Most Read This Week: Electric Air Car Funded, Amazon Humanoid Robot in Action

Here are IoT World Today’s most-read stories from the past week: 

Electric Air Car Funded; CycloRotors Replace Propellers

A novel version of technology to fly an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle has received a $22 million investment. 

The funding, from Breeze Invest and Konos Holdings, is intended to further develop the first full-scale prototype of the CycloRotor propulsion system.

Austrian company CycloTech created the flying car, called CruiseUp, by using CycloRotor technology rather than traditional propellers.

The technology allows the vehicle to do sideways and backward flight and mid-air braking without tilting or banking the vehicle.

CycloTech aims to raise funding of $57 million this year to prepare the CycloRotor for certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). 

Read more about CycloTech’s  flying car >>>

Watch Amazon Humanoid Robot Working at Seattle Facility

Amazon shared an update on its humanoid robot deployment at a Seattle facility. 

The retailer is deploying Agility Robotics humanoid robot Digit at its robotics research and development facility just south of Seattle as part of a test project for possible wide-scale rollout. 

At a recent media day, employees and industry members were able to see Digit in action moving containers from one area of the site to another. 

Related:Most Read This Week: Air Taxi Flies Between China Cities in 20 Minutes

Amazon announced it would be deploying Digit at its research facility last October, to “support workplace safety and help Amazon deliver to customers faster.”

“We believe that there is a big opportunity to scale a mobile manipulator solution, such as Digit, which can work collaboratively with employees,” Amazon said in a statement. 

See Digit in operation >>>

Red Bull Drone Matches Speed With Formula One Race Car

Red Bull has debuted the world’s fastest filming drone, a feat the company said takes DIY engineering to the next level.

With top speeds of up to 217 mph, the drone was able to keep up with Formula One driver Max Verstappen for an entire lap, marking the first successful camera drone flight at that speed and duration, all while capturing high-definition video. 

From concept to lift-off, the entire project took about a year to create.

The drone can accelerate twice as fast as an F1 car, reaching 186 mph in four seconds and has a top speed of 217 mph.

See the drone in action >>>

John Deere Launches Automated Tractors, Expands Weed-Sensing Tech

John Deere has unveiled a series of new products in one of its largest launches to date,  including the “autonomy-ready” 9RX series tractors, AI-enabled See & Spray weed sensing technology and S7 Series combines.

The announcement took place at the Commodity Classic trade show in Houston, Texas.

“These products are the direct result of developing solutions in response to our customers’ needs,” said Cory Reed, John Deere’s president of the worldwide agriculture and turf division. “With the combination of these new products, our existing portfolio of equipment and technology solutions, and our world-class network of dealers, John Deere customers are well positioned to be among the most productive, profitable, and sustainable in the world.”

Read more about the product lineup >>>

Humanoid Robot Breaks Walking Speed Record

A humanoid robot has broken the humanoid robot speed record.

Humanoid robot startup Unitree shared a video of its H1 robot breaking the full-size humanoid speed world record at 7.3 mph, beating the previous record of 5.5 mph. 

It can also dance.

H1 was first unveiled last summer, in a video that showed it walking down the street and keeping its balance while being kicked. 

The humanoid robot has 3D lidar sensing and a depth camera enabling it to navigate autonomously through a space. It is nearly 6 feet tall, weighs 100 pounds and has a typical human walking speed of 3.4 mph.

See Unitree’s humanoid robot in action >>>