2023 Tech Trends: The Possibilities of Flying Taxis and Satellite Phones

About Flying Taxis and Satellite Phones

About Flying Taxis and Satellite Phones

The most powerful laser on Earth was used in an experiment at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California on December 5 at 1:03 a.m. A fuel capsule the size of a peppercorn was the target of the laser, which caused the same fusion reaction that drives the sun to occur. 

The National Ignition Facility has conducted this type of experiment before, however this time the energy output was higher than the laser input. 

Although fusion reactors are still a long way from being a useful source of power, this experiment's success shows that the underlying physics is sound. According to LLNL Director Kim Budil, "this represents a big step toward a clean energy source that may revolutionise the planet."

Fusion energy is a potential source of clean and virtually limitless electricity, but achieving it has proven to be difficult. However, there has been some recent progress in the field, including the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in the US achieving fusion and First Light Fusion in the UK confirming that it had achieved fusion using a novel method of creating fusion conditions by firing a small aluminum disc at high speeds at a specially designed target containing fuel. 

First Light is planning to start work on a much bigger reactor, called Machine 4, in 2023, which it hopes will be able to produce more energy than was put in. In the US, the government plans to announce in early 2023 which private company will receive $50 million in funding to build a pilot fusion plant with the goal of having a working reactor by the early 2030s.

The private business that will get $50 million (£40 million) in financing to construct a prototype fusion reactor will be revealed by the US government. By the beginning of the 2030s, a functional reactor is anticipated. The future of aviation Imagine a plane with helicopter-like takeoff and landing capabilities, but without the noise, cost, or emissions.

That is the goal of companies creating aircraft known as eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles). Numerous companies throughout the world are wagering there is a demand for these vehicles because they are made for brief trips with a small number of people.

As their electric motors are less expensive to operate and maintain than helicopter engines, they contend that eVTOL aircraft can lower the cost of flying.   Additionally, they ache their aircraft are quiet and emissions-free.

One company aiming to compete in this emerging market is Vertical Aerospace, located in Bristol. It launched its VX4 for the first time this year. It was tied to the ground during the maiden flight and merely hovered for 10 minutes. However, the first test flights in 2023 will mark the start of genuine development. From vertical takeoff through forward flight, the aircraft will travel at greater heights and greater speeds. Around the middle of this decade, certification for the VX4 to transport passengers is the goal.

Numerous other eVTOL firms that are testing planes are competing with Vertical Aerospace. The German company Volocopter intends to test the VoloCity variant in open air next year.

In order to establish services in Singapore, Paris, and Rome, it plans to have the aircraft authorised in 2024. Lilium intends to construct the first production model of their eVTOL also in 2019.

Lilium, a German company, has tested five prototype planes since 2017. Lilium employs 30 electric jets that can be angled collectively to switch between forward flight and vertical lift in place of rotors that Vertical Aerospace and Volocopter use. Obtaining clearance from aviation regulators is the major obstacle for all of these initiatives. This is a demanding, pricey procedure that can take years.

Are all notspots gone now? There are some places, even in developed nations, where it is hard for users to receive a signal that is strong enough for their mobile phones. You have a vast, untapped market when you combine them with the billions of people who live in the poorest and most isolated areas of the world and have absolutely no signal.

The Texas-based AST SpaceMobile intends to fill that hole in the market for mobile phones. It has been working on technology that would allow a mobile phone to connect directly to a satellite in order to make calls or consume data at 5G speeds, and it has the support of some of the largest names in the mobile phone business, including AT&T and Vodafone. There is a test satellite in low-Earth orbit right now, but in 2023 it plans to launch five more satellites.

When 100 satellites are in place, which may not happen until 2024, they will be able to provide sporadic coverage with a constant worldwide service. Instead of directly selling services to clients, AST partners with phone service providers to offer its satellite coverage as an additional choice. Elon Musk's Starlink, a satellite internet provider, will face competition from it.

For such service to connect to the broadband, a tiny satellite dish is needed. What is Starlink by Elon Musk? AST anticipates that the ease of connecting for a fair price with just a phone will be a major selling point.

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