GE’s labs unveil Santa’s high-tech sleigh of the future

December 16, 2009

The scientists at GE Global Research have made it a tradition each year to showcase the latest and greatest technology developments during the holiday season. Last year, the team flipped the switch on the first-ever OLED Christmas tree using GE’s bendable, paper-thin lights. This year they figured out a way to top it — and stay on Santa’s good list — by dreaming up a futuristic new sleigh featuring 10 real Global Research technologies that reached key milestones in 2009. “After all, we do have cool technology that could make Santa’s life a lot easier,” writes physical chemist Anil Duggal on GE’s research blog. Just click on the 3-D sleigh to get details on the new features — from lightweight carbon fiber composites for the frame, to icephobic coatings, to a wireless medical sensor for Santa to make sure he’s still his jolly old self at 30,000 feet!

* Go to www.ge.com/santa to email Santa’s super-sleigh to your friends
* Lean more about the technologies on the sleigh from GE Global Research
* Read more Global Research stories on GE Reports
* Read Anil’s Global Research blog

Happy Holidays from the 35,000+ technologists at GE — and everyone here at GE Reports!


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  • Edward Dyer

    This is your best presentation yet. I sure hope all of the analysts are watching.

  • Ana Caltabiano

    This is very very nice, smart, friendly and interesting!! It would be great if it could be used as an e-card for the holidays, by having space for a personal note.

  • Steve DeGray

    Not bad at all. If we could send this as an interactive holiday card that would be neat. Great job! I am impressed.

  • Anonymous

    While the new sleigh does look extremely cool and adds some nice technology for Santa, I just thought I would point out that there doesnt seem to be much room in this model for his much larger present bag than the one depicted. In the old model he used the whole back seat.

  • David Cutner

    Nice to see it is neither right nor left hand drive. Santa must have done an online course in Diversity training!

  • Jan

    Same here; great card but the ‘wrapping’ is not suitable for distribution to customers. Sure hope you will keep this in mind for next year.

  • wilma

    Pretty nice display. I enjoyed playing it. Keep doing this type of versatility! It would be nice to use this as a e-card. Maybe you can come up with one for New year or Easter!

  • perez treicy

    feliz navidad

  • Cris Ramos

    hi1santa

  • nick

    I love that sliegh of yours santa its really awsome.love you santa.

  • Santa Claude

    All I SEe IS WORDS. where is the pic?Iwhat to know more.

  • Keiko Hsu

    Glad to see that Ice-Phobic coatings made it onto Santa’s Super-Hydrophobic Sleigh! Wouldn’t want to put that sleigh through the pink de-icing stuff and hold up gift deliveries on xmas eve! :)

  • cindy valencia

    hello, santa i wonder how you work the sleigh so good do you have skills for that?by the way nice sleigh!!!bye

  • Randy

    Where are the strobes and ID marker lights on the sides? Does it have auto-pilot? How does it trim out? Does it have a defroster / anti-iceing? Where does the bio-propulsion click into? No, seriously, it’s good and GE is the best when it comes to design from microwaves to space-age.

  • Joyce

    This is just absolutely too cute for words

  • Joyce

    Absolutely too cute for words

  • WILL SHIELDS

    COOL HO HO HO

  • Ray

    Keep up the good work. Times are changing.

  • tim zezula

    real nice

  • tim zezula

    thank you the kids will love it

  • Greg Galey

    Santa,
    Thanks for everything.
    Love,
    Greg

  • kimberlydking

    i liked that its awsome i like your new car i want a car to but i really want a moped to go to the grocery store… and wallmart…. and to a friebds house… love kim

  • CKing

    Nice ride but impractical as a sleigh as there is no room for the goody bag.

  • Bill

    What kind of player will be needed for that new 200 DVD disk? Also,how soon will this device becoming to Wal-Mart?

  • ashley

    DearSanta,
    I want a p.s.p.,a new robe,newMaryJanestrap shoes,a ruby ring,a diamond ring,a wii,a leather cowboy hat,a rhinestone ring, colone,a movie called Alvin and the Chipmuns the Squeakqueal,a pokemon wii game,a baby deer,a bead braclet,and a mini Dell.E-mail me back and tell me if you can get itand tell me how is Mr.s Claus.

  • lucas

    This looks cool!

  • Debbie P

    Nice ride, Santa must have been good.

  • Al Markham

    Looks like a pretty cool ride,I hope the ol’ boy is up to it

  • liza

    it nice & cool!!!!!!!!! but santa don’t forget my gift…. i want laptop or boyfriend hehehehe ……. is that cool or gift me stuff toys a mini santa claus…… im waiting. merry christmas

  • Brandon Wimpee

    Stock holders money hard at work here by the looks of it. Get it together GE.

  • Deonna C

    Oh snap! Santa is big pimpin. He needs to bring his sleigh to Scrapin the Coast car show in south Mississippi during June. All he needs is some titanium blocks on the bottom to create a little spark when he lands. LOL

  • lita

    Dear santa,

    Please let my mommy and daddy who are seperated have a good crhistmas, its all I want please.

    i love you be safe and pet rudeoff.
    love lita

  • tim

    I was a little worried at first that you sleigh would put the reindeer out of work, but I see that the sleigh just power-assists them when they get tired. Thank goodness for that. I still think OLED, no mater how great will never replace Rudolph’s beacon. Good job on the upgrade tho’.

  • Chris Walker

    It’s amazaing that the Sleigh looks like it’s styled after a Triumph TR3.

  • luke skywalker

    hi,nice ride! i want a car like that no fair! hahaha. =)i want a nintendo DSi and u arent real santa i know it……….so that means im just talking to the GEcompany.hahahahahahaha ummmmm. “santa” is too fat now….and people should leave him low carb cookies or salads in shape of cookies.so hah in ur face fat”santa”. from parent that doesent want child sitting on a fat guys lap.bye “santa” =D

  • luke skywalker

    about my comment before ummm i still think “santa needs low carb cookies or salads.=D cuz he is too fat now=(=(= from parent that dosent want child child sitting on a fat random guy’s lap!=D

  • Paul Garron

    Where is the magnetic pulse propulsion system? Poor Rudolph has a great navigation system but can’t get off the ground.

  • jordan

    dear santa claus i think you are real i know you live up at the north pole so i love you santa claus and there will be some milk and cookies on a table on christmas eve for you hope you have a safe trip santa claus oh and tell miss claus that she is so cool tome Jordan nikole vsetecka and valerie rziha my friends are so cool hope you give me and my family lots of presents love,jordan nikole vsetecka love you santa claus

  • Terri

    very nice

  • BahHumbug

    And just like that, eight tiny reindeer are unemployed.

  • Patty haupt

    Hey santa how are you and mrs. claus doing i’ve been very good this year i would like to see the economy get better times are tough this year that’s what i want for christmas sorry for the short notice you take care now love patty

  • joe omara

    you must be working for obama. you are in line with all his other programs. assured of a seat at the table, eh santa?

  • some guy

    u r fake!

  • some guy

    u never brought my car I HATE U!!!

  • cho mama

    ………….:(

  • Ali

    HEY… LUKE SKYWALKER… watch your mouth.. my kid went on this website before and she started crying when she saw your comment.. a lot of children believe in santa and you dont have to ruin it.

  • LectroMan

    Dear BahHumbug, If you bothered to read the whole thing you would realize that the reindeer have not been laid off, they still pull the new sleigh. It’s just lighter and easier to pull. And those new sodium batteries mean Santa can Rock around the clock. Waaayyy cool GE.

  • MarbleMan1955

    My first car was a sled…the SUV I have now is a sled…so what’s new? oh…anti gravity…hummm… Merry Christmas you fat old elf! And Blessings on America and GE!

  • brooklyn

    hisanta

  • brooklyn

    santaareyoucomeingtomyhouse