{"id":9331,"date":"2025-07-16T08:02:38","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T07:02:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nes.aau.at\/?p=9331"},"modified":"2025-12-16T16:19:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T15:19:41","slug":"a-challenge-for-swarm-robotics-using-multiple-drones-to-jointly-transport-a-package","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nes.aau.at\/?p=9331","title":{"rendered":"A challenge for swarm robotics: using multiple drones to jointly transport a package"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Picture: aau\/M\u00fcller<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whenever a package weighing more than a drone needs to be transported to a disaster area, it takes several mini drones to get the job done. Aamna Piracha is researching decentralized formation control and collaborative slung payload transport with multiple UAVs operating as a collective system. She is particularly interested in enabling drone swarms to safely and autonomously maneuver in cluttered and unpredictable environments while carrying rescue packages, such as through collapsed urban areas or narrow streets.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI am investigating how multiple drones\u2014typically three to six\u2014can maintain a stable formation to carry a slung package, while continuously adapting to the changes in their environment,\u201d explains Aamna Piracha, a pre-doctoral researcher at the Department of Networked and Embedded Systems<\/a> in Bernhard Rinner\u2019s research group.<\/p>\n

She goes on to explain the requirements in greater detail: \u201cThe drones must be able to dynamically adjust their positions relative to each other and change their formation shape depending on the spatial constraints of the environment.\u201d \u201cIt is crucial that the load remains stable. Even the slightest deviation in the position of a single drone can destabilize the entire swarm. These formation adjustments must happen in real time and without centralized control,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

To develop these systems, Aamna Piracha uses artificial intelligence methods, especially multi-agent reinforcement learning. Reinforcement learning enables each drone to learn from experience, improving navigation and decision-making in cluttered spaces. A well-learned policy can enhance collaborative decision-making in complex environments. In this case, it means that each agent independently recognizes the positions of the others, coordinates an optimal formation, and reacts in real time.<\/p>\n

The challenge is considerable, says Aamna Piracha: \u201cPrevious research has produced solutions for open environments. But real-world scenarios\u2014such as after an earthquake\u2014we may have collapsed buildings, debris fields, and narrow pathways. Our drones must autonomously reconfigure their formation, avoid obstacles, and keep the payload stable\u2014all without human intervention.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aamna Piracha brings extensive scientific expertise as well as international experience to the table: she grew up in Islamabad, Pakistan, where she completed her Bachelor\u2019s degree in Electrical Engineering. She then moved to South Korea to pursue her Master\u2019s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Ajou University. After graduating, she spent several years working in science and public service in Pakistan. She has been living and conducting research in Austria since 2023. \u201cThe research group offers ideal conditions for me\u2014not only professionally, but also in terms of family life,\u201d she explains. Aamna Piracha is the mother of a four-year-old daughter who attends kindergarten in Lakeside Park, right next door to Aamna\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

When asked how she sees the future role of drone technology in our society, she explains: \u201cDrones will be deployed wherever possible because they are becoming more agile and can provide quicker services to society. However, they also cause problems, such as data protection and privacy challenges, noise pollution, and security gaps.\u201d In the future, Aamna Piracha would like to focus on both aspects: the opportunities offered by drone swarms\u2014and how to protect against the dangers they may pose.<\/p>\n

\nA few words with \u2026 Aamna Piracha<\/strong><\/p>\n
    \n
  • When was the last time you discussed your research with someone outside the scientific community?<\/strong> I was explaining my work to a parent at my daughter\u2019s kindergarten\u2014it turned into a really interesting conversation.<\/li>\n
  • What is the first thing you do in the office each morning?<\/strong> I have a quick chat with my colleagues, check my emails, and then get started on the day\u2019s plan.<\/li>\n
  • What makes you furious?<\/strong> Injustice, lack of openness<\/li>\n
  • And what calms you down?<\/strong> Kindness<\/li>\n
  • Do you take proper holidays? Without thinking about your work?<\/strong> Yes I do and try my best to not think about work, it is very important as a parent to be present for your family without worrying about work<\/li>\n
  • What are you afraid of?<\/strong> Failure<\/li>\n
  • What are you looking forward to?<\/strong> I\u2019m really looking forward to exploring all the beautiful places in Austria and the neighbouring countries.<\/li>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Whenever a package weighing more than a drone needs to be transported to a disaster area, it takes several mini drones to get the job done. Aamna Piracha is researching decentralized formation control and collaborative slung payload transport with multiple UAVs operating as a collective system. She is particularly interested […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":9333,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[216],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interviews"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/nes.aau.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Piracha-Aamna_2025_Foto-Mueller-14-scaled-e1764588059794.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":false,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nes.aau.at\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nes.aau.at\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nes.aau.at\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nes.aau.at\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nes.aau.at\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9331"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/nes.aau.at\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9331\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9338,"href":"https:\/\/nes.aau.at\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9331\/revisions\/9338"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nes.aau.at\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nes.aau.at\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nes.aau.at\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nes.aau.at\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}