Flying Mini-Robots Perform Scary Aerial Dance

A robotics lab's swarm of flying robots takes to the skies to prove its dominance over biological life forms.

Researchers at the General Robotics, Automation, Sensing and Perception (GRASP) Lab at the Univeristy of Pennsylvania have moved us one step closer to the cyberpunk futures of Ghost in the Shell and Deus Ex. As seen in this video, the lab's latest creation, a swarm of "Nano-Quadrotors," are capable of performing some particularly impressive aerial maneuvers and will no doubt rule the skies come robo-revolution.

Not only can these flying contraptions handle being thrown around and perform aerial stunts with ease, but they also hover in near-flawless sync with each other. The team of mini-quadrotors fly in perfect order as they transition from one formation to the next, and even work together to avoid obstacles. The figure-eight pattern the swarm performs at the end is just downright spooky, especially with the constant ominous buzzing.

It'll be interesting to see what the GRASP lab has planned next for its scary-but-adorably-tiny flyers. I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years we start seeing these drones reporting on traffic, helping police chase criminals or better yet, delivering my lunch straight to my desk.

Source: Slashgear