- Honda has outlined its vision for 2030, with plans to take to the skies and space
- The automotive maker aims to develop reusable rockets to launch satellites into space and design a circular energy system for the moon
- Inter-city travel could also be facilitated by quiet electric take-off and landing aircrafts
- Additionally, Honda will showcase progress on an Avatar Robot with hands by the end of March 2023
Honda plans to take to the skies and venture into space as part of a new technological direction announced by the 73-year old automotive maker.
The three priorities outlined under the 2030 Vision are advancing air travel, developing a robot, and accelerating R&D in the field of space technology.
In the space realm, research will focus on building a circulative renewable energy system on the moon that could contribute to human activity on the lunar surface.
Additionally, Honda will work on remotely controlled robots that would “enable people to virtually enjoy the experience of being on the Moon from Earth,” said the strategy statement.
Additionally, Honda will work on the development of small rockets to launch satellites into space. The goal is for the rockets to be reusable, therefore reducing the cost associated with satellite launches.
President and Representative Director of Honda R&D, Keiji Ohtsu, said all of the initiatives were designed to make people’s lives more enjoyable.
“Ever since the company’s founding, the wellspring of Honda’s challenges has always been the people at Honda who generate original technologies and ideas,” said Mr Ohtsu.
“Through the creation of new mobility, Honda will continue striving to change the value people place on mobility and make positive changes to our society.”
Meanwhile, by the end of March 2024, Honda plans to have demonstrated its Avatar Robot and by next decade, to have put it into practical use. The robot will have a “multi-fingered hand” enabling it to “make full use of tools designed for human use and perform complex tasks quickly and accurately.”
In terms of air travel, Honda is planning to develop an “electric vehicle take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft which could fly between cities. This would be equipped with a gas turbine hybrid power unit, developed leveraging the company’s existing electrification technologies.