Munich-based Quantum Systems (a Small Unmanned Aerial Systems – ‘sUAS’ – company), has announced a successful test of AI-powered ‘drone swarm’ technology which could advance the role drones play in warfare.
What Is A ‘Drone Swarm’?
In short, Drone swarm technology involves coordinating multiple drones to operate as a unified system and it can be used for tasks like military operations and surveillance, although it can be used for less sinister missions such as search and rescue and agricultural monitoring.
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The announcement by Quantum Systems (working with Airbus) follows “intensive research” into whether it could “develop innovative solutions for the AI-supported autonomous control of swarms of drones” and “maximise the potential of artificial intelligence to coordinate mixed UAS swarms”. More specifically, research focused on the development of a Tactical UAS (Unmanned Aerial System), i.e. a system using small to medium-sized drones used for military operations (reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and communication support on the battlefield).
Seven Successful Tests
At a recent presentation at the Airbus Drone Centre in Manching (Germany), Quantum Systems announced that it had carried out seven successful tests of its AI-controlled UAS at the centre. Quantum Systems says its “new technologies enable large swarms of autonomous UAS to be effectively controlled by a small number of operators, even in highly dynamic and interference-prone environments.”
What’s So Different About The New Drone Swarm Technology?
Drone swarm technology is already in use, particularly in military and defence applications in countries like the US, China, and Russia. Also, they’re used for civilian uses too, such as disaster response, search and rescue, agriculture, and entertainment (such as drone light shows).
However, following what’s been described as “a major breakthrough in autonomous swarm technology”, the drone swarm technology developed by Airbus Defence & Space, Quantum Systems, and Spleenlab (a software company) stands out for its use of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, particularly in autonomous coordination and decision-making. For example, what makes this technology unique includes:
– AI-powered autonomy. The drones can autonomously make decisions and adapt in real-time without needing human intervention, allowing for more efficient missions even in complex, dynamic environments. Quantum Systems says this was achieved by training the AI using deep reinforcement learning methods in a highly-specialised simulation environment. This allows the AI to refine its tactics through “continuous self-optimisation”, meaning it can make more efficient and precise decisions in tactical operations.
– Advanced sensor fusion. By integrating cutting-edge sensors and AI-based fusion algorithms, the swarms can gather and process a wide range of data (e.g. visual, infrared) in real-time, improving situational awareness and accuracy in missions.
– Collaborative behaviour. The swarms operate with a high level of coordination, thereby allowing the drones to perform complex tasks such as surveillance, search and rescue, or reconnaissance as a unified system, even when communication is limited or disrupted. As Quantum Systems says: “For the first time, a specially developed mission-AI controls and coordinates the UAS systems to ensure reliable mission execution even in scenarios with radio interference or a complete failure of individual drones”.
– Scalability and flexibility. The system is designed to be scalable, enabling both large and small-scale drone swarms, and can be customised for diverse civilian and military applications, from disaster response to tactical operations.
What Happened In The Tests?
In the successful tests, Quantum Systems says the Vector and Scorpion UAS from Quantum Systems and two other multi-purpose drones from Airbus were deployed in swarm flight and the reconnaissance data from all the drones was “merged in real time to form a joint situation picture and integrated into the Airbus ‘Fortion Joint C2’ battle management system”.
Also, Quantum Systems has reported how the Vector drones demonstrated their ability to autonomously perform missions such as joint reconnaissance and target acquisition under GPS-denied conditions (GNSS denied), such as those found in Ukraine, thereby highlighting the ability of AI to increase the resilience of UAS to interference and ensure autonomous operation even under difficult conditions.
How Important Are Drones In Modern Warfare?
Drones have become increasingly critical in modern warfare, particularly in conflicts like the ongoing war in Ukraine. In this war, both sides have used drones extensively for reconnaissance, surveillance, and strikes. For example, Ukraine deploys around 10,000 drones per month and relies heavily on smaller, commercial drones, such as DJI models, costing as little as $1,000 each. These drones are often repurposed with explosives for precision attacks.
The impact of drones in Ukraine is immense. They allow for real-time battlefield intelligence, enable faster response times, and reduce the cost of air operations. Also, the Ukrainian government has ramped up domestic drone production, with over 80 drone manufacturers now contributing to the war effort. As a result, drones have been a game-changer, levelling the playing field against larger forces, and are likely to dominate future conflicts.
What Next?
Quantum Systems says the knowledge gained from its (KITU2) drone swarm study will help future developments to evaluate how learned behaviours from simulations can be integrated into real UAS systems, and the extent to which AI-controlled behaviours are superior to traditional manual control approaches. It also says, “The research results from the KITU2 study are intended to support the development of autonomous systems for major Bundeswehr projects such as the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS)”.
As Sven Kruck, CRO and Managing Director, Quantum Systems says: “We are not just interested in expanding the technological capabilities of our drones. We want to give customers and users a real advantage in real-life scenarios. Ultimately, it’s about protecting soldiers and increasing safety. In the future, there will be no way around software-based and AI-supported systems for drone technology.”
What Does This Mean For Your Business?
The successful demonstration of Quantum Systems’ AI-powered drone swarm technology could be a significant milestone in modern military operations, because it shows how advancements in AI look like revolutionising the way drones are deployed in both military and civilian settings. With AI enabling autonomous decision-making and self-optimisation in real-time, this technology offers a more efficient and adaptive approach to complex missions, even in the most challenging conditions and could revolutionise modern warfare. Swarms of AI drones, learning and acting together, could have implications for future human deployment on the ground, perhaps taking us one small step further towards the idea of drone wars.
The potential applications of this technology also, thankfully, extend beyond warfare, offering promise in areas like disaster response, surveillance, and search and rescue. By demonstrating successful swarm coordination in highly dynamic and interference-prone environments, Quantum Systems has shown how AI can enhance the resilience, flexibility, and scalability of drone operations, setting the stage for future developments.
For other drone manufacturers and AI businesses, these advancements signal a growing demand for AI integration across drone systems. Companies that wish to stay competitive may now need to focus more on developing more intelligent and autonomous drones capable of performing complex tasks with minimal human input. The success of this technology opens up opportunities for collaboration between AI developers and industries such as agriculture, logistics, and defence, where advanced drone capabilities can be applied. This could also put pressure on AI firms to innovate further, particularly in the areas of machine learning algorithms, sensor fusion, and autonomous coordination, which will be increasingly critical as the industry moves towards smarter, more capable drone solutions.
As drones continue to play a pivotal role in modern conflicts, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine, and beyond into sectors like disaster management, the importance of AI-driven advancements can’t be overstated. Quantum Systems’ focus on integrating AI-learned behaviours into real-world systems, and its potential application to larger military projects like the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), highlights the transformative role AI looks likely to play in shaping the future of both military and civilian drone technology. This breakthrough reflects the broader trend towards AI-driven systems, and as these technologies evolve, they are poised to reshape industries far beyond the battlefield, offering new ways to manage national security and civilian crises.
