2020-04-02_Science_Illustrated

The Ehang 216 drone is to carry passengers across short

distances in cities where it could effectively bypass traffic jams.

007 is attacked by a villain's
remote-controlled helicopter in
For Your Eyes Only (1981). A similar
technology could contribute to easing
traffic jams in cities. In 2018, the
Ehang company showed the 216
drone, which can carry two
passengers. For safety it includes 16
rotors so that if one set of rotors fails,
the others can still keep the drone in
the air. The flying taxi uses battery-
powered electric motors and has been
tested at speeds of up to 130km/h. On
a touch-screen in the drone cabin, the
passenger enters a route that the
drone follows by GPS. From mission
control, pilots observe the trip via
video and remote-control the drone.

Helicopter attack

drone converted

to upmarket taxi

Robot removes

hazardous fluid

from brain

Thanks to intelligent algorithms,

the NaoTrac robotic surgeon is

more accurate than a human being.

In the film Spectre, a villain threatened

to make a robot drill into James Bond’s

brain and destroy his memory. But

similar technology is helping real patients.

Scientists in Taiwan have developed the NaoTrac

robot that can use an arm controlled by artificial

intelligence to steer instruments into the brain.

The robot can insert a drain to remove liquid –

with an accuracy of down to 2mm. NaoTrac can

also be used for deep brain simulation, by which

doctors stimulate the brain with electrodes to

treat symptoms of Parkinson’s and other

diseases. The robot is under test, and is expected

to be available in just a few years.

VILLAIN

A villain remote-

controlled a (^) heli-
copter with (^007) in
For (^) Yo^ it^ in^
ur (^) Eyes (^) Only ( (^1981) ).

SCANNERS MAP OUT

THE BRAIN IN 3D

1 Doctors make a CT or MRI scan of the patient’s head. The scans show exactly

where liquid has collected in the brain. The

robotic surgeon uses the scan to make a 3D

model of the patient’s brain, calculating the

optimum place to drill and insert a drain.

Brain scan

EHA

NG

LAA

YM

/IM

AGE

SEL

CTE

32 | SCIENCE ILLUSTRATED

TECHNOLOGY JAMES BOND

IN

5

YR

S