Drone swarms examined for SAR missions
The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), Wright Brothers Institute and the University of Dayton Research Institute are together launching a competition to explore the concept of using swarms of autonomous unmanned air vehicles for search and rescue missions
The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), Wright Brothers Institute and the University of Dayton Research Institute are together launching a competition to explore the concept of using swarms of autonomous unmanned air vehicles for search and rescue missions. Swarm and Search AI Challenge 2019, as the competition has been named, will centre around the UAV’s ability to map wildfires, in the hope that it will prompt teams to explore better ways to involve UAVs in SAR missions through the use of artificial intelligence or machine learning algorithms that will safely control multiple drones.
The Wright Brothers Institute said in a statement: “Fire maps are a critical component to combating the risks of wildfire season. Improved mission planning and new algorithm-based technology has the potential to minimise damage and save lives. These technologies may also have military defence applications.”