Currently drone technology, despite all it’s potential, is limited. Software limitations hold drones to current single operation functions. They are able to operate perfectly in simple autonomous missions.  For more complex moves requiring multiple drones carrying out dedicated tasks, drones are forced to rely on human input. This puts such tasks as advanced contrition or even large scale military use out of reach to this evolving field.  But as technology advances, drones working together will soon become commonplace.

Picture this, a building assembled in days as opposed to weeks by drone swarms working around the clock. Or after a disaster, these drone swarms providing search and rescue free paramedics to concentrate on life-saving measures. As well, on a more ominous note, an army of swarm drones hitting the battlefield as soldiers to defend vital national interests. All of these require a degree of coordination and command that current programming does not allow for. However, R&D (Research and development) is currently going on to develop sustainable software programs that allow for multiple drones to be controlled at once.

Problems and Opportunities

It is not a new thing to see videos or presentations of drone swarms flying in perfect formation.  However, the implications in a variety of fields immediately become apparent. Depending on which side of the drone debate you are on that is either a sight that fills you with dread, or a sight that makes your mind race with the potential at hand.

These visions are currently only a dream or nightmare at the present time. Simply because of the complexities involved with programming and control. Drone operators have difficulties ensuring that multiple drones do not run into each other or other objects.

The computation cost of centralized programming in terms of time and bandwidth makes these tasks difficult and at times nearly impossible. Not only are the drones carrying out their individual tasks, they are also aware of and sharing information with each other. This forces programming to be very complex. It requires extra memory space adding to drone weight and increases traffic between the drones making it hard to change direction with unaccounted problems. These problems can cause the whole operation to come apart with disastrous results. Research and development that is currently going on to develop sustainable programs that allow for multiple drones to be controlled at once may have stumbled upon on a solution.

This solutions is decentralized programming. It sounds strange at first, but for drone swarms, it may very well be a huge leap into software development. Developers are creating advanced algorithms that give drones a map of the safe space around it and only share it with other drones surrounding it. The theory works by having each drone perform their particular required tasks already programmed in.

The drones instead of communicating with all the other drones, only communicate with the ones it is closest to. By coordinating with the workers around it, they are able to work in tandem better. The best comparison is that when a construction crew builds a house, they all know what the finished product looks like, but the foundation guys are not talking to the roofers, one worker merely talks to those around him in order to accomplish the assigned tasks at hand.

It allows for more flexibility and ease of programming in any tasks performed. Already there are videos out showing a few drones working under these new algorithms. The small drone swarms are able to maneuver and carry out tasks without bumping into each other or creating chaos of the project.

Worker Bees and Army Ants

The implications of this R&D to develop sustainable software programs that allow for multiple drones to be controlled at once is staggering. Drone swarms using the newer algorithms are almost unlimited in their potential. Think of it in terms of worker bees and army ants.

Much like worker bees, these drones would have the benefit of being able to work without the need of downtime or rest. Except for repairs and battery recharge, these drones could work around the clock. Currently, on average with human crews, it takes 1 year to build an 187-foot skyscraper working in 8-12 hour shifts. Since these drone swarms would work quickly and efficiently, it is feasible that this time could be cut in half. Working in tandem an army of worker bee drones could work nonstop ferrying materials to the proper points of construction and assembling the building quickly.

Using that same technology, the applications take on a more ominous tone. The battlefield is possibly the most chaotic of environments. In this realm complex coordination and planning breakdown almost immediately. This leaves any attempts at planning large-scale operations with drone swarms on the battlefield to be a fool’s errand at best. Imagine a breakdown in the program causing the drones to attack each other or human allies, the implications become scary at that point.

The new algorithms change this paradigm. Now, the drone swarms act more like human troops on the battlefield. Not bogged down with too much information, the drones are aware of their objectives and the drones in its immediate area. They are able to communicate instantly and attack in tandem. Any army employing these drones using the new technology would inherit an army that was nearly unstoppable on the battlefield.

Final Thoughts

New technology is usually hindered by small things. Drones have a great future once the software and the hardware catch up with the applications that we see as fulfilling that potential of the drone swarms. Once that technology catches up, then we will unlock a whole new door in human evolution. The idea that we can leave the most dangerous aspects of construction and defense to a machine and concentrate on other things is both exhilarating and terrifying.

Until that day arrives, however, technology will be limited to what tasks we currently can perform. Drones will be forced to work in solo operations doing whatever tasks that it’s programming or a human controller gives it. This will change once sustainable software programs that allow for multiple drones to be controlled at once progresses.

We will then see a staggering change to our infrastructure. Buildings and great public works will go up at breathtaking speeds. Cities will expand to meet a greater demand for goods and services. Military operations will potentially make war such a terrible prospect that it will be avoided. The potential of unlocking the secret to drone swarms will change our world forever. We do not know where this new technology will take us, but we do know that one thing is certain, a new age of humanity will emerge.