New Scientist reports on the development of robotic traffic barrels. The idea is to develop mesh networked robotic traffic barrels that can position and reposition themselves thus saving labor costs, speeding the flow of traffic and enhancing worker safety. The system works with drone units that are positioned and controlled by a "shepherd" unit that employs GPS technology.

This kind of use of robotics made possible by the dropping price of increasing computational power has dramatic impacts on entire industries. Imagine the efficiencies made possible by this kind of system. Yes, their are jobs implications but those jobs and costs may simply shift from placing and picking up barricade barrels to direct construction work.

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Update: BBC has a story here with so so pictures.