Ukraine's Swarm Drones Showcase Autonomous War Tech
Ukraine's use of autonomous drones in its conflict with Russia has garnered attention. While US companies like Auterion have provided AI kits, a Ukrainian software company, Swarmer, has developed the core technology enabling these unmanned aerial vehicles to operate independently and in swarms.
Swarmer's software allows multiple drones to network and adapt, even when one drone's battery runs out. This autonomous communication makes it harder for enemies to interfere. The drones decide the exact attack time after a human operator designates the target area. Currently, Ukraine's deployments are not full-fledged swarms, but they exhibit remarkable autonomous cooperation.
Operating the system requires only three people, a significant reduction from the nine needed without the software. It has been used over a hundred times, typically with three to eight drones, and has been tested with up to 25.
Swarmer's autonomous drone attack technology has proven effective in Ukraine's war against Russia. With a small operating team and adaptable drone swarms, it has been used extensively and has the potential for further development into full-fledged swarms.
