Dec 26, 2016 7:00 AM

Our 11 Favorite Video Stories From the World of Transportation in 2016

Everything from extreme street design to a shape-changing car, from a blind man "driving" to a truck hauling beer all by itself.

Over the last twelve months, WIRED's transport team has witnessed the birth of an airliner, the rebirth of a motoring icon, and the death of the human driver (well not quite). We spent the year uncovering the technology behind the trends shaping the future of how people move, and taking you behind the scenes at the companies and communities making that happen. To cap off 2016, here are eleven of our favorite video stories, showcasing everything from extreme street design to a shape-changing car, from a blind man "driving" to a truck hauling beer all by itself.

Step Inside Boeing’s Elaborate New 737 Test Plane
Boeing is putting its newest plane, the 737 MAX, through a grueling series of test flights. Onboard, instead of seats and a meal service, a team of engineers captures data on its performance, and eats snacks from a cooler.
Look, Ma! I'm Flying a Plane With Only My Thoughts
Without a pilot’s license, or frankly, any experience, WIRED's Jack Stewart flew a plane using just his thoughts. Thanks to new technology developed by Honeywell Aerospace, a King Air C90 can be controlled, in simple terms, by the human brain.

Meet the Blind Man Who Convinced Google Its Self-Driving Car Is Finally Ready
Google is getting serious about self-driving cars. So serious that it put a legally blind man in one that drove him around safely on his own. The successful trip means that the tech giant can now launch its own self-driving car company, which it's calling Waymo.
Uber's Self-Driving Truck Delivers 50,000 Beers
A truck carrying 50,000 beers spent two hours driving itself down a Colorado highway.

See How an Insane 7-Circle Roundabout Actually Works
Your first thought upon seeing Swindon's 'magic roundabout' might be: man, the Brits have really lost the plot lately. But this thing—which is actually seven roundabouts in one—has been working for 60 years.
Tesla's Summon Feature Is Like Knight Rider. Kinda
Summon is fundamental to Tesla's goal of making driverless cars—and it won't stay a party trick forever.

Guess What Uber's Promising Now: Flying Cars
Forget self-driving cars, Uber has a new one for you... flying cars. The company calls it Uber Elevate and within a decade it’ll be a global network of on demand urban electric aircraft that take off and land vertically.
The Art of Designing Public Transit for Anti-Social Commuters
Subway commuters traveling between San Francisco and Oakland got tired of looking each other in eye. So, the Bay Area Rapid Transit agency redesigned their train cars to give commuters more space.

Flight Mode | The Fancy Tech That's Making It Harder for Airlines to Lose Your Luggage
Lost luggage is down by 65% thanks to some new tech. Follow the roller coaster ride that your bags make into the bowels of the airport.
Driving the Karma Revero, The Electric Car That's Back From the Dead
We hop behind the wheel of the resurrected Revero—formerly known as the Fisker Karma—to see if the electric car can make its second chance at life a success.

This Motoring Mimic Can Become Any Car
Need a Camaro? A Duesenberg? Maybe a Batmobile? WIRED transportation writer Jack Stewart checks out the Blackbird, the shape-shifting electric vehicle directors use for motoring movie magic.

Alex Davies is a senior editor at Insider and the former editor of WIRED’s transportation section, where he specialized in covering autonomous and electric vehicles. He is also the author of Driven, a book chronicling the origin of and race to create the self-driving car. ... Read More

Senior Associate Editor

TopicsAviation Electric Vehicles Self-Driving Cars

The EV Battery Tech That’s Worth the Hype, According to Experts

Major battery breakthroughs seemingly happen every day, but only some of that tech ever leaves the lab. WIRED breaks down what’s actually going to change EVs and what’s just a dream.

FAA Plan to Cut Flights Might Not Be a Total Nightmare

The US government is aiming to ease the pressure on air traffic controllers suffering shutdown-related woes by curtailing flights. But airlines have experience with this kind of sudden disruption.

NASA’s Quiet Supersonic Jet Takes Flight

The X-59 successfully completed its inaugural flight—a step toward developing quieter supersonic jets that could one day fly customers more than twice as fast as commercial airliners.

ICE Wants to Build a Shadow Deportation Network in Texas

A new ICE proposal outlines a 24/7 transport operation run by armed contractors—turning Texas into the logistical backbone of an industrialized deportation machine.

When Will the US Finally Get $15K EVs?

Super-cheap EVs exist in other parts of the world, as advances in battery tech and manufacturing are making new cars significantly cheaper. But the US market presents unique challenges for automakers.

Airports and Airlines Are Crawling Out of the Shutdown

The US government shutdown may be over, but the flying troubles aren’t—especially heading into the holiday season.

The WIRED Guide to Chicago for Business Travelers

Where to lock in, power down, and actually enjoy your business trip.

Our Favorite Travel Pillows to Get Good Sleep Anywhere

The best travel pillows can provide neck support and comfort. The Travelrest Nest Ultimate is our top pick for achieving some much-needed sleep on the go.

The Best Carry-On Luggage

Whether you need a roller bag for a work trip or a tote for a bachelorette, we tested the best bags to bring on a plane.

Battle of the Branches: Best Artificial Christmas Trees 2025

WIRED brought 10 of the most popular artificial Christmas trees into a studio, had volunteers assemble them, then got three interior designers to pick the best through blind judging.