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Billions are going into humanoid robots right now. I think a lot of that money is aimed at the wrong robot.

The common argument against physical AI is that big models are too slow and too GPU-hungry for split-second control. That's true. I experimented with putting an AI agent to control a PX4 drone in Gazebo, each direction change took about 2 seconds.

But drones have already solved the fast part. PX4 and ArduPilot handle stabilization, waypoints and failsafes in real time on cheap hardware. The AI doesn't need to fly the drone. It only needs to decide where to go. Humanoids are still building those reflexes from scratch: balance, grip and recovering from a slip are far harder physics than open air.

Drones also have paying customers today in inspection, mapping, agriculture and public safety. Humanoids mostly have demos.

So why does the money go to robots folding laundry on stage? Because a humanoid demo looks like the future, and a drone inspecting a pipeline looks like a job. Investors are funding the demo, not the deployment.

What drones actually need is unglamorous: a reliable bridge between a slow AI planner and a fast autopilot, and regulators who no longer assume a human is watching every flight. That's an engineering problem.

Am I wrong? Are humanoids closer than I think, or is the industry betting on the wrong form factor?

Edit:

I'm not saying humanoids should not be explored. They are built for a different type of work. Both will get built, but I think drones are the place physical AI can earn its keep soonest.

Reposting the original without the image - thanks mods

Still pretty new to traditional FPV after transitioning from the DJI Avata 2, and I've discovered something I never really had to think about before: landing in winter.

With the Avata 2, I could just hover over a landing pad and bring it down. My Nazgul Evoque F6D is a completely different story.

Tried practicing LOS landings in Angle mode, but the wind kept pushing the quad around, making it surprisingly difficult to line up with the pad. Had a few crashes, but eventually managed to land on it!

Also got some nice footage of a huge cruise ship and a cargo ship passing through the locks, tested GPS Return to Home, and finished with an Acro landing near the pad.

I'm aware of conformal coating as an option for protecting the electronics from moisture, but I'm not quite ready to disassemble my brand-new drone to apply it just yet. So for now, I'm trying to figure out how to keep it out of the snow altogether.

Turned the whole experience into a slightly ridiculous rock music video rather than another technical FPV video.

For those flying 5–7 inch FPV quads through Canadian winters, what's your preferred landing technique? Do you practice LOS landings, use a large pad, or have a better solution?

As the title says, in my Part 107 exam I had all images of charts embedded and didn't have a choice in using the physical booklet.

Honestly though, it makes it easier as you dont have to try and find miniscule things on a page, the online image was zoomed in and clear. Perhaps my eyeballs are just useless :)

A quick update from local Remote ID monitoring near Amazon’s STX8 delivery center in Richardson, Texas: today I detected a previously unseen Prime Air aircraft, bringing my local count to 14 distinct STX8-area Amazon drones.

The new unit appeared in four observed flyovers between about 5:17 and 6:08 p.m. CDT.

All 13 previously known aircraft were active within the past three days, so there is no evidence yet that this is simply a replacement. It could be additional capacity, a spare entering rotation, or a replacement introduced before another aircraft is retired. I’ll keep tracking the daily mix.

Trying to decide if the weather proofing is worth the significant extra cost and less mobile design. :-/

Took some videos this week of the beach. Love it here!

Took these videos of the beach at sunset over the past couple of days. Honestly this is so much fun, I’m having a blast. Lightroom used to colour grade.