🪃💥 Watch Roadrunner, Anduril’s new drone interceptor return to nest after battle

Plus: Tesla Bots shoot up Cybertruck, learning by lucid dreaming, Dragonfly prepping for Titan launch. In Coordination with [Find your perfect financial advisor with Smartasset.]( Navigate retirement confidently and unlock your financial future by taking the Smartasset Retirement Quiz. [Read more.]( Imagine an autonomous supersonic fighter jet streaking into battle, nimbly outmaneuvering enemy drones before obliterating them, then returning home to a high-tech nest. This isn’t science fiction — it’s Roadrunner, Anduril’s answer to intensifying drone strikes on US forces. Costing a fraction of the interceptor missiles used today, the reusable jet and its AI-powered systems offer a novel way to counter drone swarm attacks rapidly and affordably. Roadrunner's fearsome capabilities are matched by a surprising strategy — intercept, destroy, and then fly home unscathed. This unique reusable approach is a significant upgrade in defense against the evolving drone threat. Jump to today’s [Must Read]( to see this 3-in-1 fighter jet, cruise missile and boomerang in action. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let's see what else is new this weekend! VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( Bulletproof origami that saves lives Origami-inspired designs are transforming law enforcement, with a bullet-absorbing shield, and space exploration, as seen in NASA's large-scale, foldable Starshade project. SUPPORT INTERESTING ENGINEERING Invest in science and engineering Insider access to exclusive content, featuring riveting stories that take you right to the heart of the action. Engage with our thriving online community, dive into captivating science discoveries, and stay informed with our enlightening weekly premium newsletters. With IE+, quality reporting is more than just news - and it is Ad-Free. [SUBSCRIBE]( HOT TOPICS - 🥇 [The AI military race is led by American tech. 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Must Read [💥 Defense startup Anduril unveils reusable drone interceptor]( California defense tech company Anduril has introduced an advanced anti-drone solution called Roadrunner. Developed covertly for two years, Roadrunner is an AI-guided autonomous jet that can rapidly identify, intercept and destroy hostile drones using an onboard warhead. Roadrunner features high subsonic speeds, extreme maneuverability, and modular payloads to identify, intercept and destroy enemy drones. A variant called Roadrunner-M serves as a reusable high-explosive interceptor that can rapidly launch, engage aerial threats, and then perform a controlled landing to return to base intact. Anduril also debuted Nest, an automated hangar for easy transport and launch of Roadrunner. Priced in the low six figures, Roadrunner delivers a cost-effective reusable solution to counter increasingly prevalent swarm attacks by inexpensive drones, contrasting $4 million Patriot missiles currently employed. [[Read More]( [Culture]( [🚗 Tesla Bots shoot up Cybertruck in viral video]( A popular YouTube channel posted a dramatic CGI video of Tesla’s humanoid Optimus robots demonstrating the durability of the eagerly anticipated Cybertruck by firing guns at it. Elon Musk delighted fans by saying they could potentially make the viral video a reality in 2023 using the bots’ autonomous capabilities. This comes after Musk[delivered the first Cybertrucks]( to customers and showed the vehicle withstanding bullets thanks to its steel exoskeleton. Check out the excitement over futuristic vehicles and robots interacting. [[Read More]( A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR [Find your perfect financial advisor with Smartasset.]( Choosing a financial advisor shouldn't be a leap of faith. Without expert advice, you're at risk of making decisions that could jeopardize your financial well-being. The cost of these mistakes isn't just monetary—it's nights spent tossing and turning, worried about the future. Smartasset understands these challenges and offers a lifeline. Here's how they make the process smooth: - Stress-Free Start: Begin with a free retirement consultation. - Expert Matching: Connect with up to three vetted and legal financial advisors tailored to your needs. - No More Guesswork: Eliminate the risk of choosing the wrong advisor. Take the [SmartAsset Retirement Quiz]( and embark on a future where your retirement savings work for you. Not against you. [[Read More]( [Innovation]( [😴 Work while you sleep? This lucid dreaming startup wants to make it real]( Prophetic, a startup developing lucid dream-inducing tech, revealed the Halo, a headpiece that triggers vivid dreams using ultrasound. While hype surrounds its goal of empowering professionals to tap the creative potential of dreams, some experts remain skeptical over claims of reliable dream control. Prophetic aims for consumer availability of Halos, costing up to $2,000 each, by 2025. Learn more about the ambitious vision to harness dreaming as a practical tool. [[Read More]( [Science]( [🪐 Dragonfly: Nuclear rotorcraft to target Titan in 2028]( NASA has greenlit the final design phase of Dragonfly, the unprecedented nuclear-powered drone destined for Saturn’s organic-rich moon Titan in 2028. With specialized instruments to study prebiotic chemistry in its atmosphere, Dragonfly aims to uncover whether life can exist there. NASA now focuses on tactical aspects ahead of its launch. Click below to learn more about the mission. [[Read More]( QUESTION OF THE DAY Would you use a device like Prophetic’s Halo to control your dreams? [Yes, it has huge potential]( [No, dreams are personal]( [Intrigued, but cautious]( [Depends on how it works in practice]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS 58 percent of you were unaware we have a regular podcast, called [Lexicon](. 🚇 This week, [we spoke with Bibop Gresta]( the co-founder of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT), about the plan to build a 500 mph link between Padua and Venice, space elevators, and more. 56% I didn't know you had a podcast 37% I prefer reading to listening 4% Yes, I always “tune in” 3% No, but I will today! “U.S. troops have been attacked a staggering 73 times in recent weeks due to a surge in low-cost, mass-produced drones that have given adversaries the upper hand. Unfortunately, air defenders now face a daily dilemma of whether to use expensive and limited stocks of missiles against cheap drones our adversaries can afford to lose.” Dr Neil Thurgood, senior vice president at Anduril THINGS WE LOVE [Laser Hair Remover]( [$349.94]( [Body Fat Scale]( [$42.47]( [LEVOIT Air Purifier]( [$126.99]( [Bose Music Amplifier]( [$599.00]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Happy Birthday ChatGPT! OpenAI’s proprietary AI turns 1]( - [Scientists create new battery material by mimicking bluebird feathers]( - [Are we alone? 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