MIT takes the wrappers off autonomous, robotic helicopter with intelligent navigation

Advances in autonomous helicopters have been many over the years, but as far as we can tell, there's essentially no limit to how awesome they can get. MIT's recently developed an autonomous, robotic helicopter which is also able to navigate itself intelligently through a changing environment. The helicopter, which is equipped with a dual-camera array and a laser scanner, maps its terrain in real time, identifying changes along the way. An integrated autonomous exploration module allows the heli to interact with the changing, unknown environment it is mapping. The helicopter was shown off at the AUVSI 2009 International Aerial Robotics Competition, completing five missions -- a feat not before seen in the 19-year history of the show. Check out the very educational video after the break.

[Dr Yusuf AlKindi Posted Oct 16th 2009 8:09PM]

Japanese and Korean robots smile in creepy ways, and dance and mix drinks.

German ronots are sex toy robots.


American robots are designed to seek out, and kill "tragets."

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 16th 2009 9:18PM]

Hahaha... so true. But what about the russians?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 17th 2009 1:39PM]

It means that American robots are the ones that will actually be useful in the real world.

[jkenny23 Posted Oct 16th 2009 10:49PM]

Holy awesome. I shudder to think how expensive that helicopter is though, I see a custom carbon fiber frame, 4 brushless motors, not to mention the stereo cams and mini 360 degree laser scanner...

[ArfGraf Posted Oct 17th 2009 12:48AM]

Let's ramp this technology up and have insect sized autonomous robots that can fly into a building and select a target and deliver a deadly sting. Something really creepy perhaps deliver a swarm of these things;)

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 17th 2009 11:46PM]

Argg.. Applied for MIT, got rejected... and is angry at them for making my horrible fate end up at State Engineering School. But if they are making things like this, I'LL BE BACK FOR GRAD SCHOOL...