This huge solar airship will tour the globe in 2026

?? You're reading The Vital Component, a breakdown of the week's engineering news delivered to your inbox. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. Let's dive in.

This week's edition of Vital Component highlights major advances across aviation, robotics, and space technology.?

Solar Airship One, a massive solar-powered airship, embarks on a historic zero-emissions journey around the world in 2026. BAE System's lightweight Phasa-35 drone sustains long-endurance flights at high altitudes to provide persistent monitoring. Meanwhile, Tesla's humanoid Optimus robot rapidly improves, showcasing new skills like block sorting and yoga poses.?

We also cover China’s latest hypersonic drone test, atomic clocks with unparalleled accuracy, and robots that run on light. You’ll find all these stories, and more, below.

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MUST KNOW

Around the world with no emissions with Solar Airship One

Solar Airship One, a massive 495 foot long airship, is set to embark on a historic 24,854 mile zero-emission journey around the world in 2026. Powered by the sun and hydrogen, with 4,800 sq meters of solar panels, it will fly day and night with no carbon emissions.?

Piloted by a team including an astronaut, pilot, and adventurer, this innovative project by Euro Airship represents a huge leap towards sustainable aviation through partnerships with companies like Orange and La Poste. Read more

This drone could replace geostationary satellites

BAE Systems successfully tested its fragile, lightweight Phasa-35 drone at 66,000 feet altitude. With a 115 foot wingspan but weighing just 331 pounds (150 kilograms), it's made of carbon fiber and flies using solar panels and lithium batteries.

This pseudo-satellite can hover for weeks to provide intelligence. As an alternative to spy satellites, the military hopes solar-powered high altitude drones like this can provide persistent monitoring and surveillance over remote areas. Read more

Tesla Optimus shows off new robotic skills in latest video

A new video shows Tesla's humanoid TeslaBot rapid progress. It can accurately locate its limbs, dexterously grasp objects, balance, and correct errors - all using Tesla's neural network. Performing yoga poses demonstrates its flexibility and control.

TeslaBot's vision-based block sorting highlights its responsiveness. While not ready for production yet, the robot's rapid progress suggests it could someday handle useful real-world tasks. Read more

WEEK'S MOST IMPORTANT NEWS?

INNOVATION

?? China has allegedly tested a new rotary detonation engined drone According to Chinese media sources, a private-public collaboration has successfully built and tested a rotating detonation-engined drone with hypersonic potential.

?? Life by 2100: Space settlements, education, and the future of warfare Some major changes are expected by 2100, to the point that life will be unrecognizable in many ways.

?? Atomic clocks on the horizon: Unveiling the power of scandium A groundbreaking experiment using an X-ray laser has unlocked the potential of scandium, promising atomic clocks with unparalleled accuracy—1 second in 300 billion years!

SCIENCE

?? Astronomers get 'best glimpse' of hidden cosmic web structures Astronomers have mapped hidden cosmic web structures using the Keck Cosmic Web Imager.

?? How ant brains inspire robots find their way in farmlands The approach could improve the performance of agricultural robots that need to move through dense and plant-filled landscapes.

?? Researchers create novel robots that run on light and radio waves The robot can drive on various surfaces such as concrete or packed soil and carry up to three times its own weight in equipment such as a camera or sensors.

CULTURE

??Sam Altman and Jony Ive in conversation to build AI hardware Former Apple employee and OpenAI CEO are contemplating a potential collaboration to create a hardware device that is allegedly to compete with the Apple iPhone.

?? US Space Force wants to setup a hotline with China It has not breached the topic directly with Chinese counterparts but if the US calls, will China respond?

?? Uber Eats bot shares video with LAPD, privacy concerns rise A delivery bot captured a crime on camera, so Uber Eats shared the footage with the LAPD. This has created privacy concerns in LA.

JOB ALERT

In this section you’ll find the latest jobs as featured on: jobs.interestingengineering.com

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“Solar Airship One will be helping to promote a new form of sustainable mobility.”

Marie-Aude Dubanchet, deputy managing director at La Poste Group

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