The astounding athletic power of quadcopters | Raffaello D'Andrea

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In a robot lab at TEDGlobal, Raffaello D'Andrea demos his flying quadcopters: robots that think like athletes, solving physical problems with algorithms that help them learn. In a series of nifty demos, D'Andrea show drones that play catch, balance and make decisions together -- and watch out for an I-want-this-now demo of Kinect-controlled quads.
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[@alexandertrists3965]

"How did-" "Mathematical models."

[@vacant4]

and control theory

[@jeremyhernandez5534]

Computer generated algorithms

[@KompletterGeist]

@@jeremyhernandez5534 they're not computer generated....they are thought up by these people...which requires knowledge in kinetics, fluid dynamics, control systems and most importantly differential equasions....and then coded into the controller

[@2cool0]

is that like sexy numbers?

[@equated3342]

easy explain to drone maker >>same like by using two gyros

[@waytruthlifedisciple]

Took 10 years to recommend this video to me....anyone else 2024?

[@iheartz2742]

yes

[@ordinaryyn9911]

。

[@PinkeySuavo]

I saw it few years ago

[@revarevanth1800]

Yep

[@heraclitus6100]

If they had civilian tech like this back then, what does the military have now??

[@OrangeDurito]

Revisiting this in 2022 and I can still say this is absolutely incredible. I am now a master's student specializing in control systems and my lab especially work with drones but what they are doing in this video still feels far-fetched for my current capabilities. The algorithms they are running onboard is truly remarkable. I am really interested in how they derived the mathematical model of the dynamic system so as to manipulate the drones to do what they want (system identification or physics first principles?). Also, as he said at the end about the students to look out for them, I at least know about one of them, Dario Brescianini who went on to create Omnicopter. This is extremely inspiring as a control engineering student. Thank you so much!

[@flat-earther]

hi orangedurito, have you become a flat earther yet?

[@50kT]

2020 here and this is still impressive to watch

[@jamesmorrissette741]

Fr

[@dandan6778]

2021 here... holy crap!

[@dandan6778]

All I can think is military though

[@hazonku]

@@dandan6778 Military treats Terminator like a documentary. There's ALWAYS a person in the loop. Even 15 years ago they were super impressed but still very iffy about man portable systems that could fly a set path & return to home on their own. Now that's something you can pickup at your local mall.

[@yacine47958]

2023

[@coryvenezia5530]

I’m a fpv drone pilot and the drones I fly can do pretty amazing things like flipping through a gap or diving down a waterfall. And speeds up to 120 miles per hour. Drones truly are an amazing new thing.

[@tiaedwards8320]

Do you have content ?

[@DannyRice01]

DJI: wRITE THAT DOWN, WRITE THAT DOWN

[@2cool0]

dji writes down* "use mathematical models"

[@samario_torres]

hahahahaha...I didnt see this comment until I had a full page of comments written down

[@evgenytilezhinsky2016]

So true

[@lulinminthein9243]

lol

[@felixcsao4184]

Dji founded way before this video came out

[@dsp4392]

10:15 "These three quads are cooperatively carrying a sky net." *no reaction from the audience*

[@Pinkie007]

And this is from 8 years ago. I want to see another one of these with what we have today. Very impressive!

[@jakubmacuha624]

yeah, one would not belive that is summer 2013. which is 9 years ago by now

[@callumrock6797]

we use AI in drones now thanks to raspberry pis getting powerful enough in the last few years to run more complicated OS like windows you can basically make mechanical bugs like wasps that swarm and communicate with modern drones

[@theharshal]

Check DJI Dock Systems !

[@chetan5848]

This is an expression of a high level of control theory, physics, and embedded programming. Marvellous engineering!

[@andrew1031]

This was in 2013!! Honestly, this is why we need to keep ourselves informed about this while informing others so that amazing things like this get more public knowledge and therefore a bigger budget

[@Wolfmaxy]

2022 now lol

[@AZ-bx8yi]

This has been one of my favorite TED talks... EVER. Not only because the content was so amazing, but the speaker deserves a Nobel Prize... simply amazing.

[@joelw2413]

A Nobel Prize??

[@iPROxIAMROCK]

@@joelw2413 Considering the capabilities of consumer drones today and the level this man was at 9 years ago. Yeah, a Nobel prize sounds about right. The net algorithm alone probably led to countless lives being saved in search and rescue missions.

[@michaelking3629]

I first saw this lecture years ago, and WOW it still doesn't disappoint.

[@MsRichardyang]

This is mind blowing, especially when you have knowledge in control method, microprocessors, image processing and embedded systems. I can't even imagine the work behind these little machines.

[@Patchuchan]

+Richard Yang There must have been so many crashes before they got this right.

[@jordansnodgrass4659]

+Patchuchan i doubt that , they probably have virtual testing with this type of knowledge!

[@stratepaper8508]

You just admitted to having KNOWLEDGE of how these things work WHY imagine?NOT LOGICAL

[@zoransegic593]

atack of drones

[@nobytes2]

@@jordansnodgrass4659 Yes, there are all kinds of simulation engines like ROS.

[@sentdex]

Awesome live demo of quadcopters + modeling algos

[@stare4539]

Lool

[@darrensamim]

DJI would like to know this man's location.

[@user-zk5bn9nx4y]

IP is your location

[@alineadeparacetamol9639]

A Chinese spy, on place, already has improved the DJI drones

[@felixcsao4184]

Dji founded way before this video came out

[@itshades9387]

Watch and Subscribe for latest videos on recent technology topics to equip your self better for a professional career in IT. Regards ITshades.com team kzbin.info/door/mfVPKOQ2IMEQQW25P4-IhQ

[@joneslee9084]

@@alineadeparacetamol9639 DJI，2006

[@MrCbell57]

AS someone growing up as a young kid in the 60s I never envisioned our future would have such technological advances this quickly. But it is 2020 and the year even seems futuristic compared to 1960. I understand we have many more advances then even the population knows about. Incredible times we are living in for sure.

[@TheLoopThatIsTheSame]

A Skynet, you say?

[@Steele514]

+TheLoopThatIsTheSame Haha I rushed to the comments as soon as he said that.

[@miwoj]

+Timo Tay same. somehow i knew what the top comment would be.

[@Straylight4299]

+TheLoopThatIsTheSame Hunter-killer incoming!!

[@nocopyrightsoundsncs9303]

skynet is bad

[@christianskytte5507]

TheLoopThatIsTheSame mentioning Skynet in a machine corporation demonstration, is probably not a good idea.

[@silverdragon_goldenraichu_1227]

11:48 *THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE*

[@emirhan8740]

telekinesis :D

[@michaelmello42]

Masterful presentation and demo and easily one of the top 5 TED talks I have ever seen.

[@maarten9844]

this dude: "they are inherently unstable, they need some form of automatic feedback control" any fpv pilot: "hold my beer"

[@KompletterGeist]

pretty sure fpv drones have gyro control unit in them

[@bspringer]

@@KompletterGeist they do. But they can still be unstable because of noise (physical and electrical noise) as well as wind and turbulences

[@MachineManGabb]

HOLD MY BEER

[@kjj8770]

Yup

[@MinhTran-wn1ri]

@8:51 Try to do that with your fpv pilots.

[@EduardoBSandoval]

It has been one of the most awesome Talks that I have seen in my life! Great job and even better presentation. It was mesmerising!

[@TimoBleeker]

That's really awesome.

[@whydoiliketotravel547]

interested travel interview consider subscribing to inspire and get inspired kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIa5p4KNmbacpM0

[@TehTezMan]

these, for me, are some of the most fun kinds of things to engineer. it's so satisfying when painstaking debugging and research into algorithms results in automation.

[@florescentadolescent8534]

My fave TED talk, I love being made to feel like a child full of wonder.

[@wahyuadnyana2296]

Very inspiring! And I can't even think how complicated the algorithm was🤯

[@fares8968]

Whenever he does a cool thing with the drones he makes that face like "I'm such a boss"

[@yosayogi539]

Amazing. I love that spin flying technique. The glass of water was so cool. Thank you for this demo.

[@marcioaraujo5317]

Mais de 7 anos depois da postagem, e ainda continua incrivelmente inteligente estes drones. -Parabéns !!!

[@samuelsantos1006]

Conhece um site que vende?

[@santiagoyeomans]

7 years later and this video still inspires me everyday

[@ophotovideo]

2019 and still want to cry.... awesome

[@AG.Floats]

I remember first seeing a small but powerful quad copter like 10 something years ago. It truly was nothing like anything at the time. How fast it could turn and maneuver blew my mind. Now they are super normal and I own multiple different types.

[@matheuscardoso1]

Astounding. The power of human intelect and technology made me cry. What a work of art you guys did there

[@peacefuljeffrey]

And eventually it will render human intellect inferior and obsolete.

[@bernardotod9962]

April 2020, and still impressive to watch

[@w0lv3rin3_arm64]

Awesome demonstration. Loved the myriad of things they could do. Appreciate the effort you have put for developing the algorithms.

[@ssundiall2]

6:50 and every quad enthusiast cried

[@logicalson]

A desperate villain he is!

[@angelicagalaxy]

Wow.... It's amazing and mind blowing i can't even imagine the work behind these little machines... Great👍👍

[@Joe_Blo]

I'm watching this 7 years later. Drones, or quads, have come a long way.

[@TNCChannelofficial]

11:48 WOW! He's a Jedi

[@oihdnuoc679]

No hes just german

[@BENBEN-wc2en]

he is hitler

[@2M7F]

야생 생존 유투바 와밨습니다,

[@stare4539]

Loool

[@51KTM51Hurricane]

that was 6 years ago... where are we now? the future is bright, the future is dangerous

[@user-ph8ys2dx7j]

Now everyone can buy it in AliExpress for like 500$ kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHPFkJ6JhJipitE

[@MachineManGabb]

We are in the age of FPV drones

[@aymen3962]

Now we went from analogic to digital goggles. And cheaper cost to get to FPV as well as ripping motors and transmitters/receivers for very long range. And you can link a hundred or more of drones together so they’ll do tasks collectively perfectly in the air. Machine learning became very present also so the drones could do pretty anything now. They are used by firefighters, military...

[@anarchyjinflames]

@@MachineManGabb FPV drones are just big boy toys and are already considered old tech. The only reason they're so popular now is because the technology has existed long enough to be affordable. You can get a 4k FPV drone with a couple hundred dollars. That's why you see them in a lot of practical applications now. There are enough pilots out there to support an actual industry. The reality is that those pilots were bred out of a good software and technology. The flight controllers got better, dropping the skill gap overall needed to be a pilot. Now, anyone can be a pro FPV racer because the flight controller technology has evolved by a huge magnitude since when this video was made. The tech is getting better, not the pilots. Today, the real bleeding edge of Drone tech is swarm technology. This same research group already proved that with their last and most recent presentation. Using multiple drones in cooperation to fulfill complicated tasks. There are start ups out there trying to use drone swarms to replace pilots for the cartographic and general surveying they were doing before. There are already two large special events firms using drone swarms to replace conventional fireworks. The human pilot is obsolete technology, unfortunately.

[@MachineManGabb]

@@anarchyjinflames I agree with some of the things you are saying, but there is a lack of insight, you should try building an and flying and actual fpv drone before talking about how the technology is super easy and out of time, the escs used for fpv drones are for example way ahead of most other prosumer electronics, also they are not "easy" to fly, that's sort of the point

[@MBXD001]

this dudes always been ahead of time. Look how effortlessly the drone is hoverin

[@shern92]

This is pure amazing. Great work Raffaello!

[@zimtak111]

10:16 Dude, NEVER mention SKYNET while showcasing cutting-edge technical.😅

[@Burley_Bert]

Welcome to nerd humor.

[@lincolnfrancis3377]

I was thinking the same exact thing.

[@redlinedynotuning654]

I think 🤔 that it was intentional

[@Langor]

I, for one, welcome our computer overlords

[@1luckyvoodoo]

😅😅😅

[@Boog_masskway]

“These 3 quads are cooperatively carrying a skynet” ..I see what you did there!

[@fenglongsong4760]

Best TED video I've ever seen. This is also the first impression I got about ETH Zurich. Really impressive!

[@staspetryshyn]

It amazes me that this vid was actually uploaded 10 years back.

[@letsif]

Perfect video to show school kids to get them hooked on math.

[@FarhadOmid]

I've found a new hobby: juggling quadcopters. On Pluto.

[@operator8014]

Not with THAT attitude!

[@otiebrown9999]

Excellent, beautiful, persuasive!

[@TheCMajor9th]

amazing and very well explained ty Raffaello D'Andrea and TED

[@trailingaccomplice3449]

Who in 2019 is still amazed by this?

[@user-wo4es9xr7n]

no one

[@scratchy5238]

I wanna know what they can do now

[@trailingaccomplice3449]

@@scratchy5238 Not sure about now, but I'm sure in the near future people will be walking around with their small personal drone in follow. It'll become an even bigger annoyance than everyone and their smart phone now. lol

[@Dmn0PT]

Wtf this is from 2013, I was surprised and I thought it was from 2019!!!!

[@simplycy919]

This technology has existed since the 80’s and is relatively simple algorithms relatively speaking. Brought to the public 30 years later. Imagine what they have NOW. They’ve had and used moscovium (element 115) since the early 80’s With people like Bob Lazar talking about it back then. Although the “discovery” of element 115 is claimed to have been in 2003. Trust me, this element is being used on earth either by us, or some outside force. Probably both.

[@ChukwumaOnyeijeMD]

This was absolutely amazing!

[@HolaACchillin]

7 years ago a drone flew at Ted talk. Look what we are doing with them now. Great programming demonstration!

[@Billabongesta]

It's almost 2022, and this is still mind-blowing!

[@hamza1234510]

This(and his awesome team) guy made these marvellous machines almost 5 years ago, just imagine the progress we've since made. This is why I love robotics and UAVs.

[@redhakaraali6512]

it's so amazing, the true power of control, i wish i have the chance to work in a company witch makes projects like this

[@SteveMartinUSA]

This was eight and a half years ago and it's still a great video. I'd love to see an update in 2022.

[@Lova744]

This is Magic! Yeah, it took me 7 years to like this video. Amazing stuff!!

[@XxChocoTacoxX]

I would like this 20 times if I could. This is AWESOME!!!

[@seapeoples9461]

these are the next generation of rocket scientists. The next generation of unmanned vehicles and machines will change our lives forever.

[@mirandolina6282]

Extraordinar,fantastic,mii de mulțumiri și pentru traducere și pentru prezentare

[@MeikoHagino3101]

This is a masterpiece of engineering. It's really difficult to understand completely the whole thing about control theory and modeling something but you combined all of them in this project. Impressive

[@user-yb2un1cn7z]

物理学运动模型的建立、matlab仿真、控制理论、嵌入式软件的编程。我也很喜欢无人机

[@angelo3d]

Amazing. I felt as if the drones had a life of their own. It really was exciting to see them in action interacting with the human and each other. Even though choices are for the good of humanity.

[@nirmalv9403]

KZbin took 8 years to show me the video

[@shubhankardasgupta4777]

Me too... Sad story *Welcome to how the f**K it was not recommended earlier*

[@mikeeru]

You're not too good in math, are you

[@nirmalv9403]

@@mikeeru how did you know that 🤔

[@murphfee617]

Who knew it was 2021 Aleady. Wow how time flys

[@IMOUT]

@@murphfee617 thinking the same :)

[@daffyduck4195]

I'm blown away. This is like a magic show. They showed how math and algorithm can control performance. Incredible. And this was a 2013 video?

[@olivernorth7418]

Maths and computers existed in 2013, you know.

[@Felixnavidad231]

I love how sad everyone was when he clipped the propellers.

[@FrostWolfNation]

They are not just robots and drones... they are friends.

[@aliquandoinsanireiucundume9017]

@@FrostWolfNation yes 😍

[@swesleyc7]

Robots with a skynet you say... RUN!!!

[@LosWackos]

10:17 he said it himself, skynet is coming

[@JakesMusicPalace]

The force is strong with this one...

[@omzer97]

15:56 the guy is wearing Google glass :D

[@stephenpowstinger733]

Yes, what a disappointing product.

[@ItsJimdevera]

and he thinks he was the coolest guy there😂 but he is one of the developer and an Engineer so he is cool👌🏻

[@SweetTearOfBlood]

"THEY EVEN CARRY A SKYNET" ???? WHAT DA am i too drunk or is it really starting , omg i got to sleep

[@jaxoncroydon3516]

whats a skynet

[@networkservices3121]

Ill be back! Terminator.

[@user-cn5ff6tj3y]

FlyRC a wonderful AI made by Russia (just kidding

[@seekr6964]

Jaxon Croydon look it up

[@LE55ONS]

Very interesting, just thinking about those algorithms gives me a headache :-)

[@Holako92]

lol. By luck, I found you here after watching your videos.. There is a book called "How algorithms role the world" must read it

[@LE55ONS]

Holako92 I'll add it to my bucket list :-)

[@justinsalazar4952]

Al Gore has no rhythm.

[@Vousie]

I Googled it. Found no such book. The only similar one I could find was called "Automate This: How Algorithms Came to Rule Our World". Not sure if that's it. But I did find a Guardian article with the exact title you mentioned...

[@lucav4045]

heh what?

[@riverbankfisher]

Wow here I am watching this in 2020, seven years after the video was posted, and these amazing quadcopter feats look futuristic. One can only speculate about the evolution of this technology, till date.

[@MrSmithFPV]

I need some of these functions for my race quad! :D

[@jiffcia]

pls add one thing in the drone, avoid the trees

[@AlexMageethefirst]

+Jeff z lol, thats all down to your skills man!

[@jiffcia]

+Alex Magee sigh.... i just crash a P3 pro

[@AlexMageethefirst]

ohh. that sucks man. But at least now you have an excuse to get an inspire...

[@Patchuchan]

+Jeff z This works by having several cameras up in the ceiling and some fairly powerful computers doing the visual processing. You can see several Kinects and HD cameras up in the rafters. The balls on the drones are reference points for the cameras so the computer can see the orientation of each quadcopter.

[@426productions]

+Jeff z Checkout the phantom 4.

[@Sammpo]

May the force be with you 11:46

[@ppetrosyanarnold9869]

THIS IS AMAZING

[@caffeinum]

His face when he’s controlling the drone with a stick... Makes me think of a Bartie Crowch from Harry Potter running Imperium on a spider

[@meh855]

Imagine showing this to someone at the Middle Ages lol

[@meh855]

Timerºº Exactly

[@samuelyang6463]

Black magic, sorcery, the evil spirit is with u!

[@Theo4871]

Samuel Yang It's a witch, burn it!

[@samuelyang6463]

+Timerºº haha

[@bendikbender]

Does it HUUURT?

[@AstroSpaceDiscoveries]

this is awesome .... how far technology go so far omg!!

[@zandiskoul]

Did you see Terminator?

[@nilewalker7240]

I can't comprehend how nearly a decade later this talk is so astounding.

[@superman333333333]

Still one of the most impressive tech demos I've seen.

[@sieve5]

If you don't have a degree in computer science: An Algorithm is almost like a function which includes instructions on how to behave. This "algorithm" can be called when a certain criteria is detected to produce a desired output. In this case, the output takes form of the quadcopter's reaction by stabilizing itself. Anyone else please feel free to correct me, just trying to offer some fleeting insight.

[@chrismo6268]

+sieve5 In this case, it is a process of solving a problem by breaking the problem down(stability) into chunks and tackling them one after the other

[@user-sw2er4bv1r]

the reactions are priceless

[@nikellance8711]

All those confused and surprised faces in the back...... Priceless

[@JamesDory]

I keep watching this video so many times.

[@dharmeshsolanki4354]

3:51 Wingardium Leviosa 😂😂

[@spearmint4093]

im so in love with these quadrocopters. wish they were big enough for me to fly in them :D so coool

[@PassportGods]

Soon.

[@JohnForbes]

+JE ENN This is similar, www.cbc.ca/news/technology/hoverboard-duru-1.3270569

[@SurfistaCamad]

+JE ENN Wouldn't be a UAV would it

[@allmightlionthunder5515]

+JE ENN most likely is already

[@khaledtaha2571]

+JE ENN Technically you can use a GoPro or any camera capable of recording 360 video and mount it in a first person view position... You can then use a VR headset to look around :D I'm doing an internship on UAV designs and hopefully I'll be able to do something similar by the end :)

[@storm14k]

I remember when I first saw this stuff and I wanted to write my own software and build my own. I looked around and bought a very old frame kit, I eventually got an Rpi style computer for a controller and by the time I finally got motors and tried to begin programming it all flight controllers had become common and drone racing was taking off. I said screw it all I understand the theory and started looking at building. Now I've got a few built that died and one on the bench and now bind and fly's are cheap and seem to be the way to go over building. Finally decide to go the bind and fly route and I see now the whoop class drones are the big thing. Boy time really does fly like crazy once you hit 35+.

[@jivanvetrivel5995]

Saw this vid back when i was like 7 or 8 It was like my favorite vid back then

[@SpiritofSix]

The world always seems to be changing and I'm glad to be part of the next big change. May Man never stop creating and evolving! Haha

[@bowensupple5107]

I wanted to clap whenever the crowd did.

[@jerryk974]

This is truly impressive！

[@frostyboo2]

Outstanding

[@DudeForSureMan]

mind blowing

[@melenefoti]

The beauty of math!!! You can make an unstable drone fly like a charm!!! Amazing work

[@TacticalPhoenixYT]

arent all dji drones stable? gps???

[@bellissima.pr.agency]

very good TEDx! Thanks!!!

[@Jayhhardy]

This is awesome. Why Haven't I seen this

[@SweetTearOfBlood]

youtube is fascinating and scary at the same time , most of the time i see things that can or will someday kill us , new weapons inventions and stuff that look cool in the first place but highly lethal on the second. well maybe its just me .. but i love revolution ... i am really excited for the future , wish i could live forever just to see progress ... or the end

[@ericteschke513]

@We the People News That's some optimism that should be printed on the back of a cereal box!

[@simonschrufer8286]

Wow, it is sooo astonishing. And it’s 7 years ago. I would like to see what they are capable of now!

[@GhostedGamer]

there are lots af drones that are as impressive if not more impressive than this, ie drones with gimbals, drones that use gps and sattelites, drones a human can fly in, etc 👍

[@hinni1997]

This is just so unbelievably cool

[@GustavoBragaCanal]

6:25 drone is like: did you say injured? I'm out of here.