China, a leading player in the global drone supply chain, has imposed sanctions on Skydio, the largest drone manufacturer in the United States. These sanctions were in response to the US’s arms shipments to Taiwan, a move that has heightened geopolitical tensions. China’s measures prohibit domestic companies from supplying critical components to Skydio, posing severe challenges for the American manufacturer. The situation is particularly delicate because Skydio is a major supplier of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the Ukrainian military, which is heavily reliant on their technology for intelligence and reconnaissance efforts.
In the theater of war, information is power. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have transformed the way militaries gather intelligence. These airborne sentinels provide real-time video feeds and high-resolution imagery, allowing commanders to make informed decisions without risking personnel.
The integration of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing drone capabilities. Modern drones are increasingly able to navigate complex environments, make decisions, and complete missions with minimal human intervention.
Researchers at the Department of Biological Physics at ELTE (Eötvös Loránd University) have been working on swarm robotics and drone flocks since 2009. In 2014, they created the world’s first autonomously flying quadcopter fleet consisting of at least ten units. The research group has now reached a new milestone, publishing their work on self-driving traffic of one hundred drones in the Swarm Intelligence journal.