As if the future wasn’t scary enough already, AI-guided, autonomous drone swarms can now track people in the wild using advanced technology. This could be life-saving technology when used for search and rescue operations, locating survivors after natural disasters, and monitoring nature preserves for conservation efforts. Unfortunately, this is also reminiscent of horrific scenes from science fiction movies where drone swarms relentlessly target humans and we don’t have a real-life super hero to save us.
With incredible maneuverability and various customizations possible, drone technology is increasingly being used for more than just snapping an aerial selfie. A recent FAA report listed over 850,000 drones registered to fly in the United States, with more than 300,000 in commercial use. Drones under 250 grams don’t have to be registered so the total number of drones that could be flying is actually much higher.
Tiny autonomous drone swarms are now possible, based on recently published research, even allowing navigation through a dense bamboo forest while tracking a moving person. The technology that allows this is very advanced, taking into account real-time changes to the environment and calculating new trajectories in split-second timing to avoid collisions. A very impressive demonstration of this versatile and robust artificial intelligence system was presented on YouTube by Fei Gao, one of the authors of the paper published by Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. Everything is supposedly handled via onboard sensors with no maps or GPS data required. The video does also show that this swarm can track a person around and through various obstacles.
The Wonders & Dangers Of Drones
For consumers, drones with cameras are fun and exciting, making it possible to record videos and images that would be impossible to capture any other way. DJI offers several drones with high-quality cameras and advanced stabilization, making it easy to take this up as a hobby or, with the more expensive models, to start a business. A recent fly-through of a Tesla factory demonstrates the dramatic footage possible with this technology.
For governments and organizations, drones are remarkably versatile tools that make difficult jobs easier and sometimes bring impossible tasks within reach. While military applications seem to be inevitable, there is a movement that’s attempting to reign in the potential for a direct threat to people. With a few safeguards and restrictions, these AI-enhanced drones could become a powerful new tool to help people and the environment.
