Three drones work together to carry a package using a new algorithm developed at TU Delft. | Source: Sihao Sun
Scientists at TU Delft in the Netherlands have developed an algorithm that allows multiple autonomous drones to work together to control and transport heavy payloads. It works even in windy conditions, said the university researchers.
They claimed that the new algorithm is suitable for reaching and maintaining hard-to-reach infrastructure such as offshore wind turbines. With often harsh weather, limited payload capacity, and unpredictable contact with the environment, it is difficult for current drones to operate safely and effectively.
“A single drone can only carry a very limited load,” explained Sihao Sun, a robotics researcher at TU Delft. “This makes it hard to use drones for tasks like delivering heavy building materials to remote areas, transporting large amounts of crops in mountainous regions, or assisting in rescue missions.”
Algorithm tackles fast coordination
To overcome these limitations, the technical university team designed a system in which multiple drones are connected to a payload via cables. This allows them to carry much heavier loads, said TU Delft.
By adjusting their positions in real time, the drones can not only lift and transport heavy objects but also control their orientation. This is crucial for precise placement in complex environments.
“The real challenge is the coordination,” said Sun. “When drones are physically connected, they have to respond to one another and to external disturbances like sudden movements of the payload in rapid motions. Traditional control algorithms are simply too slow and rigid for that.”
“We built our own quadrotors and tested them in a controlled lab environment,” he added. “We used up to four drones at once, added obstacles, simulated wind with a fan, and even used a moving payload like a basketball to test dynamic responses.”
The system passed all tests. And because the drones are autonomous, they only need to be given a destination. They navigate independently, adjusting for obstacles and disturbances along the way.
“You just tell them where to go, and they figure out the rest,” Sun recalled.
TU Delft plans for real-world usage
The TU Delft team said its new algorithm is fast, flexible, and robust. It can adapt to changing payloads and compensate for external forces without requiring sensors on the payload itself. This is an important advantage in real-world scenarios.
Currently, the system uses external motion capture cameras for indoor testing and is therefore not useful in outdoor environments yet. The team said it hopes to prepare the technology for real-world deployment. It has potential applications in search and rescue, agriculture, and remote construction, it said.
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