With this technology, up to 130 drones can be controlled simultaneously

As an example of the increase in warfighting capabilities, the Pentagon has helped develop technology that allows a single person to control 130 drones for military operations. The project is backed by defence contractor Raytheon, which is working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The team has successfully tested its new technology in indoor and outdoor urban environments, according to a company press release.

Dubbed “OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics” (OFFSET), the swarm consists of 130 physical drones and 30 simulated drones. Raytheon claims the software and hardware used in the swarm will allow an operator to control the swarms with “minimal training”.

The operator controlling the swarm will do so with a joystick, rather than a desk. Instead, he will use a virtual reality interface that allows him to review each drone individually. This will create an “interactive virtual view of the environment,” according to the release.

For example, they can look behind the building to see the location of the drones and use the virtual reality environment to test and see if their mission is feasible
– explained Shane Clark, senior research scientist at Raytheon OFFSET.

The team also created a voice interface that allows operators to give voice commands to the swarm. Clark added that this helps the operator to “act quickly while maintaining situational awareness”.

Source: futurism