Student Seabrook Whyte and USRI research engineer Taylor Mitchell performing test flights at the FAA UAS IPP site
Oklahoma State University’s Unmanned Systems Research Institute (USRI) received its certificate of authorization from the FAA to permit flights of a fixed wing aircraft swarm within national airspace, making them the first in the country to receive this authorization.
This flight authorization will permit a single pilot, along with visual observers for safety considerations, to operate a swarm of up to 20 fixed wing aircraft. The unique configuration developed by OSU researchers creates a “swarm of swarms” where groups of unmanned aircraft fly within smaller flocks as part of a larger swarm, communicating with a local group leader which then coordinates flights with the overall swarm formation.
This research into swarming unmanned aircraft will advance unmanned aircraft capabilities into safe operation of autonomous vehicles within the national airspace and will find direct application into ongoing OSU research in weather, environmental and infrastructure monitoring, agriculture, security, and airspace operations.
“Swarms are the future of autonomous flight,” said Jamey Jacob, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and director of the Unmanned Systems Research Institute at OSU. “This unique first of its kind approval just takes us one step closer to demonstrating for the first time the safe and efficient autonomous flight that will be common place in years to come.”
“It is incredible to be a part of such groundbreaking research as OSU paves the way ahead for expanded autonomous operations,” said Gary Ambrose, Research Development Manager and Adjunct Professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at OSU. “This step opens the door for many of our research partners and sponsors; as we expand their UAS operability and capability.”
Source: Oklahoma State University
A group of 20 vehicles is not a swarm. “Multi-vehicle coordinated flight” perhaps. A true swarm has vehicles (or birds) with numbers in the hundreds, and WITHOUT a “group leader”. Behavior of a swarm is emergent behavior, without specific communication within the swarm, nor a “leader.” Please use correct terminology.
Thanks for the clarification Guy – sounds like the University needs a better teacher…!
Regardless of terminology, this sounds cool! I hope they publish a video so we can all see what it looks like.
Thanks Teresa,
We’ll keep a look out and publish the video if we spot it…
Agree it is cool, I was looking at DJI flying a group of multiple spray equipped units with one operator in their videos. It will be here soon enough.