Data on Animal Movements Aid in Developing Autonomous Drone Swarms in Hungary

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — In the nighttime sky over Hungary’s capital, 100 drones glide and weave together like a dense cloud of birds. This impressive display is the result of over a decade's worth of research focused on improving unmanned flight technology, and scientists believe it may revolutionize how drones operate in the future.

The autonomous drones can make decisions in real-time regarding collision avoidance and routing without needing pre-programming or a centralized control system. This innovative approach is based on studies of how animals move collectively in nature.

According to Boldizsár Balázs, a researcher involved in the project, "It’s very rare that you see some technology and you say it’s beautiful. In its theoretical core, it resembles nature. That’s why the drones themselves don’t need to be pretty, but what they do is pretty because it resembles natural swarming behavior."

Recently, drones have become increasingly common. Companies like Amazon and FedEx have started drone delivery services, while enthusiasts utilize drones for capturing aerial images. Moreover, large groups of drones have been pre-programmed for spectacular light shows.

However, researchers at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest have pioneered new models inspired by animal behavior. These models enable numerous drones to navigate autonomously, adjusting in real-time to their surroundings while collaborating on tasks and trajectories amidst busy air traffic.

Gábor Vásárhelyi, a senior researcher, explains, "This is the level we call decentralization... After assigning tasks to the drones, we can switch off the ground control station. The drones will perform their functions through communication with one another."

By studying the flight patterns of pigeons and the movements of wild horses on the Great Hungarian Plain, the researchers devised an algorithm that allows these drones to make real-time decisions, preventing collisions and optimizing their paths.

While this technology shows promise for efficiency in various sectors, some experts caution about its potential risks. Anna Konert and Tomasz Balcerzak from Lazarski University in Poland have raised concerns that military applications of such autonomous drones could lead to escalated arms races or misuse by terrorist organizations.

In an email, they noted, "When drones take over lethal actions, responsibility may shift from human operators to machines, leading to uncertainty about who should be held accountable if errors occur. This detachment could lower psychological barriers to initiating force, possibly resulting in more frequent and brutal conflicts."

Despite these concerns, the Hungarian researchers are optimistic about the beneficial applications of their technology. Their simulations indicate that their algorithm could scale to allow for the operation of 5,000 drones autonomously. They propose various uses, including meteorology, land surveying, deliveries, and more.

Additionally, the team is developing an agricultural application for precise crop spraying, and they see potential for their technology to help decentralize air traffic control in response to the growing number of unmanned aircraft.

drones, technology, research, nature, aviation