BUDAPEST, Hungary — A remarkable spectacle is unfolding in the night sky over Hungary’s capital, where a collective of 100 drones, resembling waves of pedestrians traversing a congested public square, demonstrates the potential future of drone technology. This display is the culmination of more than ten years of intensive research and experimentation by local scientists, aiming to revolutionize unmanned flight.
The autonomous swarm of drones operates without the need for pre-programming or centralized command, making real-time decisions regarding collision avoidance and trajectory planning. This innovative behavior is inspired by observations of natural phenomena, particularly the collective movement patterns of various animals.
“It’s not often that technology garners applause for its beauty,” commented Boldizsár Balázs, a key researcher on this groundbreaking project. “At its foundation, it mirrors nature’s processes. Therefore, while the drones might not have to be visually appealing, the elegance lies in their actions, as they emulate the natural swarming behaviors we see in wildlife.”
In recent years, drones have become increasingly common in everyday life, with companies such as Amazon and FedEx spearheading drone delivery services. Additionally, enthusiasts employ them for aerial photography, and large groups have been programmed to execute impressive light displays.
However, the team at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest is advancing a new paradigm by designing models based on animal behaviors that empower numerous drones to operate autonomously. These drones react instantly to their surroundings and to one another, dynamically coordinating their individual paths and responsibilities amidst the dense aerial landscape.
“This is what we define as decentralization,” explained Gábor Vásárhelyi, a senior researcher in the university’s Department of Biological Physics. “Once we instruct the drones on their tasks, we could deactivate the ground control station entirely. They could simply continue their operations by communicating with each other.”
By studying the flight patterns of pigeons and the movements of wild horses across the Great Hungarian Plain, scientists formulated an algorithm that facilitates the drones’ autonomous decision-making processes. This enables them to navigate potential conflicts and avoid collisions effectively while in flight.
Despite the promising capabilities of this technology, concerns have arisen regarding possible dangers associated with the deployment of autonomous drones. Anna Konert and Tomasz Balcerzak from the Faculty of Law and Administration at Lazarski University in Warsaw have examined these risks, particularly in military contexts where such drones could trigger arms races or be exploited by malicious entities, including terrorist organizations.
“When drones are programmed to execute lethal actions, the burden of accountability may shift from human operators to the machines, creating ambiguity in responsibility if mistakes occur,” they stated in an email. “This disconnect could reduce psychological barriers to employing force, potentially resulting in more frequent and severe military conflicts.”
They further highlight that the reduced human toll due to autonomous drones in military engagements might foster recurring military interventions, as the immediate human ramifications would weigh less heavily against the decision to act.
Nonetheless, the Hungarian researchers maintain that their advancements could benefit society in various non-military domains. Their thorough digital simulations suggest that their algorithm may be capable of scaling to support 5,000 drones operating in unison, with potential applications in meteorology, land surveying, deliveries, and more.
Additionally, they are exploring agricultural innovations, such as precision spraying technologies, and believe their advancements could contribute to the decentralization of air traffic control systems, particularly as the use of unmanned aircraft expands.