See nano quadcopter robots swarm (video)

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In the future, a swarm of flying robots may do the work now done by human search teams. A robotics research team at the University of Pennsylvania has designed a system to coordinate a number of small quadcopters, a step toward coordinating multiple robots for tasks such as surveillance or searching areas after a disaster.
The General Robotics, Automation, Sensing, and Perception (GRASP) lab at UPenn yesterday posted a video on You Tube with nano quadcopters showing remarkable agility and the ability to perform as a team.



The quadcopters are able to flip over and maintain flight. More amazing (unnerving?) is their operation in formation. Based on commands, 16 quadcopters change direction, land, navigate past obstacles, and even fly in a figure-eight formation.
Coordinating the action of multiple robots is one of the big technical challenges in robotics research now. Small robots, such as these nano quadcopters, could be well-suited for certain missions, but people need methods for programming small, inexpensive robots in large groups rather than manually configuring each one.



Tom Selleck's runaway movie coming to life

Soon they will be programed to hunt and kill us.

 

An abrupt end to the nude sunbathing I guess

 

Almost as bad as the glider pilots

 

I bet you could make a Good Case against the Operator of such a Remote Controlled Device, as a Violation of any local, or State, Peeping Tom Statute, especially if pictures were taken, of a Human, Sunbathing in their fenced backyard.... And SCOTUS Ruled that a Search Warrant is required for any type of Thermal Scanning of Private Property, as well. Would be an interesting Test Case....
..... YMMV....

 

Just a NOTE, here: Operation of ANY Radio Frequency Source in the USA REQUIRES a License from our Federal Communications Commission. There are a Very Few RF Emitters that can be operated un-License. These are very Low Powered, have very Limited Range, and are limited to very Specific frequency Bands. Operating an UnLicensed RF Source is a Federal Felony, and depending on Who your messing with, can bring down the Federal .GOV, on you like a Ton of Bricks. It is NOT recommended, by anyone in the Industry, or Biz... There was a recent case where a State Prison Warden wanted to disrupt the Clandestine Cellphones being used in his prison. He bought a Cellphone Jammer, off the Internet, and set it up in his prison. Worked just a bit to well and took out all the surrounding CellSites. AT&T Wireless went looking for the Problem and traced to the Prison. No One would talk to the them when they made inquires. They contacted the local FCC Office and registered an Official Complaint. The FCC sent a Field Agent to investigate, and he was also turned away at the Prison Gate. He then went and got the local US Marshal, and they returned to the Prison, and the Marshal and FCC Agent were directly escorted to the Wardens Office, where they discovered the Jammer. The US Marshal arrested the Warden, on the spot, and the Jammer was taken as evidence. The US Attorney made a deal with the State AG to get the Warden released, on the condition, that No Unlicensed RF Emitters would EVER be operated by the State again.....

Moral of this episode is: "Never mess with Corporate America, and its Profits, or you will find your A** is a sling, real fast."
..... YMMV....

 

Yep, They reported to to the FCC.... HOWEVER, This is NOT a Public Safety issue, and the Commission doesn't have the Field Agents to deal with non Safety of Life and Property issues, unless there is some overwhelming Public Safety concern. Better for these folks to go find the local Ham Radio Operator, and ask him to track down the source. Some of them love to go hunting RF Interference Sources. If it were a Police or Fire Radio Interference, then the FCC would send out someone, when they had a Field Agent available, and even then it could be DAYS, or even weeks. .... YMMV....