Drone swarms that can navigate dense forest burst out of science fiction into real world:
Chinese scientists have proven that aerial robots can work together, navigate obstacles and, perhaps worryingly, track humans out of sight
Drone swarms that dart nimbly around obstacles, mapping their surroundings or searching for fugitives, have long been the stuff of science fiction. But now Chinese scientists have proven that aerial robots can work together, manoeuvring at speed through a dense bamboo forest without crashing into the plants or themselves.
In new footage, released by a team from Zhejiang University, a swarm of 10 lightweight drones was filmed moving gracefully through the gaps between trunks, successfully navigating uneven ground, weeds and tangled branches.
The system works through an algorithm which crunches data from cameras on the drone, mapping the surroundings in real time and looking for obstacles and other craft, before readjusting the flight path as needed.
[...] It does not need a GPS signal to locate itself, meaning it could be used in areas with little satellite penetration such as deep cave systems, impenetrable forests or even other planets. The breakthrough could allow surveying of remote wildlife or hunting for survivors in disaster zones which are often harsh, remote or difficult to navigate.
The full story contains some impressive video footage.
Journal Reference:
XIN ZHOU, XIANGYONG WEN, et. al.,
Swarm of micro flying robots in the wild
, Science Robotics, Vol. 7, No 66, (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.abm5954)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 09 2022, @10:42PM (2 children)
Soon there will be no place to hide from the all-seeing eyes in the sky. Humanity is doomed! Dooooooomed, I tells ya!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 09 2022, @11:27PM
Joke?
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 10 2022, @02:07AM
it's all fun and games until skynet puts an eye out
(Score: 2) by MIRV888 on Monday May 09 2022, @11:17PM (2 children)
I bet they could be hunting for all sorts of people.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by hopdevil on Tuesday May 10 2022, @12:22AM (1 child)
Hunting until there are no more survivors
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday May 11 2022, @03:27PM
That sounds more accurate, though it depends on the accuracy of the drones.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 10 2022, @12:01AM
Drones for sale on Ali or it didn't happen (won't be the first or the hundredth science fake coming from China).
(Score: -1, Spam) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 10 2022, @01:05AM (1 child)
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by hendrikboom on Tuesday May 10 2022, @04:17PM
'Starring', not 'Staring'.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 10 2022, @08:51AM
This is great tech for lost-person rescue -- imagine 30 or so drones, being able to move through the bush in a methodical process...
A young autistic boy was lost not too far from where I live about a year ago-- I live in the Australian bush-- and it took 4 days to find him... 400 metres from his home, and then is was a chance helicopter discovery. Having technology like this proven and put into use would've make it a 1-2 hour search.