Tiny flying robots, rocket engines, and an appearance by Mark Hamill: Jeff Bezos’ secretive Mars Conference kicks off in Palm Springs
- Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Mars Confernece is underway in Palm Springs
- Players across the tech industry demonstrated robots, rockets, and more
- A more public version of the event is set to take place in Las Vegas this summer
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At this year’s Mars Conference — an exclusive robotics and artificial intelligence event hosted by Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos — ‘the force is with you.’
That is, if you were fortunate enough to get an invite.
While last year’s invite-only conference, held in southern California’s Palm Springs, produced striking images of Bezos strolling with a robotic dog designed by Boston Dynamics, the CEO this time took to the stage with a flying robo-dragonfly.
Much of this year’s buzz, however, has come straight from the stars; among the attendees is actor Mark Hamill, who portrayed ‘Star Wars’ protagonists ‘Luke Skywalker’ in the films’ original trilogy.
Bezos demonstrated a robotic dragon fly on stage that circled around his head. The tiny dragonfly-bot is one of many animal-inspired designs from German firm Festo
As Hamill, who recently revived Skywalker for the latest iteration of the Star Wars franchise, mingled with guests, the conference’s other attendees showcased their newest and most exciting revelations in the fields of robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and more.
‘Mars2019 – where dreams come true!’ Intuition Robotics CEO Dor Skuler tweeted alongside a photo of himself with Hamill.
‘Talking robot sidekicks with the Master.’
Among the splashiest demonstrations so far were a flying robotic dragonfly that Bezos launched from the stage himself and a flexible multi-legged robot named ‘Centauro’ that flexed across the stage, showing off its range of motion.
The tiny dragonfly-bot is one of many animal-inspired designs from German firm Festo.
Hamill (right), who recently revived Skywalker for the latest iteration of the Star Wars, franchise, mingled with guests to talk innovation and robotics. He’s pictured above with Intuition Robotics CEO Dor Skuler
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Former NASA astronaut poses next to two rocket engines at the Mars conference, one of which (the left) has been to space and back multiple times
Bezos also had his own rocket engines on display which are used by the CEO’s private aerospace company Blue Origin.
Member of the press are not allowed into the event, which takes place throughout the next several days.
Among the attendees this year is actor Mark Hamill. File photo
Amazon has said, however, that it plans to host a more public version of the show titled, ‘RE:MARS’.
This will take place during the first week of June in Las Vegas.
For most, though, Amazon’s RE:MARS event may be equally as elusive, with a $1,999 price tag for a single pass.
Those willing to foot the bill will have access to more than 100 panel sessions and discussions featuring an array of different speakers that range from actor Robert Downey Jr. to iRobot CEO Colin Angle.
Amazon has billed the event as a place where ‘attendees will explore the future of AI innovation.’
Registration for the event opens on March 28 at 6 a.m. (PDT).
HOW DO JEFF BEZOS’ BLUE ORIGIN FLIGHTS WORK?
The system consists of a pressurised crew capsule atop a reusable ‘New Shepard’ booster rocket.
The two vehicles launch together, accelerating for approximately two and a half minutes, before the engine cuts off.
The capsule then separates from the booster to coast quietly into space.
After a few minutes of free fall, the booster performs an autonomous rocket-powered vertical landing.
The passenger capsule lands softly under parachutes, both ready to be used again.
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