Aggressive Autonomous Quadrotor UAV Makes Its Moves
Take a look at this autonomous quadrotor UAV video from the GRASP lab at the University of Pennsylvania. These aggressive maneuvers are carried out with no outside direction.
(Autonomous UAV maneuvering)
The GRASP (General Robotics, Automation, Sensing and Perception) Lab is a $10 million research center has produced a number of remarkable devices, among them the CkBot Modular Robot That Self-Assembles when kicked apart (pretty slick video shows this process).
The maneuverability of this autonomous device made me think of two different sfnal devices. The first is the servo-optical stick-tight surveillance drone from Jack Vance's 1964 novel The Star King; it is described as " spy cell supported by rotary wings".
I also thought about the robot tracking devices from Philip K. Dick's 1960 novel Vulcan's Hammer, which were very quick-moving and maneuverable autonomous flying robots.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!)
is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for
the Invention Category that interests
you, the Glossary, the Invention
Timeline, or see what's New.
Illustrating Classic Heinlein With AI
'Stasis, cold sleep, hibernation, hypothermia, reduced metabolism, call it what you will - the logistics-medicine research teams had found a way to stack people like cordwood and use them when needed.'
Deflector Plasma Screen For Drones ala Star Wars
'If the enemy persists in attacking or even intensifies their power, the density of the plasma in space will suddenly increase, causing it to reflect most of the incoming energy like a mirror.'