Watch an army of autonomous drones weave through a bamboo forest like in the movies

Zhejiang University, China has conducted a test for an army of 10 drones to automatically weave through a bamboo forest with a total distance of 65m to evaluate the ability of drones to overcome terrain, adapt to new environments, and avoid the risk of collision.

This is the first time drones have been tested in a completely natural environment. And the test results are really impressive, they completed the mission excellently.

The drones involved in the test were palm-sized and equipped with an onboard computer, depth camera and altitude sensor.

Watch an army of autonomous drones weave through a bamboo forest like in the movies Picture 1

The team used an algorithm to guide the drones to avoid collisions and coordinate their work with each other to achieve the highest efficiency. During the flight in the bamboo forest, the drones overcame many challenges to complete the distance such as narrow gaps, tilted bamboo, low bushes, rough terrain, dense vegetation, and tree branches.

Because they do not rely on any external infrastructure, this drone fleet is highly applicable and can be used for mapping, conservation work, military fields, or to support search and rescue efforts in natural disasters.

In the near future, scientists may expand testing in cities with large crowds and vehicles to minimize potential risks. If successful, these drones could be put into service in the next few years.

David Pac

Update 26 January 2025