🚘 Autonomous flying cars, EVs with 'unlimited' range, child labor in ancient Syria

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Chinese automobile manufacturer Chery unveiled a flying car prototype at this year’s Chery Global Innovation Conference in Anhui, China. The prototype, named ‘Land and Air Vehicle,’ is designed without a steering wheel or accelerator and has fully autonomous driving capabilities.

The futuristic vehicle has already successfully completed a 50-mile test flight. With the newest innovation, the company aims to strengthen its position in the global automotive market. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on jobs.interestingengineering.com:

> Senior Database Automation Engineer
> Sr. Development Data Engineer

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🚘 China’s Chery unveils autonomous flying car, completes 50-mile test flight

Apart from an absent steering wheel, this three-body hybrid-wing flying car is designed without a gas pedal and comprises three components: the aircraft, the intelligent cockpit, and the intelligent chassis.

According to Chery, the flying car can switch between autonomous flying and land driving modes, making it suitable for short-distance commuting in urban areas to help evade traffic congestion. In flying mode, it is capable of vertical takeoff and landing.

In recent years, numerous flying car projects have been announced, mostly by companies based in China. However, only a few have advanced beyond the conceptual stage, and even fewer have been successfully tested with passengers on board. It may take years before such vehicles are put to operational use.

🔋 EV with ‘unlimited’ range tested, car battery’s energy increases as it travels more

A significant advancement has taken place in the EV landscape with a modified electric car. Demonstrated in Latina, Italy, the energy density of the vehicle’s battery reportedly increased as it traveled for six hours.

The demonstration consisted of two Renault Twizy 80 models. One of the models fitted with an E-Cat power generation system showcased stunning performance.

The modified car’s battery had energy density of 62%, which increased to 83% following a continuous six-hour run.

🚘 4,500-year-old fingerprints on pottery hint at child labor in ancient Syria

Fingerprint analysis of pottery from 4,500 years ago, produced in the ancient Syrian town of Tel Hama, has revealed that children as young as seven and eight were employed to make vessels.

The archaeologists further noted that two-thirds of the children who made the vessels were aged around seven. According to them, the period between 2,400 to 2000 BCE shows evidence of the practice of child labor, where minors were trained to make cups as uniformly as possible.

The researchers believe one reason for this could be that drinking cups were in high demand owing to grand fiestas. When broken, the cups needed to be replaced quickly.

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