Swarming

The objective is the holistic coordination of multiple unmanned ground and aircraft systems, controlled from a central control station. The focus lies on carrying out joint mission tasks for applications in civil security research (e.g., crisis management), as well as on testing swarm guidance technologies under real-world conditions, for instance, at the National Experimental Test Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems at the DLR site in Cochstedt. The goal is to develop an efficient solution for crisis management operations capable of handling complex mission scenarios effectively.

The use of unmanned systems operated in swarms is becoming increasingly important in civil applications, such as crisis management. This is mainly due to their high availability and their ability to operate in inaccessible or high-risk deployment areas. In crisis management, unmanned swarms can quickly provide rescue and emergency forces with a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the situation and the extent of the disaster when (natural) catastrophes occur. Furthermore, unmanned swarms can transport essential relief supplies to localized victims of a disaster or establish a communication network in crisis regions with impaired infrastructure.

The coordinated use of multiple unmanned systems, guided from a central control station, offers a wide range of advantages for emergency forces. A key aspect is the ability to operate manned systems (e.g., helicopters) together with unmanned systems, known as manned-unmanned teaming. By combining unmanned systems with manned helicopters, emergency forces can manage even complex mission scenarios more efficiently.