Collision-dodging drones can navigate tight spaces without crashing

Prototype drones capable of navigating dangerous and unpredictable environments without crashing could prove useful for search-and-rescue teams. Paolo De Petris at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and his colleagues have developed a flying drone that aims to avoid crashes altogether. The robot, called RMF-Owl, made its debut while winning a competition hosted by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, in which it had to navigate an underground mine and perform rescue-related tasks.