For the first time a swarm of drones faced a flight in the thick of a bamboo forest, in China, managing to fly autonomously in such a complex environment and avoiding collisions thanks to an innovative algorithm incorporated in the small flying robots.
The result, published in the journal Science Robotics, is due to a research group led by Xin Zhou, of the Chinese Zhejiang University, and opens the door to applications such as aerial mapping for environmental monitoring and coordination of relief efforts, for example in the event of an earthquake. , as well as applications in the military field.
The drones were equipped with depth cameras, altitude sensors and an on-board computer.
The most significant advance is due to an intelligent algorithm, which combines collision avoidance, flight efficiency and swarm coordination.
The challenge, in fact, consists in balancing conflicting needs: on the one hand the need for small and light devices, on the other hand that of a high computing power in order to identify the best flight route.
The researchers tested the drones in different scenarios: group flying through a bamboo forest, flying in a crowded environment avoiding other drones, and also the swarm's ability to follow a person's lead.
Before seeing it applied in the real world, however, the technology will need to be further tested in ultra-dynamic environments such as cities, where drones are constantly under pressure to avoid people, vehicles and other obstacles.
