Otilia Drăgan
3,812 ARTICLES
A master’s in International Relations, as well as working in online media for more than five years, have given her a deeper perspective on how people everywhere can inspire each other.
Homes on wheels, aircraft or boats, these fresh, sometimes quirky, ideas from all over the world are worth sharing.
World’s First Smart Solar RV Awning Is Here. Ready for Limitless Off-Grid Adventures?
28 Oct 2021, 08:29 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / All RVs need an awning and solar power, so why not combine these two? This simple, ingenious idea led to the creation of Xpanse, a solar awning that boasts about being the first of its kind in the world. And it’s smart, too. You can’...
Europe Wants to Explore the Moon’s Commercial Opportunities in a Sustainable Way
28 Oct 2021, 07:23 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / Who would have thought, decades ago, that the Moon will become an important commercial asset? After the pioneering civilian space trips that took place in 2021, the commercial use of lunar resources is the next step, and Europe wants to make sure t...
First-Ever Hydrogen-Electric Flight Between London and Rotterdam Coming Up in 2024
28 Oct 2021, 06:00 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / Most of the major names in the aerospace industry agree on the fact that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is the short-term solution for green aviation, while hydrogen is the long-term answer, but it looks like a startup will be the first to actuall...
This Off-Grid Trailer Is a Stealthy Mobile Drone Command Center, Also Fully Electric
28 Oct 2021, 05:01 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / It looks like a regular camping trailer on the outside, but if you look closer, you can spot the fold-down rooftop flight station for drones. Inside, it’s a whole different world – this is a state-of-the-art mobile command center that i...
World’s First Flying Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Powered Boat Races at 25 MPH
28 Oct 2021, 04:08 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / After building fast, solar-powered boats every year, for a project that was initiated 15 years ago, a team of engineering students at the Delft University of Technology in Netherlands is developing the world’s first hydrogen-powered flying bo...
Aviation Giants Are Betting on SAF and Hydrogen for Future Sustainable Aviation
27 Oct 2021, 11:02 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / A couple of years have passed since a group of Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) of some of the biggest names in the aerospace industries has launched a joint commitment to support sustainable aviation. The seven CTOs are now reaffirming that commit...
Diamonds Will Be Flown to the ISS for the First Time, Can Become Yours for up to $2M
27 Oct 2021, 08:53 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / 2021 will be remembered in many ways, one of them being as the year of pioneering civilian space flight. It’s not unusual to hear that a special diamond jewelry collection would be designed in honor of these historic events, but it is surpris...
Michelin Takes Another Step Toward Green Maritime Mobility Through Wind Power
27 Oct 2021, 07:27 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / Can you picture an entire wind-powered fleet leading the way to carbon-neutral maritime transport? This is the image envisioned by the International Windship Association (IWSA), which is now joined by a new, prominent member: Michelin. There are...
XCELL Fuel Cell Concept Motorcycle With User-Defined Riding Posture Breaks Cover
27 Oct 2021, 05:49 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / Two-wheel vehicles are now changing and evolving perhaps faster than ever before, with ambitious startups all over the world ready to shake things up with disruptive designs and technologies. One of these companies is XIDEA, a Chinese brand that re...
Hypersonic Spaceplane Sexbomb Will Cruise at Mach 5 After Being Dropped From a Balloon
27 Oct 2021, 04:43 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / Aviation regulations need to catch up with supersonic and hypersonic technologies that are advancing at the speed of light. A Canadian company that developed an innovative turbo-ramjet engine will test it on a Mach 5 spaceplane, a demonstrator that...
2022 Game Changer Pro Is the Most Versatile Toy Hauler, Built for Off-Grid Exploring
27 Oct 2021, 03:28 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / It’s no longer summer, but you can always find the perfect moment for an adventure. Using a reliable, well-designed trailer is one of the best ways to travel where you want to go while still having your favorite adventure toys with you. The n...
Hyundai-Backed SES to Officially Launch Game-Changing EV Lithium-Metal Batteries
26 Oct 2021, 09:50 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / Earlier this year, it became known that Hyundai was making a large investment in a startup that is going against the lithium-ion-battery current, by developing a different kind of battery. Now, that company is getting ready to officially launch wha...
ZeroAvia and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to Develop Hydrogen-Electric Regional Jets
26 Oct 2021, 08:40 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / ZeroAvia, an aviation company with headquarters in the UK and the U.S., has reached an important milestone on its journey to developing commercial aircraft with hydrogen-electric propulsion. The new collaboration with MHI RJ Aviation Group will spe...
World’s Most Advanced Drone Charging Station Is an Off-Grid Autonomous Expert Pilot
26 Oct 2021, 07:45 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / It may sound like something that’s only meant for fun, but a drone-in-a-box is one of the most important developments for future drone operation, and beyond. There are several of these devices available on the market, but H3 Dynamics claims t...
World’s First Oil Rig-Based Luxury Offshore Resort to Offer Extreme Adventures
26 Oct 2021, 06:11 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / A lot of people go on cruises to experience fun adventures at sea while enjoying high-end accommodation and dining. Soon, people will be able to do that in a more sustainable way by visiting the world's first offshore platform turned into a pr...
Germany Is Testing an Innovative, Highly-Efficient Solar Power Plant Using Molten Salt
26 Oct 2021, 05:06 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / Solar thermal power plants could be considered a step up from conventional solar plants due to their ability to generate electricity around the clock, which is possible thanks to their integrated storage systems. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) h...
UK’s Heathrow Airport to Begin Operating 200 MPH Electric Air Taxis by 2025
26 Oct 2021, 03:54 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / UK’s Heathrow airport is gearing up to operate electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. In just a few years, zero-emissions air taxis could become day-to-day reality. Vertical Aerospace believes it has more conditional pre-...
XPeng Unveils New Generation Flying Car Design, to Be Rolled-Out in 2024
25 Oct 2021, 10:09 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / XPeng seems to be closer than other names in the industry to launching a flying car. At its annual 1024 Tech Day, the company unveiled what the future flying car looks like, announcing that it will be officially launched in just three years. Onl...
Secure Data Transmission Could Take Connected Self-Driving Vehicles to the Next Level
25 Oct 2021, 08:57 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / Teamwork seems to be a valuable concept for autonomous vehicles, as well – connected self-driving cars can respond to road and traffic conditions much better, compared to relying only on their sensors. Bosch has recently participated in trial...
UK’s Royal Air Force Successfully Tests New Aircraft Refueling Capability
25 Oct 2021, 07:52 UTC · By: Otilia Drăgan / Aircraft refueling capabilities are essential for combat superiority, and the world’s most powerful military forces are constantly developing ways of improving them. UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) has recently tested a new capability that w...