From 3D printing to the Internet of Things, 2016 saw several exciting tech and engineering innovations take major strides towards entering the mainstream. 2017 looks likely to be equally exciting for the industry, with a number of potentially groundbreaking applications on the verge of leaving the ideas stage and becoming a reality. Here are a selection of breakthroughs that industry insiders are tipping for big things in the next twelve months.
Driverless Cars
The idea of driverless cars has been gestating in various forms for years, but many experts are predicting that 2017 could be the year that they finally start to establish a presence on our roads. The social and environmental impact of such a breakthrough has the potential to be truly transformative, with a significant reduction in road accidents, congestion and fuel consumption among the expected benefits. In 2016 an estimated 31 million people worldwide were injured as a result of road accidents, including 1.1 million fatalities, the majority of which were due to preventable human error. While issues around security and integration of driverless cars remain, if these hurdles can be shown to be surmountable, we may well look back on 2017 as a watershed for transportation.
Population management for commercial fishing
Overfishing is a major concern for both the food industry and the environment, as popular breeds such as cod, mackerel and tuna face significant population drops due to high demand and inefficient fishing methods. More than half of all the fish that are caught by fishermen are unsuitable for sale and consumption. Many are thrown back into the sea, but a high proportion don't survive the experience.
Back in 2012, engineer Dan Watson received the James Dyson award for SafetyNet, a fishing net designed to prevent young and endangered fish from being caught. Studies have shown that small and medium-sized fish tend to swim upwards when stressed, while larger fish swim downward. SafetyNet features illuminated escape rings on the top side and exploits water flow to guide these fish to safety while retaining the larger specimens. After several years of development, SafetyNet technology is set to go on sale to fisherman for the first time in 2017, while Watson has been invited to deliver a presentation on the topic of overfishing to the directorate-general for maritime affairs and fisheries in the European Union, potentially helping to shape future industry regulation.
Space Exploration and Solar Sail Technology
Officially launched by Yuri Miller and Stephen Hawking in April 2016, the Starshot project aims to send a featherweight robot spacecraft on the 4.37 light year journey to the Alpha Centauri star system in a highly ambitious interstellar voyage. The device will use extremely high-powered lasers to accelerate solar sails on the spacecraft, helping it to achieve approximately one fifth of the speed of light. If successful, the vessel could reach Alpha Centauri in just 20 years. If successful, it could also make exploration of our own solar system much quicker and easier. There are many challenges to overcome before the project can become reality, but the work undertaken in 2017 could open up some exciting possibilities for the future.
Sensor technology and IoT
Already playing a key role in the Internet of Things, embedded sensor technology is likely to continue to be incorporated into a wide variety of public and commercial spaces, processing important information for everything from security to energy efficiency, and allowing for variations such as time of day, temperature and noise patterns. For example,Norwegian start-up - and Premier Farnell partner - FutureHome has achieved great success in Scandinavia with their smart hub gateway, allowing the user to monitor and control all of their smart home appliances through a single user-friendly app. Smart Home Technology company Vivint are also currently marketing a sensor bundle that incorporates security cameras and smart locks with thermostats and garage door control, giving the user total control over their home via a control panel, a mobile app and voice activation through Amazon Echo. As data sharing and communication between different devices becomes more mainstream, the potential applications for embedded sensor technology would appear to be virtually limitless.
Virtual Reality
Perhaps the ultimate marker of 'futuristic' living, 2016 saw virtual reality headsets finally make real progress towards the mass market, with advanced devices being released to consumers by several leading manufacturers. The technology has been developing within the industry for several years, but the rise of open source software is expected to play a key role in moving VR away from big-budget, bespoke systems and into the hands of users who will soon be able to create their own worlds and realities. Twelve months from now, virtual and augmented reality could be accessible to us all, potentially revolutionising the way we interact with the world around us.
What emerging technologies are you most excited about in 2017? Share your thoughts in the comments section below...