AI robot builds robot’s brain 20x faster than humans

Computer scientist Peter Burke from the University of California has developed a novel system where generative AI models like ChatGPT autonomously generate the control software—or "brain"—for a drone, significantly accelerating the development process. Unlike traditional drone control software, Burke’s approach involves two "brains": a higher-level AI-generated control system called WebGCS, which runs a web-based dashboard on a Raspberry Pi onboard the drone, and a lower-level firmware managing flight operations. This system enables the drone to perform autonomous functions such as obstacle avoidance, with human operators able to intervene if necessary. Burke conducted multiple development sprints using various AI coding tools and models, overcoming challenges related to model context limitations. Ultimately, using the Windsurf tool, the AI-generated WebGCS produced approximately 10,000 lines of code in about 100 hours over 2.5 weeks—a process about 20 times faster than Burke’s previous four-year development of a similar drone control system. Industry experts, like Geolava