Polytechnique students developing drone run by artificial intelligence

Students at Montreal'scole Polytechnique are hoping their drone will be the first to fly without a GPS or a human at the controls.The team is the only Canadian one still in the running for the top prize at the International Aerial Robotics Competition (IARC).

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Teamlikos has built a drone that is operated by artificial intelligence. The goal is to have the drone not only take off, fly and land on its own but also have it corrallittle robot vacuum cleaners that are circling on the ground.

"We try to rely as little as possible on pre-manufactured components," saysAlexandre Borowczyk, the team member incharge of the robotics of the drone.

"On our drone, the goal is to put new sensors, new capacities."

The team caught the judges' eyes at IARCheld in Atlanta, Georgiain August. But the competition is far from over; the teamto be the first to complete their objectives comes out on top.

But the team of students saysthey are realistic about their goal: theyexpect it will take at least two more yearsbefore they have a fully functioning autonomous drone.