What is it about?

This research is about using a team of drones to work together to detect and surround a group of intruder drones flying in restricted airspace. The drones are connected by virtual or physical links and guided by smart algorithms that help them close in on the target swarm from the right direction. The system combines three key parts—guidance, navigation, and control—so the drones can track the intruders, adjust their flight paths, and stay stable during the mission. Even when the intruders try to maneuver or break apart, the pursuing drones can adapt and complete the capture. The study also uses realistic drone behavior, including how they move and respond to commands, and shows successful results through simulations.

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Why is it important?

As drone technology becomes more widespread, so does the risk of drones being misused—especially in groups, or swarms, that can enter restricted or sensitive areas. Traditional defense methods often aren’t effective against such fast and coordinated threats. This research is important because it offers a new way for multiple drones to work together to track, surround, and safely intercept intruder swarms. By combining smart planning, sensing, and control in one system, it paves the way for faster, more reliable, and safer protection of airspace in the future.

Perspectives

Working on this research gave me a deeper understanding of how complex real-world problems—like intercepting drone swarms—can be tackled through a combination of smart algorithms and physical system modeling. I was especially motivated by the challenge of going beyond simplified models and making the system realistic by including actual quadcopter dynamics and sensing. It’s exciting to see how coordination among autonomous drones can lead to effective strategies for securing airspace, and I hope this work contributes to future developments in multi-agent robotics.

Rishab Rijal
University of Texas at Arlington

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Integrated Guidance, Navigation and Control for Coordinated Capture of Intruder Swarms by Multiple Pursuing Quadcopters, January 2025, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA),
DOI: 10.2514/6.2025-1734.
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