Flying robot drones that join forces before takeoff!

[postlink]http://radical-technology.blogspot.com/2010/06/flying-robot-drones-that-join-forces.html[/postlink]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iHZKMDvdNIendofvid [starttext] Here is a short video which introduces the Distributed Flight Array which is being developed at ETH Zurich. This multi-propeller platform consists of autonomous single-propeller modules that are able to drive, dock with their peers, and fly in a coordinated fashion. These modules are organized as distributed computational units with minimal sensory input. This is a complex system that is rich in dynamics with much room to explore various strategies of distributed estimation and control. Several demonstrations in docking, driving, and flight have proven its feasibility. The work shown here was completed by the 2008/9 AYIM class (http://www.andyetitmoves.org/).[endtext]