Tech Startups Reach Tech-Giant Level Developments

Emerging Tech Roundup — July 15

The Quantious team’s top picks for timely trending news in the tech world.

This week in tech: Switzerland plans to develop underground autonomous delivery, details of the alleged Apple Car are leaked, a VR-filmed documentary plans to air on HBO Max, NavVis and Magic Leap collaborate to create digital twins, Lightship Energy furthers the development of electric RVs, MeetKai brings users to Times Square in the metaverse and students at SKHU develop Broadway-enhancing AR goggles.

Switzerland Moves Ahead with Underground Autonomous Cargo Delivery

(IEEE Spectrum, July 8)

Switzerland is furthering its efforts to develop underground cargo tubes to transport goods across the country, costing about $35 billion. The transportation system will help lessen the number of deliveries via trucks, and instead use autonomous carts. The Swiss parliament has passed a legal framework for the project to begin in early August.

Analyst Predicts Apple Car Design Goals

(MacRumors, July 11)

With existing rumors of Apple’s self-driving car development in the works, a source has leaked some potential details about what could be included in the model. Some of the features include inward-facing seats for deeper interaction between passengers, a curved ceiling, and an automatic trunk. Apple is allegedly in the midst of working out safety exemptions as they experiment with various self-driving features, and the car is not expected to release for years to come.

VR Documentary We Met in Virtual Reality Will Air on HBO

(VRScout, July 11)

HBO plans to premiere its VR-filmed documentary We Met in Virtual Reality on July 27th. Throughout the film, viewers never meet the characters’ in-real-life bodies and are only entertained by each of their avatars. The movie is 90 minutes long, was filmed during the global lockdown and follows the social relationship building of five personalities in the metaverse.

Navvis, Magic Leap to Leverage Digital Twins

(XR Today, July 12)

NavVis and Magic Leap are collaborating to build digital twins of various “large-scale facilities” such as warehouses and offices. The twins will be available via Magic Leap’s VR headset Magic Leap 2 and can be leveraged to enhance training processes, workplace process testing, mapping, troubleshooting and other use cases.

All-Electric RV Startup Steered by Tesla Alumni

(TechCrunch, July 13)

Startup Lightship Energy has recently received another round of funding of $23 million. The startup is on a mission to increase the range of towing available for RVs via a battery pack, equivalent to that of a Tesla Model 3. The battery pack will “propel the RV” during a tow using the additional energy available. The startup is also researching technology like solar panels on the roofs of RVs to leverage ‘passive charging’.

MeetKai Launches AI-powered Metaverse, Starting with a Billboard in Times Square

(VentureBeat, July 13)

AI startup MeetKai is introducing its metaverse presence in a creative and traditional way, by blending the real world and the digital world together in Times Square. The billboard lives in the real world, and the experience tied to it is still in early stages. Users can scan its QR code to experience and roam around Times Square in the metaverse, and also claim a free NFT gift.

AR Opera Glasses Could Change Broadway Forever

(VRScout, July 13)

Students at South Korean Hongik University have developed a pair of AR goggles, dubbed René, that enhance the experience of Broadway shows. The goggles are capable of directing participants to their seats, increasing and decreasing the volume of the audience or certain cast members, enhancing the visual aspects of a show and more. The technology is actively available for renting via the TKTS ticket office.