to be more stable than competing drones, with a mix of propeller and jet propulsion moving it through the air. An onboard camera would allow officers to control it via VR, allowing them to maintain a presence in communities without needing boots on the ground.

Rolls-Royce Engine Maintenance Robots

Jet engine maintenance can be expensive and slow, thanks to their closed nature and the need to take the engine off the aircraft completely to perform some tasks. Rolls-Royce's Engine Maintenance Robots envision a future where that's not necessary. Developed in collaboration with the University of Nottingham and Harvard University, they include a set of collaborative Swarm robots that measure just 10mm in diameter and go inside the engine, sending live video back to the mechanics and speeding up inspections. They get inside the engine via snake-like Flare robots that travel through the engine like an endoscope and are helped by permanent periscope robots named Inspect. Finally, a remote boreblending robot would allow a maintenance team to install it inside the engine, then hand over operation to remote specialists who could then perform more complex maintenance tasks.

Boeing Hypersonic Vehicle Concept

Boeing has been researching hypersonic vehicles for six decades now. Although it's not ready to take off just yet, this Hypersonic Vehicle Concept provides a glimpse of a future that could arrive in as little as 20 years. Capable of traveling Mach 5, it would rely on a turbofan engine at takeoff, switching to a ramjet at altitudes as high as 95,000 feet. As a result, it could make the trip from New York to Tokyo in around two hours, making our already small world that much smaller.

D-Mask Smart Diving Mask Concept

Most diving gear looks much as it did decades ago. The D-Mask is a forward-thinking look at a more elegant solution. Created by Chinese designer DDG, the full-face design secures below the mouth and above the forehead, providing a 180-degree field of view. There's a transparent screen that lets you overlay information like depth, water temperature, and weather, and an attachment point on the side is compatible with both snorkels and oxygen tanks. Finally, a light and camera are built in, and a bone conduction headset lets you hear communication from the surface or listen to music as you explore.

Bosch Anti-Slip Motorcycle Jet Thrusters

Whether you're carrying too much speed or hit some loose gravel or leaves, there's little that can save your bike from a slide when it starts to go down. Bosch Anti-Slip Motorcycle Jet Thrusters aim to fix that. Still in the concept phase, the system would detect sideways wheel slip, then activate an airbag-like gas accumulator, vented through a nozzle, which acts like an invisible hand to right the motorcycle. Given the added complexity and single-use nature of the system, it's likely to appear first on high-end bikes, but no production launch is planned at this time.

UberAir

Forget ridesharing — flightsharing might be the future. UberAIR is the company's initiative to move beyond the road and into the sky. The service, scheduled for launch in Dallas and Los Angeles by 2023 with the first flights occurring years before, will use vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft to carry passengers on-demand from place to place. Not meant to replace traditional airlines, the system is instead being designed for distances of 50-100 miles, just long enough to make a car ride unsavory but short enough to make conventional air travel not worth the hassle and expense. While autonomous flight is the obvious goal, human pilots will be relied upon when the service first comes online, and the company is currently seeking an International city to serve as its third trial partner.

MIT SoFi Robotic Fish

Created by MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, the SoFi Robotic Fish is a groundbreaking new way to study marine life. Controlled from afar by a diver using acoustic commands, it uses a hydraulic motor to move from side-to-side, mimicking the movement of real fish. A pair of side fins and a buoyancy control unit let it move in all three dimensions, while onboard cameras allow it to capture footage in places and proximity that would be impossible for a human.

Revolve Collapsible Wheel

Most recent mobility concepts have their sights on the sky. The Revolve Collapsible Wheel is firmly rooted to the ground. Created by Andrea Mocellin with an aim to be the first truly modular wheel, it is compatible with most bicycles and wheelchairs, yet occupies 60% less space when folded than a traditional wheel. A sturdy aluminum frame and airless tire give it longevity, but perhaps most impressively, it's usable even when folded, opening the door to possibilities like a scooter that unfolds to become a full-sized bike when needed.

Instrumentum Concept Tools

We've all done it: spent more time looking for a tool than it took to do the job. These Instrumentum Concept Tools aim to solve this with design. By giving your most-used tools — a hammer, flat-head, and Phillips screwdrivers — a pleasing, minimal form, you're encouraged to keep them handy instead of hidden away in a toolbox. Each tool consists of a handle and neck/tool end, each made from forged steel and given a black oxide finish for added durability.

Space X BFR Earth to Earth Service

Elon Musk has his eyes set on using the BFR — short for "Big F*cking Rocket" — to colonize the Moon and eventually Mars. It might just get used here on our home planet, too. Space X BFR Earth to Earth Service is a plan to use those same rockets to move people between cities with remarkable speed. To travel, you board a boat (or Hyperloop, we presume) that takes you to a loading platform. Enter the rocket, get buckled in, and you blast off into low-Earth orbit. The passenger section breaks away from the main thruster, with the former heading off towards its destination and the latter heading back to its origin, both landing vertically using the same techniques developed for their current rocket fleet. At its peak, the ships would reach speeds of roughly 18,000 mph, meaning most common long-range trips, such as London to NYC, can be completed in under 30 minutes, and you can reach anywhere in the world in under an hour.

Instagif DIY Camera

Part camera, part handheld factory, the Instagif DIY Camera is an interesting photographic concept. Designed by Abhishek and inspired by the classic Polaroid OneStep, this one-off project is powered by a pair of Raspberry Pis, batteries, and a lot of ingenuity. The result is a camera that can snap a GIF, transfer it to a "cartridge" consisting of a screen and battery, and eject it just like an old Polaroid, letting you instantly hold your moving photo in your hands.