Houston Matters

Could “drone swarms” help aid humanity during disasters?

University of Houston researchers believe developing ways for drones to flock and work in tandem could have many useful benefits.

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Starlings flocking in Russia
Flocking starlings are the inspiration for research into “drone swarms.”

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As our world becomes increasingly automated, researchers at the University of Houston are exploring ways to get large groups of drones to respond in real-time to changes in their environment, much like flocks of birds do in nature.

Aaron Becker is an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at UH. In the audio above, he tells Houston Matters producer Joshua Zinn about how far drones have come already and what it will take to get them working in tandem.

Joshua Zinn

Joshua Zinn

Producer, Houston Matters

Joshua is a producer for Houston Matters on News 88.7 as well as the host of Encore Houston on Houston Public Media Classical. He joined Houston Public Media as a radio intern in 2014 and became a full-time announcer the following year. Now he prepares segments and occasionally records interviews...

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Craig Cohen

Craig Cohen

Executive Producer & Host, Houston Matters

Craig Cohen is the executive producer and host of Houston Matters, which airs weekday mornings at 9:00 on Houston Public Media, News 88.7 FM. Craig is a 20+ year veteran of broadcast journalism. He's spent the bulk of his career in public media, in roles ranging from programmer and manager,...

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