I've got a friend who's working on AI programming at University of British Columbia, and your question is PRECISELY his field. In fact, he just successfully did this exact thing recently.

He's a geek of the highest order, much like you, with an equal number of interesting stories to tell. If you two ever met, the universe would implode because of the geek singularty that would be created.

I'm not sure which is cooler: Your stereoscopic R/C aircraft, or his trips on the NASA vomit comet to test his autonomous robot designed to navigate in zero G by sight alone.

Anyway. I'm sayin'... Talk to him. We call him Fishy. PM me with your desired email address contact and I'll give you his (and give him yours).