Drones that dodge obstacles without guidance can pursue you like paparazzi

Artificially intelligent drones are coming--and they're going to shoot some really sick snowboarding videos along the way. A startup called Skydio is launching the first drone capable of visually imprinting on a person, a bit like a needy duckling, and then following him or her around, deftly navigating around trees, pylons, and other obstacles while shooting video. The new drone, called R1, will be marketed as an easy way to capture action like biking, skiing, or rafting in high-quality video. But Adam Bry, founder and CEO of Skydio, says his company is thinking about how it could be used to inspect roofs for damage and to patrol properties. Aerial vehicles are already being used to inspect buildings, perform security patrols, and tally inventory inside warehouses.