When you hear the word "drone," you probably think of something either very useful or very scary. But could they have aesthetic value? Autonomous systems expert Raffaello D'Andrea develops flying machines, and his latest projects are pushing the boundaries of autonomous flight -- from a flying wing that can hover and recover from disturbance to an eight-propeller craft that's ambivalent to orientation ... to a swarm of tiny coordinated micro-quadcopters. Prepare to be dazzled by a dreamy, swirling array of flying machines as they dance like fireflies above the TED stage.

Raffaello D'Andrea: Meet the dazzling flying machines of the future

Meet the dazzling flying machines of the future

Autonomous drones build a tower in France, hinting at future roles in construction beyond human capability, redefining architecture.

Synthetic swarms of drones offer a new medium for artistic expression, demonstrating the harmony between technology and creativity.

Autonomous drones build structures and adapt to disturbances, heralding a future of versatile, self-sufficient machines.