Electric flying car, innovative household robots impress visitors at IFA Berlin 2024

An array of cutting edge technologies and innovative products have impressed visitors to the IFA Berlin 2024 opened Friday in Berlin, including a flying car and smart household robots.

The electric flying car, presented by Alef Aeronautics, a U.S.-based flying car maker, garnered much attentions at the event. The design of the car aims to enhance travel efficiency while prioritizing energy conservation and environmental protection.

"Our goal is to make world more efficient and to move the world faster and also greener because it's 100-percent electric. So, the goal is to make sure the whole world moves much faster because flying car gets you to the destination in almost all the cases much faster than any other mode of transportation," said Jim Dukhovny, CEO of Alef.

According to Dukhovny, the company has received over 3,000 pre-orders for this car, with production scheduled to begin in 2025 at an initial price of around 300,000 U.S. dollars. During the early stages of production, consumers will have the opportunity to experience this flying car through shared mobility. As production scales up, the price of this car is expected to decrease by around 35,000 U.S. dollars.

Furthermore, Alef has forged a partnership with a company in Hong Kong to make inroads in the Chinese market.

A floor-cleaning robot has also attracted a lot of attention at the event due to its cutting-edge technologies. Unlike traditional floor-cleaning robots that could stuck in obstacles during work, this robot has effectively addressed this issue by incorporating mechanical legs that enable it to stand up and navigate obstacles. This feature allows it to efficiently clean various areas within a household.

"At this IFA, we unveiled several industry-first technologies, such as dual mechanical leg obstacle crossing, dual brush rolls, and anti-tangle for hair. With these cutting-edge technologies, the floor-cleaning robot can truly help people by freeing up their hands," said Chen Yanshou, sales director for Southwest Europe at Dreame, a Chinese consumer product company specializing in smart home cleaning appliances.

Moreover, another robot showcased at the event stands out from most robots on the market. It is a cognitive robot equipped with the ability to hear, see, and perceive, enabled by intelligent data processing systems. This robot can not only handle household tasks but also provide care and attention to individuals at home.

"So, it means that it can stay longer at home that they are feeling safe because the robot is actually able to see your pulse or seeing like if you're falling or whatever. Also, you can have a connection with your relatives through this platform and that's I think the big advantage you have. You feel more safe, you feel also somebody is actually there to care for you," said David Reger, CEO of NEURA Robotics, a German robotic startup.

This year's IFA has brought together over 1,800 global exhibitors, 125 keynote speakers, and more than 182,000 visitors from 139 countries.

Marking the 100th anniversary of IFA, this year's event features global tech giants showcasing their cutting-edge innovations.

Electric flying car, innovative household robots impress visitors at IFA Berlin 2024

Bishan District in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality is setting a new benchmark in urban drainage through its innovative "sponge city" model.

Bishan District was selected in February 2017 as a pilot for climate adaptation, and has developed itself into a sponge city.

By utilizing permeable bricks, the ground is enabled to absorb water more effectively, enhancing natural infiltration. In addition, rain gardens function as natural reservoirs, while school rooftops have been transformed into verdant green spaces.

Overall, this innovative approach not only helps mitigate urban flooding, but also contributes to improving the local microclimate -- an exemplary model of ecological urban development.

"What is a 'sponge city'? It's an urban development concept that treats the city like a giant sponge -- absorbing water when it rains and releasing it when needed. The system is highly flexible," said Tang Chuandong, a planning designer of the Western Branch of the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design.

Over the recent years, Bishan District has developed mini sponge systems.

"Solid buildings and hard ground aren't very adaptable when it comes to climate change. For that reason, we incorporated sunken areas into industrial park designs to create rain gardens -- mini ecological sponge systems," Tang said.

When it rains, water is collected in these gardens and is filtered through vegetation, soil and sand layers before being stored in underground tanks. Multiple small sponge systems beneath large buildings help disperse, manage and store rainwater more effectively. Additionally, Bishan District's sponge city initiative has made the ground more permeable.

"We've laid permeable bricks with a certain porosity. This allows rainwater to seep into the ground, thereby reducing surface water buildup," said Tang.

Tang also highlighted the ecological benefits of transforming school rooftops into lush green spaces.

"Typical rooftops are just bare concrete. But when building a sponge city, like here at the school, aside from the greenery around us, we also green the rooftop. The area most exposed to sunlight is our rooftop, right? We turned the roof into a green sponge system by laying down soil, scattering seeds, and growing grass. It's like giving the rooftop a 'green jacket'. Doesn't it feel cooler?" he said.

"Don't underestimate the small green roof. As the Chinese saying goes, 'No good deed is too small to be done.' One roof may have limited impact, but if many buildings, or an entire city, adopt green roofs, the effect on urban climate regulation could be extremely substantial," said Tang.

China's Chongqing innovates urban drainage with "sponge city" model