You will not believe the presence of 6 drones crazy

If the state of drones today is any indication, the time of I, Robot and The Terminator may be closer than we thought.

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While militarized drones are the focus of huge controversy in the U.S. and around the world, consumer drones and other experimental projects are using the technology in fascinating ways.

From open-source underwater exploration to autonomous penguin-like blimps, we've collected some of the stranger drones being planned or already in existence today. Ranging in size from small, bird-sized flying machines to 15,000-ton naval destroyers, the loose definition of "drone" encompasses quite a few different types of vehicles, with extremely varying uses.

1. The Facebook Drone

Facebook's global Internet access initiative, Internet.org, recently unveiled plans to bring broadband to developing countries through solar powered drones, flying at altitudes of 65,000 feet.

Flying above commercial drone, the drones will allow users on the ground to connect via microwave beams.

VIDEO: YOUTUBE, INTERNET.ORG 

2. The USS Zumwalt

As if it came straight out of that terrible summer 2012 blockbuster about battleships, the USS Zumwalt is a U.S. naval destroyer and drone. The ship has a computer intelligence capable of preparing for and engaging in battle, as well as responding to on-ship emergencies, such as fires. The ship's intelligence allows it to be manned by a crew as small as 40.

The Navy plans to launch three of the 15,000-ton drones.

IMAGE: FLICKR, CHUCK HAGEL

3. The OpenROV

An open-source, DIY submarine drone, the OpenROV was funded through Kickstarter, raising $90,000 more than its original goal. Through their laptops, users are able to pilot and the OpenROV while watching a live feed through its camera as the device explores underwater.

Being completely open-source, users can also develop and add to the ROV as they see fit.

VIDEO: YOUTUBE, ONE WORLD ONE OCEAN

4. Project C.U.P.I.D.

The Chaotic Unmanned Personal Intercept Drone (C.U.P.I.D.) is an experiment that Chaotic Moon Studios unveiled at this SXSWi 2014.

The drone comes equipped with the ability to shoot taser darts and target suspects with a laser sight. The studio has not revealed plans to make the drone commercially available.

VIDEO: YOUTUBE, CHAOTIC MOON TV

5. The AirPenguin

The AirPenguin, created by German automation company Festo, is an autonomous penguin-like drone that can move around freely in a defined air space through a microcontroller.

Festo is well-known for finding inspiration in nature, having developed other animal-like drones such as the SmartBird and the remote-controlled BionicOpter, based on the flight of dragonflies.

VIDEO: YOUTUBE, FESTOHQ

6. Flocking Quadcopters

A group of Hungarian researchers have created 10 drones that can autonomously flock together and self-organize while in flight.

Following the rules of collective motion, the drones will "wait their turn" when their pathway becomes more narrow. According to Gabor Vasarhelyi, the robotics lead of the project, the technology could be used in the future to deliver things like food or mail.

VIDEO: YOUTUBE, NATURE NEWSTEAM

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