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Researchers at TU Delft in the Netherlands have developed an algorithm that enables multiple autonomous drones to work together to carry heavy payloads, even under challenging conditions like wind. The breakthrough could expand drone applications to tasks that are currently too difficult for a single drone, including construction in remote areas, agricultural transport in rugged terrain, and emergency rescue missions.
Drones are ideal for reaching hard-to-access locations, such as offshore wind turbines or mountain farms, but their limited payload capacity has been a persistent challenge. The new system overcomes this by linking several drones to a single payload via cables. By coordinating their positions in real time, the drones can not only lift heavier objects but also control the orientation of the payload, ensuring precise placement in complex environments.
“Coordination is the key challenge,” says the robotics researcher. “When drones are physically connected, they must respond to each other as well as to sudden external forces. Traditional control methods are too slow and rigid for this.”
The TU Delft team’s algorithm is designed to be fast, adaptive, and robust. It adjusts to changing payloads and reacts to disturbances without requiring sensors attached directly to the object, which is a crucial feature for practical field use.
To test the system, the researchers created a controlled laboratory environment. Up to four quadrotors were flown simultaneously, navigating around obstacles and responding to simulated wind. The team even experimented with moving payloads, including a basketball, to evaluate dynamic responses. In all cases, the drones successfully cooperated to carry and stabilize the payload autonomously. Operators only need to specify a destination; the drones handle navigation, obstacle avoidance, and balance on their own.
Currently, the system relies on external motion capture cameras for indoor testing, which limits its immediate use in outdoor settings. The researchers are working toward adapting the technology for real-world deployment, with potential applications in construction, agriculture, and disaster response.
According to TechXplore, this development represents a significant step toward collaborative autonomous flight, where drones act as a coordinated team rather than individual units. By enabling heavier and more precise transport, the technology could expand the practical roles drones play in both industrial and emergency scenarios.
The research was published in the Science Robotics Journal.
