Research allows UAV swarms to 'talk' in 'group chat'

Researchers at Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, have made a breakthrough in autonomous robotics by enabling a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles to communicate using human language while working together to complete complex tasks.

Li Xuelong, professor at the School of Artificial Intelligence, Optics and Electronics, and his colleagues developed a control framework for autonomous drones that uses a "group chat" function that allows them to interact intelligently, operate as a group autonomously and be more aware and adaptive to their environment.

The drones are able to react to and communicate with each other in human language as to what each can see, hear and perceive, in order for the swarm to complete various tasks.