Exciting New Technologies that Could be Hitting the World in 2017

Now that 2016 is finally behind us, there’s the saying, “out with the old and in with the new.” However, technology in the second decade of the 21^st century can be a bit confusing since what was about to come out in 2016 could spill over in 2017 or a product can suddenly have a big upgrade.

Regardless, we’re not here to see what products are looming ahead in the next year, or if your hoverboard won’t explode since you bought a ‘made in China’ brand. We’re here to see what exciting new technology in general may hit with an impact in 2017.

Jet Pack International H202

Jet Pack International is making great strides with its H202 and H202-Z jetpacks. As the name suggests, both the H202 and H202-Z are hydrogen peroxide-fueled jetpacks that allow users to fly up to 77 miles per hour at a maximum height of 250 feet. However, the higher-capacity H202-Z is only capable of a maximum flight length of 33 seconds and a maximum travel distance of 3,300 feet. Admittedly, it’s a start and since when was technology successful overnight, anyway?

Aerofex Aero-X

If you’re a Star Wars fan, the Aerofex Aero-X, a real-life equivalent of the Star Wars speeder bike, is definitely something you’ll want to keep your eyes on. The Aero-X is the result of more than 15 years of research and development. It is powered by a water-cooled 240 HP engine and two large rotors. The Aero-X can hover at an altitude of 12 feet and at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. It can even carry up to 310 pounds. Also, as a result of this extended research and development period, Aerofex claims to have overcome the dangerous coupling effect that can arise due to using two rotors, ensuring that the Aero-X will be safe and easy to control.

Prosthetics with a sense of touch

As far back as 2013, Denis Aabo Sorensen had the privilege of testing a new type of prosthetic hand, created by a group of European engineers and scientists. Unlike conventional prosthetics, the new prosthetic hand connects directly to the remaining nerves in Denis’ upper arm. This means that the prosthetic hand has a sense of touch and is actually controllable. Blindfolded tests showed that Denis was indeed able to differentiate between different items such as a bottle, a baseball and a mandarin orange. It could also exert different levels of pressure to touch, hold or grab something.

TALOS “Iron Man” Suit

TALOS stands for Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, a combat suit that the US Army hopes will become a reality within the next year. The TALOS provides ballistic, shock, and fire protection for Special Operations soldiers. The aim is to provide these soldiers with better, more mobile and more versatile protection than what currently exists. The development of the TALOS suit will be a collaborative effort between universities, government agencies, and corporations.