The next inflection point in technology
Space technology has come a long way since the launch of the 1st artificial satellite, Sputnik 1 in 1957. It assured the so-called Space Age. Since then, we have landed on the moon, mapped planets as far as the edge of the solar system, launched thousands of satellites to orbit the earth and some more to orbit other planets, private actors have joined the effort, demonstrated re-usable rockets. All of these have contributed to making space technology cheaper and more accessible.
Today, space tech is so widespread that we don’t notice it. Which a sign of progress. The navigation system, the weather, food delivery, tracking your online order, gaming, even dating(!) leverages space tech, specifically location technology. But we have barely touched the surface of what is possible with the combination of hardware, software and space tech. One such example is of course augmented reality, which has gone mainstream thanks to Pokémon Go. Various versions of the game have been played for decades but could never have dreamt off the kind of reception it received. All made possible by cheap hardware available in the pocket of the masses all plugged to satellite-based location services. A technological inflection point!
Recommended by LinkedIn
We are moving towards the next inflection point where the already mature hardware & software technologies are going to be combined with high accuracy location service, that is location accuracy of sub-meter to decimetre level. Which will enable a whole new set of application that can make use of such accuracy. And the biggest of which will be in construction. Imagine a construction site completely automated. You design blueprints on your computer, 3D-print a model to test and then send the design files over to the machines and equipment on the construction site where to machines coordinate with each other and complete the construction autonomously.
Imagine building your future home like Iron man builds his suit! In my opinion, that will be the pinnacle of the space and digital age, enabled by cheaper hardware, advancements in software and machine learning and widespread availability of high accuracy location services.
Good read.
I remember when taking my astro physics course circa 2007 in my university in Colombia, which btw was mandatory for Civil Engineers as well as Electronic and Chemical engineers, all the concepts where of course out of the world as we as civil engineers we build inside earth not outside of it. So we asked our professor. "Profe, why do we need to know this concepts of speed light if we don't need it when building infrastructure in earth", the teacher replied in a mocking but very serious tone, "You will need this when building in the moon and Mars". All other engineers laughed but not the Civil ones. But the professor replied again, "like beside of how funny this might sound, you civil engineers need this concepts to build in outer space, space construction is already happening so better be in now than later" 💯 Amazing stuff 💪💪💪💪 Thanks for sharing Selvin J.