3D Printing of Photochromic Markers to Improve Identification and Coordination of Nano-Quadcopter Swarms

PI: Stefanie Mueller, Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, MIT

Nano-quadcopter swarms provide a wide range of new applications ranging from assembly tasks in manufacturing to the military. Identifying and coordinating nano-quadcopters in a swarm is still a challenging problem: As the number of quadcopters increases and their size decreases, existing markers that work based on spatial arrangements do no longer work. To solve this problem, we are developing a new 3D-printable nanoquadcopter that integrates custom photochromic markers. Such markers have the ability to change their color by shining light of a certain wavelength at them. This allows for a wide range of identifiers that can be changed any time.

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