In a new research project, RISE shows how multiple connected drones can share information in real time, identify objects, and coordinate their actions.

The demonstration is part of a Vinnova-funded initiative on drone swarms, in which RISE presents a solution based on a flexible platform where drones are sufficiently autonomous to communicate with one another to carry out tasks. Instead of controlling each drone individually, the operator provides high-level instructions that the system and the drone swarm execute independently.

– We have built a platform where drones can collaborate and share situational awareness in real time. This allows them to solve tasks together that a single drone could not manage on its own, says Max Fransson, Research and Development Engineer at RISE.

The platform can be used for everything from detecting fires and searching for people to mapping larger areas.

– Much of the underlying technology exists, but integrating it into a working swarm platform requires new research and systems development, and its use in a civilian context is still limited. It is only when we can test and apply it in practice that we can truly see its value for society. The potential is significant, for example, in future emergency response, says Max.

With drone swarms, authorities can gain faster, more detailed situational awareness in situations such as wildfires, accidents, or search operations. Multiple drones can cover large areas, prioritise what needs closer inspection, and share information directly with emergency services and other stakeholders.

In the future, drone swarms could play a crucial role in critical societal operations, such as responding to natural disasters or supporting rescue missions in complex environments. But for this to become reality, more advanced ways of managing and deploying autonomous drone swarms are needed, without losing control.

Oscar Bjurling, a researcher at RISE, became interested in this challenge and began studying human-swarm interaction during his doctoral project. He realized that an entire industry has already grappled with similar problems for decades: in real-time strategy games, hundreds or thousands of agents are managed simultaneously, often under intense pressure.

The project led Oscar and his colleagues at RISE to develop an interface for a drone simulator, for research purposes and inspired by game design patterns, where complex missions such as wildfire suppression or search-and-rescue operations can be simulated.

Game interfaces inspired design solutions

In the project, Oscar took a closer look at the games Ashes of the Singularity, Total War: Warhammer II, and Drone Swarm. He selected them because they differ in scale and control methods: from managing individual units to handling battalions or swarms of up to 32,000 drones. By analyzing their interfaces, the researchers identified design patterns that could be transferred to real-world ground control stations.

The goal of the project was to identify and understand the operational challenges faced by swarm operators and to develop design solutions at both system and interface levels that enhance collaboration between humans and drone systems. The challenge lies in controlling groups of drones, or an entire collective, while maintaining oversight at the individual level. Today, significant progress has been made.

“Drones are now autonomous enough that we shouldn’t need to control them in detail. Instead, we can use systems with predefined tactics and algorithms that act as building blocks,” says Oscar Bjurling.

The human role crucial for the swarm

He explains that the goal is delegation: instead of micromanaging each drone, the operator should be able to give high-level instructions that the system then executes independently. This implies a hierarchical system where humans make the key decisions while the swarm handles execution.

Technically, we may be close but today’s drone ground control systems are still limited to controlling one unit at a time. In addition, each drone currently requires a safety pilot who maintains constant visual contact with it. This makes practical swarm deployment impossible for now, and important challenges remain before we can see drone swarms in the air.

These challenges include adapting solutions to specific applications, understanding when and how humans need to intervene, establishing regulations for autonomous systems operating beyond visual line of sight, and achieving viable business models for costly systems.

The importance of testing and verification

Setting legal barriers aside, Oscar believes the technology could be operational within a few years. However, he urges patience:

“When systems are autonomous, it’s extremely important that they are thoroughly tested and verified. This will take time, and it needs to.”

Within ten years, he is convinced that drone swarms will be useful in applications such as wildfire fighting and search-and-rescue operations.

RISE is now working to develop next-generation drone swarms to support Swedish industry. By combining research, test environments, and broad engineering expertise, RISE contributes to creating safe, reliable, and scalable solutions, enabling technological breakthroughs while ensuring that the technology can be used responsibly and effectively in critical applications.

Drones have become an increasingly common feature of Swedish infrastructure. As technology has advanced and prices have fallen, organisations, companies and authorities have started using them for various purposes, including photography, filming, mapping, surveillance and military operations.

Drone operations: an industry for the future.

"Drones have become cheaper, more autonomous, and far more useful," says Åsa Olsson, Head of the Reliable Transport Systems Unit at RISE. "Improvements in batteries and cameras, not to mention simpler licensing processes, have also contributed to this. All of these factors have contributed to a rapid increase in their use."

With the rapid advance of technology, she believes that the areas of use will only continue to grow.

“Drones could have many more applications – for instance, they could act as mobile defibrillators that respond when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. Personally, I like to imagine a future where I can fly to work in a drone,” says Åsa Olsson.

Advanced tools with great potential – and challenges

But increased use also brings risks.

“A drone is, after all, equipped with a computer that can connect to various systems. We’ve carried out tests showing that some drones leak information even though this isn’t mentioned in the manuals. The drone could therefore reveal its location, leak data, or transmit images,” says Åsa Olsson.

And just like any other computer, drones can also be hacked.

“If you’ve filmed sensitive or critical sites, that data could be lost – and someone else might gain access to the drone and the information stored in it,” she explains.

A major asset for future technology

It’s essential that awareness of communication security and protection against malicious code keeps pace.

“Drones store large amounts of data, which increases the risk of information falling into the wrong hands. Communication must be encrypted, and the drone should have backup functions,” says Åsa Olsson.

She recommends always asking the manufacturer or retailer whether a third-party evaluation has been carried out to verify how well the drone is protected against, for example, malicious code.

“There’s no explicit transparency – you have to ask the company whether the drone is certified.”

But there are also physical risks, such as collisions and weather conditions.

“Weather is an important factor when choosing a drone. For instance, if the drone isn’t rain-resistant, it could be damaged. There’s also a risk of collisions or of the drone damaging someone else’s property. That’s why it’s important to have appropriate insurance for the drone in case of an accident,” says Åsa Olsson.

Stricter requirements and a greater focus on safety

In addition to registration and licences for drones, there are also EU directives such as NIS2 and CRA (see the fact box below).

“Overall, there are many rules, some of which are complicated, for both the drone itself and its use. It is a rapidly growing area in which RISE can determine what applies,” says Åsa Olsson. 

RISE specialises in drone operation, cyber security, and wireless communication. The organisation also has several specially adapted test and demonstration environments, as well as courses on the various regulations and training on the risks and safety of drone use.

"We conduct tests in a variety of environments and locations, such as forests, urban areas, fields, mountains, waterways and the sea, throughout Sweden. Cyber tests need to be carried out in a laboratory, while test flights are conducted on site with the necessary equipment and personnel," says Åsa Olsson.

RISE also conducts tests to analyse the information transmitted by drones, such as whether they can reveal their position and the images they take.

"These drones are advanced and users may not be fully aware of all their functions, especially since these are not always described in the manual. They could film or photograph a security object without the operator's knowledge, which could cause problems for the owner," says Åsa Olsson.