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Mini Facial-Recognition Blimp Controlled by Hand Gestures

Our skies will become more congested with autonomous machines, whether they are used for deliveries, agriculture, or search and rescue. Georgia Tech roboticists are conducting research on controlling and interacting with teams of robots. They have created autonomous blimps that detect faces and hands, allowing people to easily direct them with movements. Tiny 3D-printed gondolas are attached to 18- or 36-inch blimps. The frames carry sensors that can detect faces and follow them. The blimp gathers information about its human operator, identifying wary glares from eager smiles. The goal is to better understand how people interact with flying robots.