Emerging Technologies

Agriculture
Emerging technology Potential applications

Agricultural robotics Automation of agriculture

Closed ecological systems Agriculture, scientific research, space colonization

Cultured meat Humane, resource-efficient, healthier, and cheaper meat[7]

Atmospheric water generator[8] agriculture in semi-arid land

Vertical farming Space-efficient farming and space travel applications [10]

Construction
Emerging
Potential applications
technology

Adaptive structures that respond to different conditions, or supermassive buildings and

Active structure
infrastructure (e.g. space fountains)

Domed city Weather-controlled city, colonization of other celestial bodies

Electronics, IT, and communications
Emerging technology Potential applications

6G cellular communications[15][16] Mobile phones

Creating intelligent devices and robots; AI can

counsel (or even take charge) in scientific
Artificial general intelligence projects, government, army, corporate
governance, film and books creation,
inventions etc.

Biometrics

Finance, Digital currency, Art, Universal basic

Block chain
income, Identity (social science)

Carbon nanotube field-effect transistor Future miniaturization of transistors

Cashier less store

Civic technology Smart cities, more responsive government

Digital scent technology

DNA digital data storage Mass data storage

Detecting spoiled food, chemical weapons,

Electronic nose
and cancer

Emerging memory technologies

(T-RAM, CBRAM, SONOS, RRAM, racetrack

memory, NRAM, phase-change memory, FJG RAM, millipede
memory, Skyrmion, programmable metallization cell, ferroelectric
RAM, magnetoresistive RAM, nvSRAM)
Emerging magnetic data storage technologies
Greatly improved storage density compared to
(SMR, HAMR, BPM, MAMR, TDMR, CPP/GMR, PMR, hard disk current HDDs, can be combined
drive)
Emerging technology Potential applications

E-textiles Wearable technology

Exascale computing
Exocortex
Flexible and/or foldable electronic devices, and
flexible solar cells which are lightweight, can
Flexible electronics
be rolled up for launch, and are easily
deployable
Fourth-generation optical discs (3D optical data storage, Holographic Storing and archiving data previously erased
data storage) for economic reasons
Digital forensics, electronic discovery, malware
Hybrid forensics[24]
detection, IT compliance
Li-Fi
Biometrics, controlling processes (e.g.,
in driverless car, automated guided vehicle),
Machine vision detecting events (e.g., in visual surveillance),
interaction (e.g., in human–computer
interaction), robot vision
Magnonics Data storage
Smaller, faster, more energy-
efficient storage, analogue
electronics, programmable logic,[28] signal
Memristor processing, neural
[29]
networks,[30] control
systems, reconfigurable computing,[32] brain–
[31]

computer interfaces,[33] RFID,[34] and pattern

recognition [35]

Molecular electronics
Multimodal contactless biometric face/iris systems Unimodal facial recognition scanners
Nanoelectromechanical systems
Nano radio
Neuromorphic engineering
Smaller, faster, lower power consuming
Optical computing
computing
Much faster computing for some kinds of
problems, chemical modeling, new materials
Quantum computing with programmed properties, Hypothetical
of high-temperature
superconductivity and super fluidity
Quantum cryptography Secure communications
Quantum radar
Smartstores – RFID based self
checkout (keeping track of all incoming and
Radio-frequency identification
outgoing products), food packaging, smart
shelves, smart carts. See: potential uses
Emerging technology Potential applications

Cognitive radio, Mesh networks, Software

Software-defined radio
defined antenna
Solid-state transformer
Speech recognition
Spintronic Data storage, computing devices
Sub vocal recognition
Electric circuit cooling, micro-
Thermal copper pillar bump fluidic actuators, thermoelectric power
generation
Three-dimensional integrated circuit Memory and data processing
Twistronics

Entertainment

Emerging
Potential applications
technology

An artificial environment where the user feels just as immersed as they usually feel in
Immersive virtual reality
conscious reality.

Synthetic media Films, photos

Energy
Emerging technology Potential applications

Airborne wind turbine Wind power generation at higher altitudes, increasing efficiency

Americium battery Energy storage

Artificial photosynthesis Photosynthesis-like energy and oxygen production from artificial structures

Concentrated solar power Electricity generation

Emerging technology Potential applications

Faster-charging, longer-lasting, more flexible, greener energy storage (e.g.

Double-layer capacitor
for regenerative braking)

Energy harvesting Constant energy source for mobile, wearable and ubiquitous devices

Flywheel energy storage Energy storage

Fusion power Electricity and heat generation, fusion torch recycling with waste heat

Generation IV nuclear Electricity and heat generation, transmutation of nuclear waste stockpiles from traditional
reactor reactors

Gravity battery Energy storage

Off-the-grid, producing electricity in using an environmentally friendly fuel as a backup

Home fuel cell
during long term power failures.

Lithium–air battery Laptops, mobile phones, long-range electric cars; storing energy for electric grid

Lithium iron phosphate

Energy storage
battery

Lithium–sulfur battery Energy storage

Magnesium battery Energy storage

Molten salt reactor Electricity and heat generation

Nanowire battery Laptops, mobile phones, long-range electric cars; storing energy for electric grid

Nantenna Electricity generation

Emerging technology Potential applications

Ocean thermal energy

Electricity generation
conversion

Reliable, power-dense energy storage (particularly for electric cars and wearable
Solid-state battery
technology)

Smart grid Advanced grid power management

Space-based solar power Electricity generation

Thorium nuclear fuel cycle Electricity and heat generation

Vortex engine Power generation

Wireless energy transfer Wirelessly powered equipment: laptop, cell phones, electric cars, etc.

Zero-energy building Energy-efficient homes

Medicine
Emerging technology Potential applications

Artificial uterus Space travel, extracorporeal pregnancy, reprogenetics, same-sex procreation

Body implant, prosthesis Brain implant, retinal implant

Cryonics Life extension

De-extinction Animal husbandry, pets, zoos

Emerging technology Potential applications

Electronic medical records Replacing paper medical records

Human DNA
vaccination and mRNA Disease vaccinations, cancer therapy
vaccination

Enzybiotics

Creating and modifying species (mainly improving their physical and mental
capabilities), bio-machines, eliminating genetic disorders (gene therapy), new
Genetic engineering of
materials production,[90] healthier and cheaper food, creating drugs and
organisms and viruses
vaccines, research in natural sciences, bioremediation,[91] detecting arsenic,[92] CO2
reducing super plant

Hibernation or suspended
Organ transplantation, space travel, prolonged surgery, emergency care
animation

Life extension, strategies for

engineered negligible Increased life spans
senescence

Regenerative medicine Life extension

Robotic surgery

Senolytic

Stem cell treatments Treatment for a wide range of diseases and injuries

Synthetic biology, synthetic Infinitely scalable production processes based on programmable species of bacteria
genomics and other life forms

Tissue engineering Organ printing, tooth regeneration

Emerging technology Potential applications

Tricorder Diagnosing medical conditions

Neuroscience

Emerging technology Potential applications

Artificial brain Treatment of neurological disease, artificial intelligence

Faster communication and learning, as well as more "real" entertainment (generation of

Brain–computer interface feelings and information in brain on-demand) and the control of emotions in the mentally
ill[113]

Brain-
reading, neuroinformatics

Electroencephalography Controlling electronic devices via brain waves

Head transplant Treatment of debilitating diseases or severe disfigurement

Memory erasure Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder

Neuroprosthetics Visual prosthesis, brain implant, exocortex, retinal implant, neurograin

Wetware computer Artificial general intelligence, better understanding of neurons

Military
Emerging technology Potential applications

Lighter and cheaper ammunition; the lack of a case may also simplify the design
Caseless ammunition
of firearms

Cloaking device Stealth

Directed-energy weapon

Electro laser

Electro thermal-chemical
Tank, artillery, and close-in weapon systems
technology

Force field Military and law enforcement, space travel

Green bullet Environment-friendly ammunition

Hypersonic cruise missile

Laser weapon Tracking and destruction of rockets, bombs, drones etc.[121]

MAHEM A formed penetrator using molten metal in place of self-forging explosives

Precision-guided firearm Increased accuracy by marksmen

Railgun Cheaper and safer ammunition

Stealth technology Electronic countermeasures

Telescoped ammunition More compact cartridges

Emerging technology Potential applications

Lightweight Small Arms

Technologies

Space
Emerging
Potential applications
technology

Artificial gravity Space travel

Asteroid mining Commerce, resource supply

Inflatable space habitat Space habitats

Reusable launch Circumvention of the cost of expendable launch vehicles outside of national government or
vehicle military missions

Starshot Uncrewed interstellar probes[125]

Stasis chamber Interplanetary space travel, interstellar space travel, medical

Robotics
Emerging technology Potential applications

Disabled, infant and older people care, housekeeping, sex-worker, flight-

Android, gynoid
attendant, model, hostess, waiter, security guard

Gastrobot Robots fuelled by digesting organic matter

Molecular
Machines that can make anything given the materials, cheap planetary terraforming
nanotechnology, nanorobotics

Heavy lifting, paralysis, muscle-related diseases, warfare, construction, firefighting,

Powered exoskeleton
care for the elderly and disabled

Self-reconfiguring modular As a universal physical machine, SRCMR may change the way many physical
robot structures and machines are made

Swarm robotics Autonomous construction, space construction

Transport of goods, surveillance, oceanography, wildfire mapping, pipeline

security, home security, anti-piracy, border control, pursuing criminals, oil, gas and
Uncrewed vehicle mineral exploration and production, geophysical and geomagnetic surveys,
exploration of hazardous areas, firefighting, [131] military and peacekeeping
operations, search and rescue, bomb disposal, police raids
Transport
Emerging technology Potential applications

Airless tire Safer tires

Atmospheric satellite More widespread communications

Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit Reducing air pollution, decreasing oil consumption

Flexible wings (X-53 Active

Aeroelastic Wing, Adaptive
Controlling aircraft, ships
Compliant Wing), fluidic flight
controls

Distributed propulsion More efficient air travel

Flying car More effective transportation

Fusion rocket Fast interplanetary travel, with limited interstellar travel applications

Reduction of required battery size and weight for battery electric vehicles by charging
Ground-level power supply
while driving

Hover bike Package delivery, search and rescue

Hover train, Ground effect
Faster trains
train, Ground effect vehicle
Hybrid airship Air travel with low fuel consumption
Ion-propelled aircraft Better flying transportation, efficient propulsion in air
Jet pack or backpack
More effective individual transportation
helicopter
Maglev train Faster trains
High temperature superconductivity, cryogenics, low temperature refrigerators,
superconducting magnet design and construction, fibre reinforced plastics for vehicles
Magnetic levitation and structural concretes, communication and high power solid-state controls, vehicle
design (aerodynamics and noise mitigation), precision manufacturing, construction
and fabrication of concrete structures,[153] maglev car, maglev based spacecraft launch
Magneto hydrodynamic drive Marine Propulsion, Aircraft Propulsion, Spacecraft Propulsion
Mass driver