The video applications of drones continue to mount, including the ability to help guide lost hikers on the right path.
That’s right: Drones appear to be close to capturing images of a forest path, applying a sophisticated algorithm and interpreting it all to find the right path, as detailed in an NBC News report.
“In these environments, any little error may result in a crash, and robots need a powerful brain in order to make sense of the complex world around them,” said Davide Scaramuzza of the University of Zurich. Scaramuzza is part of the Swiss and Italian team that created the drone system. It is supposed to identify forest paths about as well as humans.
Other recent security video uses of drones include the Orland Park Police Department in Illinois using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to assist in missing person searches and other crime-fighting tasks.
Teams of drones could search mountains or trails for lost or injured hikers faster than a rescue team, according to Scaramuzza, but he admits that their drones still need to be taught how to recognize humans.
