Transformable

If you're going on a self-propelled river journey, is it really self-propelled if someone drives you back when you're done? Perhaps not – and that's why inventor Ben Kilner created a paddleboard/bike-and-trailer combo known as the Duckleberry Finn.

Stand-up paddle boards certainly can be fun, but kayaks are generally a faster, more efficient means of getting around. Watercraft company Bote has now combined the best features of both, in its redesigned Rackham Aero paddle board.

While aerial drones have many uses, there are some situations where ground-based drones are a better choice – they do use less battery power. The HUUVER combines aspects of the two in one vehicle, as it features both propellers and tank-like treads.

Quadcopters may be versatile drones, but those four spread-out arms do keep them from performing certain tasks. An experimental new drone addresses that shortcoming, with arms that passively fold down as needed.

Camper vans (aka caravans) don't just carry your gear – they also serve as a shelter when you stop. So, why don't touring bicycles do likewise? Well, the prototype Cercle bike does just that.

Everyone who's driven laps around a packed parking area has had the thought at least once: Why can't my car shrink down to squeeze into a tiny space? Finally, it can – at least if your car is the all-new Israeli-designed City Transformer.

A retractable hard-top is standard fare, but how about a retractable body shell? That's what Audi explores with the new Skysphere concept, an e-roadster that transitions between autonomous touring and hard-nosed sports driving by adjusting in length.

Most outdoorsy types select a backpack based on the amount of stuff that they usually carry … but what happens when they occasionally need to carry more? Well, in the case of the Roo, they just pull the backpack open and insert an extra bag.

Hankook's R&D department has been working with biorobotics experts from Seoul National University and Harvard engineers on a weird transforming origami wheel project. These folding oddities can drastically alter their diameter and carry heavy loads.

There are doubtless many people who ride an electric scooter to the grocery store, then switch to a shopping cart once they get there. The Singaporean-designed Mimo C1 simplifies things, by combining both functions in one transformable vehicle.

Rear racks are certainly handy for carrying cargo on your bike, but they're not always long enough, wide enough, or just handy enough. The PedalPorteur was created to address those shortcomings, with a transformable design.

Although 3D printers can produce a wide variety of objects, the size of each item is limited by the size of the printer. Scientists have now developed a way of getting around that limitation, using a resin that expands when heated.