Autonomous drones to 3D body scanners...

The future tech headed to your home

Autonomous drones

Fancy a peak at the technology that's just around the corner?

This week, chipmaker Intel unveiled prototypes that reflect the type of gadgets we will be using in the near-future.

This ASCTEC drone is able to automatically dodge obstacles and people as it navigates.

The drone has full 360 degree, 3D view of the world around its thanks to the six long-range Intel RealSense cameras that sit on top.

Controlling the drone is as easy as giving it a destination and then letting it find its own way - thanks to its ability to spot and avoid potential collisions.

Intel said such automated navigation will be necessary if retailers are to deliver goods using drones.

The cameras can capture colour video at 60 FPS, as well as recording how far away the objects they film are from the camera. Each camera can capture this depth information at up to 10 feet.

Through the drone's eyes

A snapshot of what the ASCTEC drone sees through its six depth-mapping cameras.

3D body scanning

Ever wanted to create a tiny bust of your head to give to your friends?

The answer may be no, but if you do then you're in luck. By Christmas this year tablets should be available that will allow you to scan a person so you can print off your own mini-me.

Capturing a scan takes less than a minute. The 3D model could then be printed off at home, or for those without a 3D printer forwarded to an online service to create a more elaborate model. The process could also capture people to allow them to be digitally animated or used as an online/in-game avatar.

The tablet captures the scan using the same long-range RealSense 3D camera used with the ASCTEC drone.

Intel says that Android and Windows tablets, running on both Intel Core and Atom processors, will be released with the long-range RealSense cameras.

Mini me

And here is the end result, a tiny, etched glass bust based on an earlier 3D scan captured by the tablet.

Become one with the data

One for gadget lovers not afraid to let technology get under their skin, or at least to pipe data through it.

This computer is transmitting data to the bracelet via the wearer's skin, a process that Intel calls 'Human Body Communication'.

Intel says the technology could provide an easy way to swap information between machines. For example, the user could highlight an address on a computer, touch the pad to download it to the bracelet, then touch a sat-nav to communicate that destination to the device.

Power without wires

Wires will soon disappear from computing if the tech giants are to be believed.

When it comes to wirelessly charging, Intel is betting on the Rezence technology, which is based on the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) standard and relies on magnetic resonance to juice gadgets.

Rezence chargers can beam up to 20W of power to nearby devices, charge multiple machines at once and transmit through a thick wooden table top, as seen here.