Check this out...

Those actually use computer vision to track those little balls on the quads they are infrared reflective (usually) and use cameras that filter out other light and just see the glowing balls moving around, they use multiple cameras to effectively triangulate the position of the quad in the room similar to how GPS works but GPS accuracy for consumer products isn't nearly good enough to do this kind of precision tracking. That first clip you shared though was one of the things that got me really interested in quadcopters in the first place too.

You can also do some Bluetooth based localization/tracking with some of the newer Bluetooth low energy standards https://www.bluetooth.com/learn-about-bluetooth/solutions/location-services/ but again I think this is more in the realm of GPS tracking where it gives some rough approximations on locations, Military GPS is/can be far more precise but the stuff that is made accessible to the general public doesn't in general have or need that kind of precision.

If interested in exploring some of the tracking stuff for yourself and not afraid of some code would suggest check out OpenCV it is an open source library for writing programs that can use computer cameras as input and can identify various colors/shapes (called fiduciary markers in the computer vision world) and there are a ton of examples out there of how to hack it to do various things. I used it once for connecting to a MS kinect for attempting to scan objects in 3d (also controlling servo/platform with thing on it I was trying to scan, it sort of worked but 1st gen kinect resolution isn't that great so photogrammetry gets a better result).
 
I am a computer programmer analyst by trade. I worked in the field for 45 years. It is still amazing to think about the planning and coordination involved in a quadcopter event of this nature. What type of person is there that can establish the plan for this, create the software to do it then execute it with such precision. Where do you go to learn this type of source coding? Who has the time to figure it out then actually implement it? How much did they get paid to pull it off?
 
wafflejock said:
Maybe NSFW but fun example of the similar quality of code
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The kid looks like Harry Potter (young edition) maybe his name should be Harry Potty, cause he has toilet humor. Anyways, pissing beer into a cup? What's next replacing beer fountains in bars with beer pissing robots? Imagine a drink mixing robot too. There goes the Bartender trade.
 
LoneRCRanger said:
I am a computer programmer analyst by trade. I worked in the field for 45 years. It is still amazing to think about the planning and coordination involved in a quadcopter event of this nature. What type of person is there that can establish the plan for this, create the software to do it then execute it with such precision. Where do you go to learn this type of source coding? Who has the time to figure it out then actually implement it? How much did they get paid to pull it off?
Click to expand...
From what I've seen UPenn engineering puts out a lot of these public demonstrations using quads to do useful engineering type things, really applying the science, I think most of this stuff is still in the realm of academia. Universities have the budget and can throw a bunch of graduate students at the hard problems and get paid for it.... feels like they've found the ultimate scam :D (to be clear I am just being silly I believe in some of the value of higher education)

Regarding the YouTuber, he did let his bowl cut get especially goofy looking during pandemic but it is part of his "not well put together" brand I guess.
 
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