Invasion of the Robot Swarm

Little is known about Kmel Robotics, which apparently developed the robot swarm in partnership with GRASP Labs of the University of Pennsylvania.

Image: Kmel Robotics

A whirling swarm of robots has just been unleashed from the GRASP Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. With almost frightening precision, the 20 quadrotors transition between various three-dimensional formations, navigate around obstacles, and perform an eerily tight figure-eight maneuver.

But not to overemphasize the deftness of the swarm's maneuvering capabilities, one quadrotor, part boomerang, part dainty butterfly, can also be seen alighting on the hand of one of its creators with an almost delicate sense of loyalty.

Judging by a message posted on the KMel Robotics website, which jointly created the swarm, it seems they were not ready for the reception their creations have today received, and not even their corporate description has yet been posted.

What is so far apparent is that the mysterious company, cofounded by University of Pennsylvania graduates Daniel Mellinger (mechanical engineering) and Alex Kushleyev (electrical engineering), has partnered with the University of Pennsylvania's 7,000-square-foot GRASP Lab, which houses the robots and consists of a $10 million research center focusing on high-tech innovations, including a "self-constituting humanoid."

Work on the project is done by the two students and Vijay Kumar, PhD, the university's deputy dean of education.

We have contacted both organizations and hope to soon have an update on what applications are being considered for the technology.

Until more is known, enjoy the show.

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