CeramicSpeed Driven Chainless Drivetrain Concept

Traditional chain and derailleur systems have been around for nearly 100 years. In the name of efficiency, the CeramicSpeed Driven scraps them completely. Developed in partnership with the University of Colorado's Mechanical Engineering department, this new system uses 21 CeramicSpeed bearings to transfer torque from the front ring through the drive shaft and onto the 13-speed rear cog. As a result, it eliminates all eight points of friction within a traditional chain drivetrain, reducing friction by 49% and letting the power from every pedal transfer to the road more effectively.

New US Dollar Concept

There are plenty of reasons for Americans to be envious of other countries. One of the easiest to remedy is our bland currency. The work of designer Andrey Avgust, this concept takes the US Dollar in a bold new direction. It tackles every bill in circulation — 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 — and replaces it with one made from multiple layers of transparent polymer. High-resolution graphics on the front and back play off one another thanks to the translucent nature of the material, and a unique PGP encrypted QR code for every bill makes counterfeiting nearly impossible.

Goodyear Oxygene Living Tire Concept

Most "green" automotive innovation is aimed at reducing CO2 emissions. The literally-green Goodyear Oxygene Living Tire Concept actively removes the compound from the air. Thanks to living moss growing within the sidewall, it inhales CO2 while exhaling oxygen via photosynthesis. The moss sits within an open structure that allows it to absorb water from the road and improve traction, and the form is 3D-printed using rubber powder from recycled tires, creating a lightweight, shock-absorbing tire that's puncture-free. In addition, the tire harvests the energy created during photosynthesis, using it to power onboard sensors and a light stip in the sidewall that changes colors to alert surrounding drivers and pedestrians of various maneuvers.

BorromeodeSilva Monocoque Paddle Canoe

Mixing modern materials with old-world craftsmanship, the BorromeodeSilva Monocoque Paddle Canoe is a human-powered transport with the grace of a yacht. Its hull is composed of copper-woven carbon fiber and classic teak wood, hand-laid by artisans in Genoa. Hidden within the streamlined design are places to tuck the oars away, giving the rear of the boat a pair of "fins" similar to those found on vintage Cadillacs. Winner of a Land Rover Born award, the design is currently a one-off, although future production has not been ruled out.

Volt Car-Charging Drone

The advent of electric cars means you no longer need an enormous underground tank of fossil fuels to fill your car. You just need a battery, as the Volt Car-Charging Drone concept shows. Created by Korean designer 92 white, it looks much like other drones until it lands next to your car and you open the lid to access the charging cable. Service requests and payment are handled via an app, with the only limitation being the range of the drone itself.

Bell Helicopter Air Taxi

Someday drones will be ready to whisk us around the sky. Helicopters have been doing it for years, though, so it only makes sense to start autonomous air transport there. The Bell Helicopter Air Taxi is a glimpse into this not-so-far-off future, with seating for four in a connected, streamlined cabin designed to accommodate both work and relaxation. According to the company, the first Air Taxi flights will launch with a pilot in a 1+3 configuration, with full autonomous operation coming thereafter. The cabin is currently on display at CES as part of an augmented reality experience that lets you go through one of several scenarios in which an Air Taxi might be far preferable to traditional ground transportation.

Rolls-Royce Crystal Blue Yacht Concept

Measuring 203 feet long and capable of hosting 12 guests, the Rolls-Royce Crystal Blue Yacht Concept is a look at the future of superyachts. It's powered by a hybrid LNG/Battery SAVe-CUBE system that uses liquid nitrogen gas to run the twin 16V 4000 MTU engines. The bridge has been moved below-deck to provide uninterrupted views for the passengers, with control being handled with sensors, cameras, and displays. The yacht can also hold itself in place with twin azimuthing thrusters and a TT1100 bow thruster, turn automatically with the sun for optimal tanning, and has a safe room where guests and crew can retreat un the event of an unauthorized boarding, override the main controls, and steer the ship remotely. It's joined by the 138-foot, remote-controlled Blue Shadow support vessel that serves as a transport and launching point for the tender, a helipad, and a backup fuel supply, extending the overall range to 4,400 nautical miles.

Teleavia Retro TV Concept

Inspired by the classic Teleavia P111 tube set created by Citroën DS designer Flaminio Bertoni, this Teleavia Retro TV Concept is a dream come true for those tired of hanging boring rectangles on their walls. Its curvy design extends past the white exterior to the screen itself, with corner-hugging curves reminiscent of modern smartphones. A brown leather handle enhances portability, and a simplified remote completes the vintage-leaning package.

HydroHouse

Hydroplane pilots have trouble finding parking spots just like the rest of us. The HydroHouse gives both pilot and plane a place to rest. This concept combines a houseboat and water parking in a single floating structure, crafted from prefab modules that are trucked to its site. Its industrial-style interior includes three bedrooms with one master, a full bathroom, and a combination kitchen/living room. The structure can also double (triple?) as a wharf for boats, and the whole thing is powered by solar panels, with dual electric engines for propulsion.

Tjep Eau Electric Yacht Concept

Drawing cues from both electric cars and the water itself, the Eau Electric Yacht Concept is a stunning vision of the future of high-end aquatic transportation. Developed by Amsterdam-based Tjep, the 63-meter vessel has a sleek design with a ribbed aluminum hull and a droplet-shaped wheelhouse that floats high above the main deck. There's room on board for a swimming pool, helipad, tender storage, and 12 cabins, and its 100% electric propulsion system provides a cruising speed of 25 knots.

Herrera Bladeless Drone

Winner of a 2016 Red Dot Design Concept award, the Bladeless Drone from Mexico's Edgar Herrera takes on the two biggest problems with traditional drones: blades and the noise they create. By using a series of air ducts and vents, it achieves flight without the dangers posed by exposed blades. The main central propeller supports take-off and landing, while the two forward propellers and rear propeller control direction by rotating 20 degrees front-to-back and clockwise or counter-clockwise, respectively, changing their orientation based on the amount on headwind received. No development plans have yet been announced, but based on the advantages it offers, we wouldn't be surprised to see a real-life example built shortly.

Enea Walking Stick

The result of extensive research, the Enea Walking Stick aims to make this medical aid simultaneously more functional and more fashionable. On one end is a three-axis handle that makes it more comfortable to hold and allows the stick to stand on its own or rest securely against a wall. On the other, near the bottom, is a small branch-like extension that's precisely placed to allow the stick to balance on a desk or counter. To keep weight down, the stick is 100% 3D printed using a bone-like porous structure developed in collaboration with Mhox Design and engineering firm Arup.

Moby Mart

It sounds too good to be true: a store on wheels that comes to you. That's exactly what Moby Mart promises. This autonomous, staffless mobile store offers up milk, medicine, clothes, and even electronics on-demand, with an app that not only summons the store but also serves as the checkout. Developed by Wheelys in collaboration with Hefei University and Himalafy, the Moby is also self-powered, relying on solar panels to provide energy for the electric drivetrain, while an integrated air purifier cleans the air around it — making it very eco-friendly. The company estimates that each store will cost under $100,000, and the concept is currently beta testing in Shanghai.

Giant Sequoia Skyscraper Concept

For all their grand height, the roots of the giant sequoia don't go down very far — and thus they fall quickly when the trunk starts to rot. The Giant Sequoia Skyscraper Concept aims to merge architecture with nature, filling in the empty trunks with spaces for education, observation decks, labs, and exhibitions. In addition to providing usable human space inside, the design's central core and the lattice-like exterior attached to the bark would help keep the tree upright long after its roots would have failed.

Photos: Ko Jinhyeuk, Cheong Changwon, Cho Kyuhyung, Choi Sunwoong

Conductive Wallpaper Concept

Nearly every house is built using the same concept: electric runs through wires in the walls, to lights, outlets, and switches. The Conductive Wallpaper Concept does away with this, instead embedding circuitry into wall coverings. Lines of conductive ink run across each panel and are linked together with short strips of metal, terminating in either novel controls or the lights, fans, and other electronics they operate. While it's very much a concept for now, it's not hard to look and see how it could easily be adapted to carry power to your wall-mounted TV or sound system in a far more subtle fashion.

Orion Cycling Navigation

Knowing the route to your destination isn't the only way to help improve your urban cycling experience. Orion Cycling Navigation would help you maximize your efficiency by giving you info on traffic lights as well. Created by designer Clement Dauchy, it displays the direction on a LED ring placed on the outer portion of the disc-like computer, while the inner color e-paper display gives you details like the distance to the next stop light, and how long you have before it changes. As a result, you can time your ride to hit only green lights, limiting your stops and getting you from place to place as quickly as possible.