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Comment by matthavener | Hacker News Reader

doesn't seem that crazy when you see someone doing this kind of stuff without computer assistance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zzhriAN9Bc

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With respect to the skill displayed in that video, it's different from this research. The video you linked doesn't have the same precision displayed in the research; I don't think they'd be able to go from hovering, through a window, back to hovering as precisely as was shown in with the single copter craft.

The single copter craft does turns, flips and dances all around, but it's over a much larger area and nor is the human pilot trying to accomplish a particular task. I think he's just having fun, free-form style. The key difference, I think, is that a single copter craft can't change direction as quickly as the quad copter craft.

I do not dismiss this research: it is amazing. But, I also think you are underestimating the skill and sophistication of RC helicopter hobbyists. There are international competitions involving very complex, but well-defined and precise maneuvers.

For example, there is a maneuver named "chaos" in which the pilot continuously pirouettes while continuously flipping while continuously rotating the axis of the flip while holding the aircraft in a single position a few feet off the ground. It is tremendously difficult to even visualize this fully.

The research video also reminded me of this video, where an RC pilot lands on a vertical wall (without velcro): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ2HlePbD20#t=1m07s

That was an amazing stunt. Has something like that been used as a plot device in an action movie yet?

There was a stunt at the end of the Italian Job (the new one, of course) where a stunt pilot actually flew a full-size helicopter around inside a parking garage. Can't find the clip right now, probably DMCA'd :-/

A human has a really good vision system. We can easily differentiate the window (for example) from the rest of the environment without problem. Also, we have a pretty good 3D system, and with practice we can process the relative position of objects and use this processed information to control the helicopter/quadrotor.

In this project they are using Vicon to determine the position of the quadrotor and the window. Once that information is processed, the quadrotor is properly controlled and has good enough "feedback", the human control can no longer be a match for the precision of a computer.

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