In one of the most exciting editions of “Man vs. Robot” in recent memory, researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California raced drones controlled by artificial intelligence against one of the best human pilots in the world, Ken Loo. And, fortunately for the human race, Loo whooped the AI-controlled pilot by nearly 3 full seconds.
As the above video points out, while Loo did have the notably faster time, the AI-controlled drone tackled the course with more precision and accuracy than the human pilot. With consistent acceleration and seamless turns, the AI-powered drone was definitely the prettier flyer. It’s important to remember that you don’t get a medal for a pretty race. This does, however, imply that the future of drone racing could be dominated by these methodical, robotic flyers. And luckily, that’s only a little bit terrifying.
