New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Electric hydrofoil boats the Teslas of the sea?
Flying cars and self-driving vehicles always get attention at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas, but this year electric recreational boats are making bigger waves.
Swedish company Candela on Thursday unveiled a 28-foot electric-powered hydrofoil speedboat that can cruise for over two hours at 20 knots, or about 23 mph. California startup Navier tried to outdo its Scandinavian rival by bringing an electric hydrofoil that’s a little bit longer, though Candela is further along in getting its products to customers.
Even the recreational motorboat conglomerate Brunswick Corporation tried to make a splash in
Nevada this week by showing off its latest electric outboard motor — an emerging segment of its mostly gas-powered fleet.
Why electric?
A chief reason is environmental, as well as to save on rising fuel costs. But electric-powered boats — particularly with the sleek foiling designs that lift the hull above the water’s surface at higher speeds — can also offer a smoother and quieter ride.
“You can have a wine glass and it does not spill,” Navier CEO Sampriti Bhattacharyya told The Associated Press last month. “And it’s quiet, extremely quiet. You can have a conversation, unlike on a gas boat.”
When can you get one?
Candela CEO Gustav Hasselskog said his company has already sold and manufactured 150 of its brand-new C-8 model. The Stockholm-based startup has been scaling up its workforce from 60 employees a year ago to about 400 later this year as it prepares to ramp up production.
But with a roughly $400,000 price tag, neither the C-8 nor Navier’s N30 is aiming to replace the
and were really surprised that we didn’t find anything that has some kind of level of automation or motorization present,” said Anne Hunger, who co-founded the company with husband Kevin Huang after their daughter was born in 2020.
The company is currently taking preorders for the stroller and hopes to deliver them beginning in July. Prices start at $3,300.
A calming pillow
Need a break? Japan’s Yukai Engineering says its robotic fufuly pillow can help users relax by mimicking the rhythm of breathing.
The soft, fluffy pillow gently expands and contracts, vibrating as you hold it against your stomach. The idea is that you’ll breathe more slowly and deeply as your breath starts to synch with the movement of the pillow.
It was developed based on research done at the University of Tokyo.
Yukai CEO Shunsuke Aoki said the pillow can help remote workers who struggle to switch off from their jobs.
The version on display at CES is a prototype. The company is looking for partners and hopes to start producing it this year.
Robot dog
Meet Dog-E, the excitable robodog. Unveiled by toy maker WowWee, Dog-E
has more than a million possible combinations of lights, sounds and personality traits.
Dog-E begins as a blank canvas and develops its personality as you set it up.
The app-connected toy has audio sensors to hear sounds, touch sensors on its sides and body, and a tail that you can program to display lighted icons and messages when it wags.
Jessica Kalichman from WowWee says it’s a good option for those who can’t commit to owning a real pup, or perhaps for those with allergies.
“I do think for anyone that’s either not ready to have a dog yet, this is a great test to take care of it, learn to feed it, nurture it, and really have that trial run for a family,” she said.
WowWee expects to have Dog-E in stores
in September. It will sell for $79. The app to control the toy’s movements does not require a subscription.
A foldable treadmill
If you want a treadmill but don’t have much space, WalkingPad offers a solution — a lightweight treadmill that can be folded in two when not in use and stored against a wall or under a bed.
WalkingPad reaches speeds of 7.5 mph (12 kph). It also includes a detachable phone or tablet holder and tracks your exercises in a free app. Its creators envision it helping remote workers stay fit at home.
An early version of WalkingPad went viral on TikTok as influencers added it to videos about their daily work-at-home routines.
Walking Pad creator King Smith Fitness opened its first headquarters in Dallas in December.