Flying cars and humanoid robots showcased at Edison Awards in Fort Myers

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

The 2026 Edison Awards in Fort Myers, Florida, showcased cutting-edge technology, including flying cars, humanoid robots, and innovations in space travel.

Flying cars, reminiscent of "The Jetsons," are expected to become common in the near future. Gil Charnes, marketing representative for AIR, explained their unique capabilities.

"The beauty of this is that it takes off completely vertical, lands vertical, and once it's in the air, it dips forward and accelerates, starts flying like an aircraft," Charnes said. He added, "We have about 3,000 people on our waiting list. About 3,000 of them are here in Florida." Buyers will need a pilot license and just over $100,000 to purchase one.

Humanoid robots, described as more advanced than "Rosy the Robot" from "The Jetsons," were also on display. Art Makhov of TVC Robotics highlighted their capabilities. "These are one of the most advanced robotics in the world so far," Makhov said. The robots can walk, dance, perform martial arts, and even work alongside humans. "Humanoids are being used already in hospitality. They can work as a museum worker or a waiter," Makhov said. He also noted their ability to perform tasks too dangerous for humans. "Let's say there is a dangerous chemical facility and you need to inspect the leak gas, and the dogs can do this," he said.

Space travel is also expected to become more accessible in the future. Matia Barbarossa from the FGCU School of Entrepreneurship shared a vision of rockets taking off from airports like Southwest Florida International Airport. "In the future, we will see rockets that will be able to take off from airports like Southwest Florida airport," Barbarossa said. He emphasized the need for space travel to become as routine as flying to Europe. "We need to get to space with the same ease as taking an aircraft to travel worldwide," he said.

Actor and producer Christian Belnaveous expressed his excitement about the advancements. "Spacely Sprockets all over again. I'm waiting for Elroy to come out," Belnaveous said. He added, "It's a wonderful time right now in life and evolution of how we've gone from walking to flying."

The Edison Awards offered a fascinating look at the innovations shaping the future, with technology that could soon become part of everyday life.

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