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CyberRunner Completes Labyrinth in Just 14.48 Seconds!

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AI robot labyrinth record

AI robots are no longer non-athletic nerds who can only shine on the chess and go board. They now have human-like dexterity and can complete complex physical tasks. 

Lars-Goran Danielsson set the world record for completing a labyrinth in 2022 with an impressive time of 15.41 seconds. The Swede, who has been playing the game for 35 years, didn’t expect his record to ever be beaten, and certainly not by a robot. 

However, CyberRunner had other players. This AI-powered robot created by researchers at ETH Zurich breezed past Danielsson’s record, completing the game in 14.48 seconds. Incredibly, it only took CyberRunner six hours to learn the game. With such little practice, it was still able to shave 6% off the record and officially become the best labyrinth player on the planet.

What Is Labyrinth?

Labyrinth is a maze game where you maneuver a small metal ball through a maze filled with obstacles and traps. The game typically consists of a wooden or plastic board with a series of intricate pathways and holes, and players use knobs or tilting mechanisms to tilt the board and guide the marble toward the finish line.

To play, each player starts with their marble at the beginning of the maze. The objective is to navigate the maze’s twists and turns, avoid pitfalls and dead ends, and reach the designated endpoint as quickly as possible. Players must use delicate movements and precise timing to control the marble’s speed and direction, as even the slightest miscalculation can send the marble careening off course.

The game often features multiple levels of difficulty, with increasingly complex mazes that challenge players’ dexterity and spatial awareness. The winner is the player who successfully guides their marble to the finish line in the shortest amount of time. 

The classic maze game was released all the way back in 1950 by Swedish company BRIO, so it’s fitting that a Swedish player is the human world record holder. The Malmö based company is famous for its toy trains, particularly its Thomas the Tank Engine series.

How Did CyberRunner Break the Record?

CyberRunner is a Swiss robot that features a simple design consisting of a camera, two motors, and a computer. The motors act as the robot’s eyes, while the camera allows it to see, and the computer turns CyberRunner into a super genius. When these three components combine, the unremarkable robot suddenly becomes the best labyrinth player on the planet. 

While CyberRunner may be a fancy AI-powered robot, it still learns, just like us, via trial and error. However, it improves at a rapid pace and rarely makes the same mistake twice due to the power of model-based reinforcement learning. The robot can successfully predict the outcomes of numerous potential actions and find the optimal path.

The roboticists from ETH Zurich trained CyberRunner like a dog by providing praise and rewards when it successfully performed and negative feedback when it made mistakes. The AI-powered robot was able to store this feedback in its memory and incorporate the new information into its strategy. 

CyberRunner continually improved as it received more feedback and played more rounds. Unlike humans, its performance was consistently getting better without any setbacks. Before long, it was playing perfectly. It took the Swiss robot just 6.06 hours of labyrinth practice before it was ready to beat the record. CyberRunner ultimately completed the game in 14.48 seconds, just a little over one second quicker than previous record holder Lars-Goran Danielsson.

CyberRunner became bolder and bolder during the testing phase. The Swiss robot was constantly looking for shortcuts and ways to make the game easier. The researchers even had to code clearer rules to prevent the out-of-control robot from just bypassing sections of the maze. It’s fascinating that CyberRunner mimicked the very human desire to cheat and take advantage of lackadaisical rules.

CyberRunner is marching AI’s development forward. It’s proven that robots can beat humans when it comes to games that involve not only intelligence but also physical skills. The roboticists at ETH Zurich have made their research open-source so others can build on their breakthrough. We’re getting to a tipping point where AI robots are about to surpass humans in all skills and activities!

Read more: When Man Goes Against Machine: Introducing Cue6

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Drone

When Half Measures Won’t Do

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The Dubicki FPV Doctrine

Thumbnail from an interview on Youtube

There are those among us who see the world not in shades of gray but in stark contrasts of black and white. In their veins runs a conviction so profound. It rejects the notion of middle ground, of half-hearted attempts and lukewarm passions. 

This is a realm where Dubicki FPV, shares his power of commitment. Not merely navigating the skies in drone racing events but embodying a philosophy that separates the extraordinary from the mundane. 

Dubicki’s saga, culminating in his first international appearance at the MultiGP Sharjah, is not just a chronicle of competitive expertise. It is a testament to the impact of diving into passion with everything one’s got.

The Birth of a Philosophy

From seemingly harmless beginnings — a child love-struck by the possibilities of flight. Dubicki FPV didn’t merely ‘grow into’ his role as a racer on the global FPV racing stage; he seized it. With the determination of someone for whom doing things by halves is close to not doing them at all. For him, drone racing went beyond being a mere hobby or an interesting pastime — it transformed into a calling that demanded his all.

“Diving halfway in? That was never an option,” Dubicki states during his interview.

From the early days of local events into the growing world of an international scene. Dubicki’s path articulates a powerful message: 

The greatest endeavours demand not just our interest, but our complete and utter immersion.

Curating a Legacy in Totems of Dedication

In Dubicki’s world, commitment speaks louder than words.

His commitment is filled in the countless hours of practice. The meticulous study of every movement, every turn, and in the stubbornness to rise from every crash. This is where Dubicki’s story moves away from the ordinary — his journey is marked not by the trophies but by the pursuit of mastery over his skills.

MultiGP Sharjah wasn’t only a platform for competition. It was Dubicki’s “first international event” — a testament to his dedication. 

Even though he struggled with the cameras, interviews, and pressure that he is yet to get used to — Dubicki has opened the doors to a brand new world. The one in which he hopefully stays for longer. 

Black and white.

But is the world of 100% commitment only positive? 

“I cannot do things casually” — Dubicki claims in his interview.

While we can all agree that his commitment and hard work are something to congratulate on and look up to — there’s another side of the idea.

And it’s not all black and white.

In life, some people only know how to give everything they’ve got to what they do. They can’t just do something a little bit or just for fun. For them, it’s all or nothing. They dive deep into their passions, putting their whole heart into it, or they don’t bother at all. 

This intense way of living might look risky to others because it seems like these people don’t know how to take it easy. But for them, going halfway just isn’t enough. It certainly wasn’t for Dubicki.

This full-on approach turns hobbies into more than just hobbies; it turns them into big parts of their lives. Their way of doing things fully can lead to amazing achievements and can change the areas they are passionate about in big ways. Yet, this same intensity asks a lot of them. They need to make sure they don’t lose themselves in their pursuit of what they love.

By embracing their interests fully, these individuals don’t just live life; they light it up. They show the power of putting your all into something, reminding us that it’s possible to do great things when we dive in completely, not just dipping our toes in.

Thanks for reading!

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French Prodigy Redefines FPV Drone Racing

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KillianFPV and his journey from a child pilot to a global star

There’s a raw, untold beauty in the grind — the endless hours, the relentless pursuit, the sacrifices. It’s a story often hidden behind the curtain of glory, especially in rapidly growing world of FPV (First-Person View) drone racing

Here, in this niche yet fiercely passionate community, starts a story so compelling — it demands to be told. This is the ascent of Killian FPV, a testament to where sheer will and passion can elevate you. It’s a story that doesn’t just map the trajectory of a prodigious French pilot but serves as a universal beacon for what dedication embodies.

The Spark of Passion

Before the career, before the recognition, there was a child with a dream.

Killian’s journey didn’t begin on the racing track; it started in the quiet moments of wonder, the first time he sent a drone into the sky. From those early flights came a realisation that would define his path — flight was not just a fascination; it was his calling.

In a world quick to dismiss aspiration of kids (mostly as the allmighty “just a phase”), Killian’s passion for drones won against all odds. It was a spark that needed nurturing — a promise of what could be if that passion were given the wings to fly. 

And fly it did.

From his first race — Killian was getting high positions and trophies. A proof of concept of the highest order.

Crafting a Legacy

Killian’s story can seem unbelievable. It’s a story of the skies — each manoeuvre, each race, a line in the chapter of his legacy. 

This wasn’t a path paved with ease (they usually aren’t); it was one forged through the relentless honing of skill. Through the countless crashes and the painstaking rebuilds that followed. 

Following an idea of Build, Fly, Crash, Repeat.

Here, in the debris of broken drones and shattered expectations, Killian found his greatest lessons. It was a proof that failure is not a bad thing — it was a lesson. Something to further build him up — to mold him into a competitor feared and revered.

Globally.

The essence of Killian’s journey is not captured in the swift, adrenaline-fueled moments of racing alone but in the silent hours of preparation — the relentless tinkering, the study of every failure, and the formulation of strategies. It’s in these unseen moments that champions are usually made. 

And it was here that Killian transformed from a dreamer into a master of drone racing (With a recent win during the MultiGP International Open).

Beyond the Pilot

To understand the magnitude of Killian’s achievements is to recognise that his journey was more than a personal quest for glory. 

It was a storyline intertwined with the fabric of the FPV community — a story that inspired and was inspired by the pilots, the enthusiasts, and the dream-keepers of the racing world.

Killian’s story is a testament to the profound impact of dedication and time. Not as a mere pursuit of success but as an embodiment of the purest love for flight. It’s about pushing the limits, not only of the drones he pilots but of his own potential, challenging the very boundaries of the sky.

A Horizon Without Bounds

As Killian looks to the skies, his story unfolds as a vivid reminder to all who dream: the journey toward excellence has no shortcuts. 

It’s a path littered with challenges, but it’s within these challenges that greatness is forged. Through Killian’s eyes, we see a future, a domain where passion and perseverance are the only currencies that matter.

Killian FPV story is obviously far from over. With each flight, he charts a course not just for himself but for future generations of pilots who dare to dream. 

In the expansive blue, where the drone becomes an extension of his will, Killian writes a narrative that resonates far beyond the racing tracks. It’s a story of ambition, resilience, and an unyielding passion for the skies — a narrative that, like his drones, knows no bounds.

In the flight of Killian FPV, we’re reminded of the profound truth that greatness takes years; it demands more than we believe we have, yet gives back infinitely more in return. His journey is a clarion call to all who seek to transcend the ordinary — the dreamers, the doers, and the believers — that with unwavering determination and hard work, the sky is not the limit; it’s just the beginning.

Watch the full interview with Killian here

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What if it’s not a “Phase” but the future career? ScreetcherFPV Origin story

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How allowing kids to follow their passions may change their life

Thumbnail of the interview with ScreetcherFPV

There’s something profoundly transformative about the journey of a young soul from the spark of curiosity to the top of their passion.

It’s a narrative that shows not in the leaps of adulthood but also where every encouragement is a gust of wind beneath wings. This is the essence of ScreetcherFPV’s story, a narrative that speaks to the inherent potential within every child’s interest. Waiting, just at the edge of encouragement, to expand into a destiny that not only promises mastery but also pure, unadulterated joy.

It’s not a phase

“Welcome,” I say, “to the journey of ScreetcherFPV, a tale that takes us through the potential, passion, and the profound influence of a community in the flight of a young dreamer.”

Coming from Beach City, Ohio, ScreetcherFPV, a testament to what becomes of a child’s curiosity when met with opportunity and support. By the age of 16, he had succeeded as FPV Drone Racing Pilot. Claiming the third place at the MultiGP International Open in 2023, but he had also subtly reshaped the perceptions of what young individuals can achieve with a drone, some ambition, and a supportive tribe.

His initiation wasn’t draped in the silks of victory; it was, instead, wrapped in the heartwarming simplicity of toy drones. A gift from his grandfather — that acted as the kickstarter for his passion for flight. 

“It was an awful Walmart drone” — Screetcher recalls.

For him the FPV fest in 2019 was not an event but a rite of passage. There, surrounded by veterans of flight, ScreetcherFPV, with his modest plastic drones, found not ridicule but a community eager to uplift. It wasn’t simply about building a better drone; it was about building a dreamer.

And he has built his first drone at an age of 12. 

A Race That Redefined Destiny

Freestyle and cinematic flying captivated his imagination with the open skies of possibility. Yet it was the drone racing event he attended that took his heart. 

It took just one global qualifier, orchestrated by Paul Atkins, to move Screetcher’s path from cinematic art into adrenaline-filled racing world.

Racing was no longer perceived as laps around a track but as a an exciting opportunity for pilots and their drones, underscored by a community that thrived on camaraderie and mutual respect.

What Screetcher claims to be the best part of FPV Drone racing?

The community. 

An unexpected part that stopped him against the tumult of broken parts and the brink of quitting. Here lies the heart of ScreetcherFPV’s story — the realisation that within the collective lies the strength to persevere, to refine, and to grow.

Future of Racing?

ScreetcherFPV believes that in the future FPV racing will change from a niche passion to a global spectacle. He hopes for everyone to make it a lucrative career, and for the people to see how amazing it can be.

The story of ScreetcherFPV emerges not only as an account of individual achievement but as a call to allow kids (12yo) to follow their passions. It’s a narrative that urges us to perceive the hobbies and interests of the young not as “phases” but as potential careers and lifelong joys. His journey underscores a universal truth: in nurturing the curiosities of our youth, we’re not just cultivating hobbies; we’re enabling the future pioneers.

ScreetcherFPV’s narrative is a beacon for every parent, mentor, and community. His story is a testament to the miracles that can happen when we allow passions to grow. It’s more than just the ascent of a young drone pilot; it’s a roadmap for empowering the next generation. It’s revealing that when given room to grow, passions will undoubtedly rise to the challenge, transforming novices into masters.

Watch the full interview with ScreetcherFPV here

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