Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings

Watch The World’s Largest Micro-Drone Swarm

By Janine E. Mooney | January 16, 2017

Share

During the world’s largest micro-drone swarm (according to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)), 103 micro-drones carried out organized missions in the skies over China Lake, California. The Perdix drones were launched last October from three F/A-18 Super Hornets and autonomously carried out a series of missions that demonstrated decision-making, adaptive formation flying, and self-healing.

Developed by the DoD, the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO), and Naval Air Systems Command, the Perdix system is named after the Greek mythology legend. Perdix was saved from certain death after his uncle Daedalus pushed him from a tower, only to be turned into a bird by the goddess Athena.

The autonomous micro-drone was first designed by MIT engineering students and was later modified for military applications by the MIT Lincoln Laboratory. So what’s its purpose? Well, it was designed to be launched in swarms to carry out low-altitude Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) as well as other missions. The drones are based on smartphone technology, and uses only commercial components, 3D-printing, and agile manufacturing.

Each propeller-driven drone is 6.5 inches long with a wingspan of 11.8 inches. Weighing in at 10.23 ounces, it has an air endurance of over 20 minutes, can reach speeds of 46 to 69 mph, can operate at temperatures of 14⁰ F, and can endure the shock of being ejected from a fighter plane.

Aside from how they are built, the interesting part is more so how they are all being controlled at once. It’s impossible to control all 103 drones individually, so instead, they actually control themselves (sort of). After being told a series of tasks to perform, they follow in suit all together.

The first flight tests were done in September 2014 and, a year later, 90 Perdix test missions were flown during US Pacific Command’s Northern Edge exercise in Alaska using swarms of up to 20 drones.

The DoD says the seventh generation Perdix is coming soon with more advanced autonomy. In addition, the SACO and the Defense Industrial Unit Experimental (DIUx) are seeking private companies to build 1,000 of the micro-drones this year.

Check out the video below that shows the 103 Perdix drones being launched from three F/A-18 Super Hornets.


Filed Under: M2M (machine to machine)

 

Related Articles Read More >

Part 6: IDE and other software for connectivity and IoT design work
Part 4: Edge computing and gateways proliferate for industrial machinery
Part 3: Trends in Ethernet, PoE, IO-Link, HIPERFACE, and single-cable solutions
Machine Learning for Sensors

DESIGN GUIDE LIBRARY

“motion

Enews Sign Up

Motion Control Classroom

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Pushing performance: Adding functionality to terminal blocks
  • Get to Know Würth Industrial Division
  • Renishaw next-generation FORTiS™ enclosed linear encoders offer enhanced metrology and reliability for machine tools
  • WAGO’s smartDESIGNER Online Provides Seamless Progression for Projects
  • Epoxy Certified for UL 1203 Standard
  • The Importance of Industrial Cable Resistance to Chemicals and Oils

Design World Podcasts

June 12, 2022
How to avoid over engineering a part
See More >
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • Advertising
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Engineering White Papers
  • LEAP AWARDS

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings