Intelligent Autonomous Flying Robots Learn and Map Environment As They Fly

An anonymous reader writes with this story about a machine-learning project out of the UK's University of Sheffield: Using simple drones the researchers have created automatic-control software that enables the "flying robot" to learn about its surroundings using a camera and an array of sensors. The robot starts with no information about its environment and the objects within it. But by overlaying different frames from the camera and selecting key reference points within the scene, it builds up a 3D map of the world around it. Other sensors pick up barometric and ultrasonic data, which give the robot additional clues about its environment. All this information is fed into autopilot software to allow the robot to navigate safely, but also to learn about the objects nearby and navigate to specific items.

Comments

Pretty Important given the rapture and all

[Anonymous Coward]

This is pretty important given the biblical version of the end times. A hole in the ground opens up and from the underground comes small golden flying things to seek out man and sting him. Sounds like small drones to me, but i thought not in my lifetime as they need an operator to control them and software for self flying self control self knowledge doesnt exits and likely wont in my lifetime, but here we have self learning self flying self targeting activated software. There goes my rational for the rapture not being in my lifetime. Geez and to think the end may come in my lifetime, so fast from zero to total control by the beast power.