Engineering

Twelve months, twelve tech stories that provided momentum in 2025

By Björn Carstens
Bicyles of the future, artificial intelligence systems with reasoning powers, flying automobiles with Schaeffler know-how, humanoids gaining traction, etc., etc., etc. These twelve stories are the ones that most “tomorrow” readers clicked most frequently:
© Speedpool-Composing (iStock, Schaeffler, Hersteller)
All about the humanoid robotics journey
Welcome aboard Robo
Welcome aboard Robo
Flexibility – humanoid robots are going to perform more and more tasks at work, operating with advanced AI and sensitive sensors. Schaeffler experts have shared with us in what direction robotics is headed. Read more
Edison, Westinghouse, Tesla – the war of currents
Energized
Energized
Edison, Westinghouse, and Tesla: The innovation race of the three inventors that became known as the “war of currents” changed the world and dramatically shows what kind of strategic tensions ideas may be exposed to on their way into reality. Read more
Electric drives without rare earths
Increasingly attractive without magnets
Increasingly attractive without magnets
More powerful, less material costs, and better for the climate: Schaeffler plans to reduce the use of rare earth elements in its electric drive systems by means of externally excited synchronous machines. Read here what’s behind that plan. Read more
Female pioneers that shaped the world
Women that changed the world – test your knowledge.
Women that changed the world – test your knowledge.
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science recognizes the role that women and girls play in science and engineering. “tomorrow” is celebrating all those female pioneers that have been shaping the world with a quiz. Read more
9 provocative propositions about electric mobility
E-Mobility subjected to a reality check
E-Mobility subjected to a reality check
Nine provocative propositions pertaining to electric mobility – analyzed, classified, and put in a nutshell by Thomas Stierle, E-Mobility CEO of Schaeffler AG. Read more
Chainless cargo bikes
The bicycle of the future
The bicycle of the future
As temperatures start rising many bicycle enthusiasts wake up from hibernation. While they were giving their bikes a break others continued refining the future of the electric bicycle: the completely chainless Free Drive system from Schaeffler. Read more
Innovative energy storage systems
Hot sand for hot winters
Hot sand for hot winters
Wouldn’t it be great if the summer heat could be recovered for heating in winter? Scientists worldwide are researching this. “tomorrow” presents new types of storage: Sand, acid and, more recently, soapstone. Read more
Will electric motors be powering future aircraft?
Mega – watt?
Mega – watt?
Today’s world is unthinkable without electric motors. Whether in heaters, hair dryers or drills, or even in electric cars – electric motors can be found practically everywhere. Will that soon be the case increasingly often in aircraft and ships too? Read more
The future of the road will be airborne
Next stop: airspace
Next stop: airspace
One of the places where the future of the road resides is airspace. With a collaborative partnership in the field of flying car powertrains Schaeffler intends to help make urban air mobility a reality. Read more
The Internet of animals
When animals go online
When animals go online
ICARUS connects animals with the internet. With this technology, we gain vital insights from the swarm intelligence of nature. Read more
The next evolution level of AI
AI with reasoning powers
AI with reasoning powers
Reasoning AI is the new evolution of language and multimodal models that not only generate answers but deliver solid decision-making support and automated problem solving in practically unrivalled quality so far. Read more
This is what vacations will be like in the future
Vacation 2050: AI, the cosmos, and lots of imagination
Vacation 2050: AI, the cosmos, and lots of imagination
Vacationing in 2050 – what’s the destination? Are AI, mixed reality, and new mobility worlds going to transform holiday travel into multisensory experiences? “tomorrow” takes a visionary peek into the future. Read more
Other interesting reads
Computer mouse, assembly line, and ball mill? How familiar are you with breakthrough innovations?
Computer mouse, assembly line, and ball mill? How familiar are you with breakthrough innovations?
How familiar are you with the roots of our modern technologies? Everything in our new time travel quiz revolves around innovations that have changed the world – this quiz is an exciting tour of the evolution of technology.
Understanding systems
Understanding systems
Modular toys combine fantasy with functionality. Who knows: Maybe the engineers of tomorrow are going to build their first product prototypes using small colored bricks. Can modular toys open the door to understanding technology?
Connecting links
Connecting links
They take us across rivers and valleys, connect city districts and cross other roads – whenever motion might be obstructed, bridges pave the way – like these prime examples of their kind.