In the past month, Tesla unveiled the new version of its Roadster model. The vehicle immediately made headlines all over the world. It can speed at an impressive pace, being able to go from 0 to 60 mph in under one second. But that’s not even its more surprising feature. This two-person sports car can fly.
The new Roadster had its first demonstration event at the Space X rocket development facility in Texas and was livestreamed to a large audience worldwide to make sure “it’s not AI or SI”. It was shown driving up a curled ramp while using suction to go upside down and then flipping, flying and landing through thrusters. Later, it flew over a line of several other Tesla models.
Now, what’s more interesting about Tesla’s most recent reveal is not the concept. Attempts of building flying cars can be traced back to as early as the 1930s. In several museums across the USA, it is possible to find inventions such as the AC-35 Autogiro, the Waterman Aeromobile, the Fulton Airphibian FA-3-101, the Convair Model 118 and the Taylor Aerocar. All of these were working vehicles that could both fly and circulate on the road. However, neither of them was ever mass produced and, if we want to be specific, they were closer to “roadable helicopters” rather than flying cars. Tesla Roadster is different. It already has mass production projected to 2028. And it looks more like the flying cars we are used to seeing on TV and movies.
For years, the entertainment industry has turned cities with flying cars into a synonym of what the future looks like. Blade Runner (1982) depicts Los Angeles in the already passed year of 2019 as a neon filled city with flying police cars called spinners. Back to the Future Part II (1989) conceives 2015 as a year in which ordinary citizens can drive both on the road and on the skies. The Fifth Element (1997) sets up that scenario for the 23rd century. In animation series set in the future like The Jetsons, Futurama and The Simpsons (future episodes) flying or hovering vehicles are a recurring feature.
With Tesla Roadster, the future we have been promised for years in movies and TV shows seems closer than ever. Nevertheless, the latest years have been providing multiple other examples of science fiction turning into reality:
- 3D Printing – In Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), replicators could create everyday objects on demand. Although modern 3D printers cannot instantly materialize anything, they already manufacture objects ranging from household products and industrial components to medical implants.
- Autonomous Cars – Self-driving vehicles are shown as something common in movies like Minority Report (2002) and I Robot (2004). Today, companies like Waymo, WeRide and even Uber are operating fully autonomous taxis in places like the United States, China and the Middle East.
- AI Assistants – In Iron Man (2008) and 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Tony Stark’s J.A.R.V.I.S. and HAL 9000 imagined computers capable of understanding human speech, answering complex questions and assisting with everyday tasks. Today, AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Siri have brought many of these capabilities into everyday life.
- Reusable Rockets – Thunderbirds and other classic science-fiction series: imagined spacecraft capable of returning to Earth and being used again. SpaceX has made reusable rocket boosters an operational reality, with Falcon 9 rockets repeatedly landing and flying again.
- Video Calls – Decades before smartphones existed, science fiction frequently imagined people communicating face-to-face through screens. Some examples include the movies Metropolis (1927) and 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and, again, the TV shows The Jetsons and The Simpsons. Today, FaceTime, Zoom and WhatsApp make video communication accessible to billions of people, with their adoption accelerating dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, as remote work, and online education became part of everyday life.
All of this brings up a curious question – what other elements that used to belong in sci-fi are going to come to life until the end of the century?
- Will medical technologies become advanced enough to diagnose diseases in seconds, regenerate organs or even resuscitate people, as depicted in Star Trek and Passengers (2016)?
- Could humans eventually replace or enhance parts of their bodies with advanced robotic prosthetics, artificial organs, and brain implants, blurring the line between humans and machines, as envisioned in the videogame Cyberpunk 2077?
- Could immersive virtual worlds become almost indistinguishable from reality, as envisioned in The Matrix (1999) and Ready Player One (2018)?
- And will humanity finally establish permanent settlements on the Moon or Mars, turning the worlds portrayed in The Martian (2015) and The Expanse into reality?
Some of these possibilities are already taking their first steps beyond fiction, while others remain distant scientific ambitions. But if the technological progress of recent decades has taught us anything, it is that today’s science fiction could very well become tomorrow’s reality.
Many of the early 21st century innovations are showing that ideas once confined to science fiction can challenge the limits of what we believe is possible. What once seemed like an impossible dream can, through decades of imagination, research and determination, become a technology that transforms people’s lives. Not every ambitious invention will succeed, but each attempt has the potential to push boundaries, inspire new discoveries and open doors that previously seemed closed. After all, progress often begins with the courage to question what is considered impossible. And the determination to turn that vision into reality.
* Beatriz Santos is the Chief Communications Officer (CCO) at We Are Innovation. She is based in Lisbon, Portugal. Beatriz started publishing articles through her University newspaper and eventually moved to national and international reach outlets, including the well known Portuguese outlets NOVO and Observador. Her professional career includes international communications experience with the ATREVIA agency and the European Parliament. She also has two published books and is an essential part of the Students For Liberty organization in Portugal. With a focus on positive change and global cooperation, Beatriz actively seeks partnerships across the globe to promote innovative initiatives.
Source: We Are Innovation
