Aerospace & Defense Technology (May 2020, pages 14-17)

Drone swarms are, in every sense, a transformational technology. They can replace humans in dangerous or hostile environments. In sufficient numbers, they can collect information from multiple locations and directions, integrating it to form insights not otherwise available. That information can inform decision makers who cannot enter the environment nor capture information from multiple angles and perspectives. Drones can operate in environments—space, underwater, fires, battlefields—that are otherwise impossible or too risky for humans or alternative technologies. And drones can leverage advances in many technologies, such as smart sensors, applying them in otherwise impossible applications.