Those Flying Robots Are Back, And They Got Stronger

Remember these freaky flying robots that Penn's very own GRASP lab debuted over the summer? The engineers who designed them gave an interview to Philly.com about their more practical uses, and it turns out that they've got plans for them that go well beyond the more terrifying uses that we'd initially envisioned. As part of a project funded by the US military and Lockheed Martin, the robots are intended to replace humans in especially tight combat situations. Developer Vijay Kumar says the things should really take off once the special effects industry finds a good use for them, but don't relax just yet: he's working on a more advanced version that can move comfortably through indoor spaces, and while they aren't yet capable of opening doors, Kumar says "you can always find windows." The future: it's coming to get you.