40 There are many types of swarm technologies for autonomous platforms, varying from dramatic displays of hundreds of UAVs to groups of driverless cars, to combined ground, air and sea platforms all working together autonomously. While they take different approaches to implement swarming functions, they highlight the advantages of autonomous systems working in concert. New uses are also emerging for swarming, such as using multiple, small ground vehicles to replicate the operation of a larger system with more flexibility. In the air, the most obvious implementation is mass display, and the record is 2066 UAVs operating in concert. The process for creating a show is quite straightforward. First, the design team creates a storyboard timeline showing the desired images and effects. These are then animated in a specialised piece of software that translates them into synchronised flight paths for each UAV. Complete shows are sent to the UAV via radio link from a ground control station (GCS) operated by a pilot. Some UAVs are designed specifically for such applications, cutting out the cameras and adding high-power LED lights. The design software lets users select graphics and special effects, and place them in a timeline, similar to those found in video-editing software. It calculates the flight paths of each UAV to ensure they don’t collide in the air, and generates a full 3D render of the show to ensure it looks exactly as intended. Each UAV is sent a unique program and the GCS monitors each one over a local, encrypted network to avoid hacking. Early shows focused on large numbers as the lights on the UAVs were not very bright and did not accurately hold position. This meant the display was designed so the UAVs would fill a volume of space to illuminate it, and this required many units. Rather than draw a straight line with individual UAVs, a rectangle was drawn and filled with many units. The latest platforms take advantage of much brighter LEDs and hold their position precisely by supplementing GPS with additional positional data sent from the GCS. This enables more creative flexibility and allows the same effect to be achieved with fewer devices to precisely draw lines in 3D with UAVs. The more intricate the shape, the more craft are needed to create it. Audience size and viewing distance will also influence how many units are needed for the required visual impact. The UAVs have multiple radios operating simultaneously away from busy wi-fi frequencies to ensure communications are maintained, even in busy and noisy radio environments. Operations flow much better when each UAV has a full copy of the show, so they can be used in any takeoff slot. The Nick Flaherty examines new technologies and uses for UAV swarms Safety in numbers February/March 2025 | Uncrewed Systems Technology Swarms of UAVs can be many kilometres apart and operate in unison (Image courtesy of UAV Navigation)
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