A fleet of AI-powered miniature drones developed by engineers from Zhejiang University in the Chinese mainland has demonstrated the ability to autonomously navigate through dense forests, marking a significant advancement in disaster response technology.
These cutting-edge drones can maneuver through tight and complex environments without any human intervention. \"While traditional drones require skilled operators to control their flight with a remote controller, we have chosen to let drones make their own decisions, granting them the ability to perceive and observe the environment, make decisions and exercise control without human intervention,\" explained Zhou Xin, a PhD student at the College of Control Science and Engineering at Zhejiang University.
Unlike conventional drones that depend on satellite navigation systems, these drone fleets communicate with each other to autonomously avoid obstacles and coordinate their movements. Zhou further elaborated, \"With the help of AI algorithms, drones can acquire environmental information with their sensors acting as their 'eyes' and generate a 3D map of the surroundings. Leveraging this 3D mapping, drones can navigate freely and ensure collision-free movement. Moreover, collaborative algorithms have been developed to facilitate recognition and understanding among multiple drones, allowing for effective control of the entire fleet.\"
Developers believe these drones have a broad range of potential applications, from monitoring forest health to emergency response missions. Gao Fei, a PhD supervisor from the college, added, \"For example, the drones can assist post-earthquake search and rescue efforts or firefighting operations. They can even accurately locate each tree in the forest environment and evaluate their growth status.\"
This innovation promises to transform how we approach disaster management and environmental monitoring, offering faster, more efficient, and autonomous solutions to complex challenges.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
