Data on animal movements help researchers create a swarm of autonomous drones A swarm of 100 drones has taken to the night skies above Budapest, showcasing over a decade's worth of research into autonomous flight that could revolutionise drone technology.
While drones are now a familiar presence, used for deliveries by companies like Amazon and FedEx, aerial photography by hobbyists, and even choreographed light shows involving over 1,000 drones, the work at Eötvös Loránd University stands out.
"This is the level we call decentralization ... After the drones are told what to do, we can switch off the ground control station, we can burn it or whatever, throw it away," said Gábor Vásárhelyi, a senior researcher at the university's Department of Biological Physics.
These drones, unlike pre-programmed or centrally controlled models, make their own decisions in real time, avoiding collisions and plotting their course on the fly, inspired by the collective movement patterns found in nature.
Their innovative approach allows a multitude of drones to navigate autonomously, responding instantly to their surroundings and each other, managing their individual paths and objectives amid dense air traffic.
