✈️ China’s manned airship AS700 completes its longest flight yet, US achieves superconductor breakthrough, robot bartender at the Texas Rangers' game

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China’s AS700 manned airship, developed domestically, successfully finished its first long-distance, cross-provincial flight.

Covering almost 1,000 kilometers, it set a new record for endurance and range for Chinese-built airships, according to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

Created by AVIC’s Special Vehicle Research Institute, the AS700 is a single-capsule airship designed to carry up to 10 people, including the pilot. For more on this story, check out our Must-Read.

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✈️ China’s manned airship AS700 achieves milestone, completes its longest flight yet

Designed and built by the Special Aircraft Research Institute, a subsidiary of AVIC in Jingmen, the AS700 began research and development in August 2018, with the primary goal of catering to tourist demand for sightseeing air tours.

The aircraft also has the versatility to perform both short-distance flights and vertical take-offs and landings, making it eco-friendly, low-carbon, safe, and economical.

The AS700 started its journey on Tuesday morning from an airport in Jingmen, Hubei Province. It flew over Hunan Province, made two stopovers at local airports, and landed safely in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Wednesday afternoon.

⚛️ US achieves superconductor breakthrough, creates new material for quantum leap

A team of scientists in the United States has achieved a notable milestone in the domain of superconductors. This progress may have considerable consequences for the future of quantum computing.

The research details the development of a novel superconductor material that has the potential to transform quantum computing and potentially function as a “topological superconductor.”

A topological superconductor is a special kind of material that exhibits superconductivity (zero electrical resistance) and also has unique properties related to its shape or topology.

🤖 Robot bartender joins MLB, serves drinks with accuracy, emulates human actions

Innovations in robotics are allowing modern machines to work alongside humans. In this way, a humanoid robot called ADAM is now serving cocktails at the Texas Rangers’ Major League Baseball stadium.

The bartender robot is the first humanoid to join any major league sports arena. Developed by Richtech Robotics, ADAM creates a more efficient workstream so stadium workers can focus on engaging and creating memorable fan experiences.

ADAM uses state-of-the-art AI technology to interact with customers, provide drink recommendations, and adapt to changes in its environment.

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