Quadrocopters playing together!

You surely remember the incredible video of a 49 quadrocopters formation, that flew together in an amazing synchronized outdoor night "dance":



Related ATS thread

....or this other video that shows a perfect synchronized flight indoor:



Now it appears that the next level have been reached with this video that shows two quadrocopters capable of not only balancing an inverted pendulum, but also of launching it off the vehicle and catching it again:



I also like this one where three quadrocopters are playing with a ball and an elastic net:

This video shows three quadrocopters cooperatively tossing and catching a ball with the aid of an elastic net.

To toss the ball, the quadrocopters accelerate rapidly outward to stretch the net tight between them and launch the ball up. Notice in the video that the quadrocopters are then pulled forcefully inward by the tension in the elastic net, and must rapidly stabilize in order to avoid a collision. Once recovered, the quadrotors cooperatively position the net below the ball in order to catch it.

Because they are coupled to each other by the net, the quadrocopters experience complex forces that push the vehicles to the limits of their dynamic capabilities. To exploit the full potential of the vehicles under these circumstances requires several novel algorithms, including:

1) an optimality-based real-time trajectory generation algorithm for the catching maneuver;

2) a time-varying trajectory following control strategy to manage the forces on the individual vehicles that are induced by the net; and

3) learning algorithms that compensate for model inaccuracies when aiming the ball.

By Robin Ritz, Mark W. Müller, Markus Hehn, and Raffaello D'Andrea.
IDSC, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
www.flyingmachinearena.org...

What's next?

Giant quadrocopters as builders?

I've never heard of or seen these quadrocopters. This is quite an introduction. Thanks.

I've seen these before but not the night time video,

I think its time to add these to the list of UFO's in the future...

Chinese lanterns, weather balloons, planes and quadrocopters!

Absolutely amazing videos!

Thanks for sharing them. Those nighttime coptors could easily be mistaken for a UFO I bet and those tiny ones are just incredible.

Gives you an idea of what small things can do in large numbers.

This would explain a lot of UFO sightings

The ones the catch can be made larger to be used as a rescue net for people trying to jump from a burning building.

Originally posted by homeskillet
The ones the catch can be made larger to be used as a rescue net for people trying to jump from a burning building.

One slight miscalculation and it's SLICE 'N DICE time and a manslaughter charge.

Check this one out!

youtu.be...

reply to post by nerbot


Lol true but, one of the videos after the above ones shows a cage that goes around it. It can roll on the ground or take off. Sort of like the orbs in They Live.