The bridge built by DRONES: Scientists program flying robots that work together to construct a walkway that can support a human 

  • The drones are able to carry rope and tie it around two scaffold towers
  • The four-engined mini drones perform and intricate flying dance 
  • Each of the drones combines with the other to tie the rope bridge
  • The structure is capable of carrying an adult man across a gap of 24 feet 

By Darren Boyle for MailOnline

Published: 11:36 EST, 19 September 2015 | Updated: 06:23 EST, 23 September 2015

 A team of scientists have taught several drones to build a rope bridge suspended from a pair of scaffold platforms.

The drones carry the rope and using a range of highly elaborate manoeuvers wrap it around each platform. 

The experts from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology even get the drones to 'braid' the rope around itself. 

These four engine drones carry the rope and are able to wrap it around a scaffolding tower

These four engine drones carry the rope and are able to wrap it around a scaffolding tower

The small drones work together performing a series of complicated manoeuvres with the ropes

The small drones work together performing a series of complicated manoeuvres with the ropes

The drones can wrap the rope around itself to create the bridge which spans a distance of 24 feet

The drones can wrap the rope around itself to create the bridge which spans a distance of 24 feet

Once completed, the robe bridge, which stretches across 24 feet. It is also capable of supporting the weight of an adult human.

The flying machines are able to measure the distance between the two towers before designing and building the rope bridge automatically. 

The machines do not need to be flown manually as the software completes the calculations and co-ordinates the intricate flying. 

One of the researchers told Qz.com: 'Flying machines offer a number of advantages compared to traditional construction machines. Specifically, they can reach any point in space and fly in or around existing objects.'

According to the researchers: 'The rope bridge acts as a demonstrator, showing for the first time that small flying machines are capable of autonomously realising load-bearing structures at full-scale and proceeding a step further towards real-world scenarios.'

The research was completed by Federico Augugliaro, Ammar Mirjan, Fabio Gramazio, Matthias Kohler, and Raffaello D'Andrea. 

The drones can design and build the bridge themselves without the assistance of any humans 

The drones can design and build the bridge themselves without the assistance of any humans 

Once the bridge is completed it is capable of supporting the weight of an adult human 

Once the bridge is completed it is capable of supporting the weight of an adult human 

Comments (22)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now