The premiere of the new part of "Star Wars" broke all records, finally proving that this sci-fi saga has left an indelible mark on our world. At the height of its popularity, the film series also inspired inventors and engineers to create some of the futuristic technologies featured. When the first part of "Star Wars" died down on the big screens, the audience groaned and gasped over the buzzing lightsabers, droid helpers and flying motorcycles (hoverbikes). Now, almost forty years later, many of the technologies inspired by this film are in reality. Some of them were created just for fun (no one really has a need for lightsabers, right?), While others (like the cyber limb) have significantly changed our world.
Flying motorcycles
Return of the Jedi debuted one of the most amazing flying machines the world has ever seen - a high-speed motorcycle. Capable of hovering a few feet above the ground with a daredevil driver on board, this fantasy bike inspired California-based Aerofex to create a true flying motorcycle. Aerofex boasted a video of the test flight and reported that the bike, hovering thanks to its two huge rotors, can reach speeds of up to 30 mph and climb up to 15 feet above the ground.
Lightsabers
Many of the gadgets featured in the Star Wars films are so progressive that viewers did not even expect them to actually appear on planet Earth. But the fans couldn't help but try. One fearless inventor has created a homemade lightsaber capable of inflicting serious damage on any cardboard, wood, or plastic object in its path. This portable 300 MW device emits a blue beam (similar to a laser pointer on steroids) - which may be enough to get Darth Vader's attention.
Promotional video:
Super speed
When it comes to films about space, travel in ultra-fast aircraft is a given. But traveling faster than the speed of light is quite problematic as it also means traveling ahead of time. This concept leads to the emergence of storylines about astronauts who return home after several years of space travel to meet their friends and loved ones who have already grown old, while they themselves have not changed at all. NASA laboratories are seriously undertaking research to develop technologies that would achieve a speed distortion that seems to defy the laws of physics. However, tests are still ongoing and scientists are desperately trying to achieve results that will literally change everything we know about space travel.
Bionic limbs
Even people who have never watched Star Wars know that Luke Skywalker lost his arm in an epic lightsaber battle. In the film, the severed limb was replaced with a cybernetic one, which works in almost the same way as the old one. Medical technology has come a long way in artificial limb prosthetics, and earlier this year, the most advanced bionic arm ever made took over a home from a 26-year-old Londoner who was born without her right arm. In addition to the usual functions of movement, flexion and grip, this model also returns tactile sensations to the person.
Holograms
"Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi" is perhaps the most famous word ever spoken by a holographic projection. Leia's plea is impressive enough, but it can hardly compare to the hologram projector that allowed the ancient statue of Buddha to gaze again at its historical domain in war-torn Afghanistan. The Taliban destroyed this statue (along with many others) in 2001, leaving a gaping hole in the cultural landscape of the Afghan people. One Chinese couple took a personal interest in reviving the disappeared statue and supported the creation of a special $ 120,000 3D projector to restore the Buddha of Bamiyan. The holograms were tested in China before the projector was donated to the people of Afghanistan.
Smart droids
Pepper is certainly not C-3PO, but his lack of galactic heroism is more than made up for by his charming emotionality. The protocol droid was known to be fidgety and anxious - not exactly the kind of behavior you would expect from a guy made from spare parts. Pepper, by contrast, is a small, emotionally intelligent robot designed to interact with young children. The limited edition of this bot sold out at an incredible rate, with 1,000 copies sold out in minutes.
