This is by far the most stunning display of quadrocopter manoeuvrability and learning algorithms I’ve seen yet.
The quadrocopter calculates and re-balances the pole several times per second, much like a human would trying to balance a pole on their hand. Robotics keeps creeping toward the day when a robot with human motor skills would be possible and reasonable to construct.
Now sentience on the other hand may take some time. Perhaps that’s a good thing.