China just sent a clear signal about where it believes air travel is headed next. A Shanghai-based aviation company called AutoFlight has unveiled Matrix, now recognized as the world’s largest flying car. This is not a concept image or a brief hover test. Matrix has already completed successful flight tests near Shanghai, bringing real size and real ambition to an industry still dominated by small prototypes.

The launch also highlights China’s push to dominate what it calls the low-altitude economy. That sector focuses on short-distance flights using electric aircraft to move people and cargo above busy roads.

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THE WORLD’S FIRST FLYING CAR IS READY FOR TAKEOFF

Matrix becomes the world’s largest flying car

Matrix stands out immediately once you look at the specs. The aircraft weighs nearly 11,000 pounds. It measures about 56 feet long, stands roughly 11 feet tall and has a wingspan close to 66 feet. That makes it significantly larger than most flying cars currently under development. Most electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft today focus on compact designs. Many seat four to six passengers and prioritize lightweight frames. Matrix takes a different approach. Its scale allows it to operate more like a true aircraft rather than a personal air vehicle.

 Matrix comes in two versions. One supports passenger travel. The other focuses on heavy cargo transport. The passenger model can carry up to 10 people, which is well above the current industry norm. That added capacity matters. It improves efficiency, lowers cost per passenger and makes commercial operations far more realistic.

Why battery technology drives flying car progress

Size alone does not make Matrix possible, power does. AutoFlight receives backing from CATL, the world’s largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer. CATL holds a significant stake in the company and supports battery research and development.

Battery performance affects nearly every part of electric flight. It shapes range, safety margins and payload capacity. Stronger batteries allow aircraft to fly farther while carrying more weight. In flying cars, that difference often separates experimental designs from aircraft ready for real-world service.

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China builds rules for the low-altitude economy

Matrix did not appear by accident. China is actively building a regulatory framework for the low-altitude economy. That includes standards for aircraft design, safety systems, air traffic control and supporting infrastructure. Officials plan to introduce baseline rules by 2027, with more than 300 detailed standards expected by 2030. These rules are meant to prepare cities for flying cars, cargo aircraft and air taxi services. While many countries still debate how electric air travel should work, China is already laying the foundation.

Cargo flights paved the way for passenger approval

Before shifting focus to passengers, AutoFlight proved itself with cargo. Its earlier aircraft, CarryAll, received full certification in China for design, production and airworthiness. It also completed a real-world cargo flight between two cities, covering about 100 miles in roughly one hour. That flight demonstrated practical use beyond test environments. It also helped build trust with regulators, which plays a critical role in approving passenger aircraft. Today, passenger travel has become the company’s main focus. About 70 percent of AutoFlight’s total orders involve passenger aircraft. Certification is still underway, but company leaders expect approval within one to two years. Orders are already being accepted for future delivery.

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How Matrix compares to smaller flying cars like Pivotal

Matrix represents one side of the flying car future. Smaller aircraft such as the Pivotal flying car, which we have covered previously, focus on personal flight and short-range travel. These designs emphasize simplicity, individual control and compact size. Matrix takes the opposite approach. It focuses on shared passenger travel and heavy cargo transport at scale. Together, these models show how the flying car market is splitting into two paths. One is personal air mobility. The other is commercial electric aviation. Both paths matter, but they solve very different transportation problems.

When passenger flying car flights could begin in China

Industry experts see 2026 as a pivotal year for flying cars in China. Several companies plan to begin deliveries, and China could see its first paid passenger flying car flights. New infrastructure, such as landing pads and charging stations, will support this growth. AutoFlight is also looking beyond China. Demand is strong in regions with limited transportation networks. Island nations, mountainous areas and remote regions stand out. The company sees Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East as key markets.

What this means for you

Flying cars still feel futuristic, but they are moving closer to everyday use. Early flights will likely focus on specific routes, cargo delivery, emergency services and premium passenger travel. Over time, costs could fall to levels similar to high-end ride services on the ground. Even if you never board one soon, this technology will shape logistics, emergency response and how cities plan transportation. It also shows how quickly electric aviation can advance when regulation, manufacturing and demand align.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Matrix is more than a big flying machine. It shows how fast flying car ideas are turning into aircraft that can actually be certified and used. China is moving from concepts to real operations step by step. Widespread use will take time, but the trend is clear. Electric flight is becoming practical, scalable and much harder to ignore.

What would need to happen for you to feel comfortable riding in a flying car, and would you try it if one launched in your city? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Apple is starting to test end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) RCS messages with the developer beta of iOS 26.4 released Monday. Apple announced plans last year to support the feature, and once fully available, it will let iPhone and Android users send encrypted RCS messages to each other across platforms.

However, with this initial implementation, Apple is only testing RCS encryption between Apple devices. It’s “not yet testable with other platforms,” Apple says. The company also doesn’t plan to ship E2EE RCS messages with iOS 26.4; the feature will actually ship publicly in a “future update,” Apple says.

RCS messages significantly improve the experience of texting between iPhone and Android devices, but cross-platform encryption has been a big thing missing. The GSM Association, which helps develop RCS, announced in September 2024 that it was working on E2EE messages as part of the “next major milestone” for the RCS Universal Profile, and Apple said in March 2025 that it would support E2EE RCS messages on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS in “future software updates.”

When you hear the word robotics, you probably think of factory machines or humanoid robots sprinting across a test track. That image makes sense. For years, robotics lived in labs and industrial spaces. 

But a quieter shift is happening much closer to home. It is happening around your ankles, knees and hips. Wearable robotics are moving out of research labs and into everyday life. From powered shoes to lightweight exoskeletons, this new wave of assisted movement technology is becoming a real consumer category. 

The goal is not to replace your effort. It is to support it. And that shift is bigger than any single brand.

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AI WEARABLE HELPS STROKE SURVIVORS SPEAK AGAIN

From elite athletes to everyday use: the shift in wearable robotics

For years, sports innovation focused on speed. Lighter foam. Carbon plates. Better traction. Most of those gains targeted elite competitors. Now the focus is expanding beyond race day. Nike’s Project Amplify, developed with robotics partner Dephy, is one example. The system pairs a carbon plate inside the shoe with a motorized cuff worn above the ankle. Sensors track stride patterns in real time, and the cuff provides subtle forward assistance designed to feel smooth and natural. Instead of forcing movement, it learns it.

Earlier attempts at powered footwear struggled because batteries and motors were too heavy to sit inside a shoe. The result felt awkward and unbalanced. Modern designs solve that problem by moving energy storage above the ankle or to the hips. By shifting weight higher on the leg, engineers reduce strain on the foot and improve balance.

Battery improvements and smarter motion sensors also play a role. Today’s systems adapt to your stride in real time, making assisted movement feel less like equipment and more like an extension of your body. The company has said it is targeting a commercial release around 2028.  But Nike is not alone in this space.

Powered footwear and exoskeletons are entering the consumer market

If you have ever felt your legs get heavy halfway through a long walk, you understand why this category exists. Maybe it is a trip through the airport, a walk around the neighborhood or a few flights of stairs that feel steeper than they used to. Most people are not trying to run faster. They just want to move without feeling worn out. That is where wearable robotics are starting to show up. Companies are building products meant for real people, not just elite athletes or lab testing.

Early consumer exoskeletons for outdoor movement

The Hypershell X is one example. It is a lightweight outdoor exoskeleton designed for hikers and long-distance walkers. The system wraps around the waist and legs and uses small motors to reduce fatigue on climbs and uneven terrain. The goal is straightforward. Help you go farther without feeling drained halfway through the trail. Hypershell also introduced the X Ultra, a more powerful version built for steeper terrain and longer outings. It delivers stronger assist levels while staying compact enough to wear under standard outdoor gear. Both models are designed for recreational users who want endurance support, not medical treatment.

Dnsys has also introduced the X1 all-terrain exoskeleton. The hip-mounted system is marketed to hikers and outdoor enthusiasts who want help reducing fatigue on climbs and long treks. Unlike lab prototypes, the X1 has been sold through crowdfunding and direct online orders, making it one of the early consumer entries in this space.

Wearable robotics designed for everyday walking

Another example is WIM from WIRobotics. This wearable robot weighs about 3.5 pounds and supports natural hip movement while walking. It is meant for older adults, active adults and people recovering from minor injuries who want extra assistance without wearing something bulky or clinical looking.

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From medical exoskeletons to consumer devices

The medical side of wearable robotics has been evolving even longer. Companies like Ekso Bionics and ReWalk have developed powered exoskeletons that help people with spinal cord injuries or stroke stand and walk. These systems are used in rehabilitation clinics and in select personal mobility programs. They show how wearable robotics first proved themselves in medical settings before gradually influencing consumer designs.

These products vary in power, price and purpose. What connects them is a shared direction. Wearable robotics are beginning to actively assist movement, not just track it.

How wearable robotics help reduce fatigue and movement hesitation

Here is something people rarely admit. It is not always an injury that stops movement. It is hesitation. Many people worry about knee pain creeping in halfway through a walk. Others fear running out of energy before they make it home. Some quietly stress about slowing everyone else down.

Those doubts shorten walks and cancel runs long before physical limits do. Wearable robotics hopes to close that confidence gap. By reducing fatigue and supporting joints, assisted movement systems can make activity feel realistic again for people who might otherwise skip it. Effort does not disappear. The barrier to starting simply becomes lower.

Powered footwear and wearable robotics support natural movement

A better comparison might be e-bikes. Electric assistance did not eliminate cycling. Instead, it expanded who felt comfortable getting on a bike in the first place. Powered footwear and wearable robotics could have a similar effect on walking and running. In practical terms, that might look different for different people.

Some commuters could replace short car trips. Older adults might stay active longer without feeling as worn out. Casual runners could finish a workout with energy to spare instead of dragging through the final mile. In other words, this shift is not about creating super athletes. It is about widening the circle of people who feel capable of participating.

What this means to you

You may never strap on a powered exoskeleton. You may not be waiting for motorized shoes to hit stores in 2028. But this shift still matters. If walking a long trail leaves your knees aching, or if you skip runs because you worry about burning out halfway through, this kind of technology is being built with you in mind. The goal is not to turn anyone into a super athlete. It is to make movement feel more doable.

For some people, that could mean walking an extra mile without thinking twice. For others, it might mean keeping up with friends, staying active longer or feeling a little less hesitant about getting started. Wearable robotics are changing the conversation. Instead of asking how fast you can go, the question becomes simpler. How comfortable do you want to feel while moving? And that is a very different way to think about fitness.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Wearable robotics systems are still in the early stages of consumer adoption. Most powered footwear and exoskeleton systems remain expensive and limited in availability. But the direction is clear. Technology is shifting from tracking your performance to actively supporting it. That is a meaningful change. If assisted movement becomes as common as smartwatches or fitness trackers, it could reshape how people think about aging, endurance and daily mobility. Walking farther may feel realistic again. Running may feel less intimidating. Staying active later in life could become more achievable for millions. The real question is not whether wearable robotics will improve. They will. The bigger question is how we choose to use them.

If wearable robotics can help you walk and run with less strain, would you try them, or would you rather rely only on your own effort? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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