Canadian researchers have developed flying robots which have the capability to gather by themselves into floating shapes and 3D-print objects in midair.
Keeping in mind that drones can now fly in complex patterns, researchers from Queens University in Ontario, Canada have reportedly created "BitDrones" that is available in three varieties.
The first kind is the "PixelDrone" that puts up little messages on an LED screen, the second kind shows a floating touch screen display, while the third kind called "ShapeDrones" are enclosed inside little cages, which can connect to each other.
Each drone is aware of the location of the other drones in space, and they can also produce objects in space with the help of a central controller.
As of now, 12 robots can fly at once, but the researchers expect to increase the number to 100 at a time in the future.
"BitDrones brings flying programmable matter, such as featured in the futuristic Disney movie Big Hero 6, closer to reality," Roel Vertegaal, a researcher of the project, said.
He added that the development of flying robots is a first move towards letting people "interact with virtual 3D objects as real physical objects," Techcrunch reported.
The research team termed this invention as a "real reality" border where the pixels are all physical objects.
As the drones are moved in sync or interacted with using the "DisplayDrones", researchers can simulate nearly any simple object.
In fact, the floating robots reportedly can also be given a set of eyes and ears with the help of the "BitDrone" that is connected to Skype, and hence, transfer audios and videos.
