This week’s video comes from EPFL in Switzerland where quadcopters have worked together autonomously to build a weight-bearing rope bridge.
The project – Building structures with flying machines – is a collaborative effort at EPFL the Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control and the Chair of Architecture and Digital Fabrication.
According to the team, with the exception of anchor points at both ends of the structure, the 7.4m bridge consists exclusively of tensile elements and its connections and links are entirely realized by quadcopters.
What a wonderful example of lateral thinking! taking a technology from one area of expertise and applying it to others. I applaud those Engineers capable of doing so: constantly looking outside the envelope, comfort zone, etc. Looking forwards with inspiration, not backwards for precedent as so many of our apparent betters and leades do. I sincerely believe, having watched and read about innovations and links in and between all elements of technology, in our august (and January to December -sorry, just had to get that in!) journal for the past five years or so that we are reaching a pivotal point in mankind’s affairs: a critical mass of understanding and excellence and effective use of those great forces of Nature (that we as Engineers/technologists alone have the power to ‘direct’ ) to benefit all mankind. I sincerely believe that the ‘shams’ -those who manipulate mankind’s puny laws- will increasingly be eclipsed out of their present ‘control and subsequently, out of existance?
What a great extension of technology and team work. The world needs more of this rather than isolated and individualistic approaches to problem solving.