World-first: Flock of 5,000 drones self-fly safely during a UAV traffic test

Researchers at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest, Hungary, have achieved a groundbreaking milestone in drone technology.

After creating the world’s first self-organizing drone flock, the innovative team has achieved another milestone. They have now demonstrated the first large-scale autonomous drone traffic solution.

This advanced system is more capable than human pilots. It promises a future where drones can navigate the skies with unmatched efficiency and safety.

Since 2009, the Department of Biological Physics at ELTE has been at the forefront of group robotics and drone swarms. Their journey began with the creation of the world’s first autonomous quadcopter flock in 2014, comprising at least ten units.

This achievement has now been eclipsed by their latest research, which showcases the dense autonomous traffic of one hundred drones.

From flocking to autonomous traffic: A leap forward

Flocking and autonomous drone traffic might seem similar, but they have different challenges and goals.

In flocking, drones try to move together in perfect synchronization through coordinated movements, like a flock of birds. In autonomous drone traffic, each drone has its own route and goal, which can cause conflicts.

This complexity is especially pronounced in open spaces where drones, like pedestrians, move freely in various directions.

The ELTE team solved this complex problem with a smart, real-time updating route planner. They combined this with traditional flocking models inspired by nature.

This new method helps autonomous drones avoid most traffic conflicts. It also lets them safely manage any remaining issues by coordinating directly with nearby drones .

The effectiveness of this self-organizing model, without any central control, was first tested through simulations. These tests showed continuous, high-speed random traffic with up to 5,000 drones. The scenarios included different speeds and priorities in two-dimensional settings.

They also mapped layered three-dimensional cases. This showed the model’s potential for handling dense drone traffic. It could be used in future smart cities and decentralized air traffic control systems.

Real-world application and future prospects

The research led to programming this model onto a fleet of one hundred drones owned by CollMot Robotics Ltd. This company was founded by the Department of Biological Physics to commercialize drone swarm technology.

The live demonstration with one hundred self-organizing drones was a major milestone. This achievement starts a new era of automated drone operations. Applications include group spraying, drone-based cargo transport, and defense industry operations.

CollMot Robotics Ltd. represents the blend of scientific research and industrial innovation. Their partnership with ELTE keeps advancing drone technology. They are pushing the limits of what is possible in autonomous drone traffic.

Using this autonomous traffic solution, industries can imagine a future where drones smoothly fit into different tasks, making them more efficient and safe.

There are many possible uses, like agricultural drones spraying fields together or fleets of drones moving goods in cities. The defense industry could also gain from using autonomous drones for surveillance and tactical missions .

A step toward smart cities and decentralized air traffic control

ELTE’s research has implications beyond immediate uses. Showing large-scale autonomous drone traffic opens doors for smart cities.

Drones could become vital in city transportation and logistics. Decentralized air traffic control, once a sci-fi idea, now seems possible.

ELTE’s work aims to revolutionize how cities move and handle goods by letting drones fly safely in busy skies without needing humans to control them.

The feat was recently published in the journal Swarm Intelligence .