New coordination tech lets drone swarms fly faster without accidents

Researchers at Durham University have developed T-STAR (Time-Optimal Swarm Trajectory Planning), a new coordination technology that enables drone swarms to fly faster and safer by sharing data in real time. This system allows drones to make instant decisions, avoid collisions, and navigate complex environments at high speeds, overcoming a key limitation where drone groups previously had to slow down to prevent crashes. Early tests demonstrate that T-STAR improves mission speed, reliability, and precision, making drone swarms more effective for urgent tasks like search and rescue, disaster relief, and environmental monitoring. T-STAR’s real-time communication and collective decision-making capabilities allow drones to operate as an intelligent, coordinated swarm, opening new possibilities for their use in high-risk and time-sensitive scenarios. Beyond emergency response, the technology holds promise for industries such as logistics and agriculture, where large-scale autonomous drone operations could benefit from enhanced speed and safety. This advancement reflects a broader trend in drone swarm innovation, with other companies like Lockheed Martin, IBM