Nailed it: Researchers unveil octocopter carpenter that attaches shingles to a roof using a nail gun

Researchers have unveiled an octocopter that attaches asphalt shingles to roofs using a nail gun and'virtual switch'. This robotic carpenter's software measures the force needed to compress the point of the nail gun and a human operator activates a virtual switch when the robotic carpenter is in place. Researchers have unveiled its roofing octocopter that attaches asphalt shingles to roofs using a nail gun and'virtual switch' The roofing octocopter is the brain child of researchers at the University of Michigan, which is part of the movement to shift humans from'dull, dirty and dangerous job' into'cleaner, safer and more interesting jobs'. 'For me, the biggest excitement of this work is in recognizing that autonomous, useful, physical interaction and construction tasks are possible with drones,' said Ella Atkins, a professor of aerospace engineering and robotics. The team used a system of markers and stationary cameras to enable the drone to precisely locate itself in space and the system was also used to tell it where to place the nails.