the red light which allow us to figure out where the robot is. then we're able to send it commands about what we'd like it to do and group behaviors that you'll see. >> reporter: other quad rotors at the lab have worked together to carry cargo, build structures and have been equipped with cameras and lasers to create 3-d images inside buildings. with better batteries and a bigger payload capacity, they could one day be used in the real world for surveillance and search and rescue. >> we can send these in ahead of people, and detect for dangerous situations. and this is potentially life saving for first responders. >> reporter: for now, most of the research on these remarkable robots is still done in the lab. but you could say, their potential is sky high. >> they're pretty cool. >> they are very cool. and to know that they could save lives one day. >> 20 minutes after the hour. remember she took a lot of heat when she banned telecommuting at yahoo! coming up marissa mayer takes another benefit move. one that a lot of workers may like.