Now, researchers at Durham University have developed a new system that enables drones to fly in precisely coordinated swarm formations. Swarm IntelligenceThis new system, known as T-STAR (Time-Optimal Swarm Trajectory Planning), enables unmanned aerial vehicles to exchange information in real-time. Tests comparing T-STAR results to data from earlier drone swarm formation models show that the new system produces faster and safer routes. Earlier systems often required drone swarms to slow down when navigating complex terrain, which limited their effectiveness. Improvements in speed and coordination could also influence future defense strategies for the military organizations that first developed drone swarm concepts.