digiculturetravelexpatasia

Eight years ago I had the pleasure of working along side Chuck Colby at Palo Alto based incubator Picostar. Chuck’s was the first autonomous helicopter I’d ever seen.

Chuck must be proud to see what the kids at Stanford are doing with autonomous flying helicopters today.

Stanford computer scientists have developed an artificial intelligence system that enables robotic helicopters to teach themselves to fly difficult stunts by watching other helicopters perform the same maneuvers. The result is an autonomous helicopter than can perform a complete airshow of complex tricks on its own.

Let’s hope the above technology does not merge with the Neural Robotics AutoCopter below.

The AutoCopter A, outfitted with an AA12 automatic 12-guage machine gun, is tested on the ground, then in the air under manual pilot control, and finally with the flight control system. The AA12 is capable of firing at a rate of 300 rounds/minute. It can also fire FRAG12 grenades, which can penetrate 3/4 inch steel.

The thought of fully automatic, grenade firing, autonomous stunt copters scares the shit out of me. How about you?

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