IIT Bombay Scientists Develop GPS-Free Swarm Drone Technology for Autonomous Operations

Mumbai, : Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay) have created a groundbreaking system that enables drones to fly in coordinated swarms without relying on GPS, communication links, or external control systems. This innovation marks a significant leap toward fully autonomous swarm robotics with potential applications in defence, surveillance, and disaster response.

The system, designed by Professor Dwaipayan Mukherjee and research scholar Chinmay Garanayak, allows each drone to track its neighbours using only onboard cameras. The drones use bearing-only visual data—that is, the direction of nearby drones—to estimate relative positions and maintain formation in real time.

Autonomous Swarms Without GPS or Communication

Unlike traditional systems that depend on satellite navigation or wireless communication, IIT Bombay’s model empowers each drone to operate independently yet collaboratively.

“Autonomy in a swarm means each drone decides its own actions based solely on what it observes,” explained Prof. Mukherjee. “There is no dependency on GPS or a central computer.”

This camera-based control reduces hardware complexity, eliminates the need for heavy sensors, and extends battery life due to lower power consumption.

The team tested the system on Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) drones, known for their agility and ability to hover in confined spaces. This makes the technology particularly valuable for urban surveillance, military reconnaissance, and GPS-denied environments where communication can be jammed.

Overcoming Key Technical Challenges

The researchers also tackled a crucial challenge in drone dynamics known as underactuation, where VTOL drones can control altitude and rotation but not lateral movement directly.

“Many studies use simplified drone models,” said Prof. Mukherjee. “We developed a control system that works with the full dynamics — including velocity, torque, and inertia — ensuring stable formation even under imperfect starting positions.”

In tests involving constant-velocity and time-varying formations, the drones successfully maintained coordination and stability without any external commands or positional feedback.

Next Step: Real-World Swarm Testing

The next phase of research will involve real-world drone swarm trials and the integration of autonomous collision avoidance systems with theoretical safety guarantees.

“Our goal is to ensure that drones can avoid obstacles and maintain formation autonomously, even in unpredictable environments,” added Prof. Mukherjee.

Applications and Future Potential

This innovation opens new frontiers for swarm robotics and autonomous aerial operations. The technology could be deployed in defence missions, disaster relief efforts, search-and-rescue operations, and space-constrained environments where GPS or communication infrastructure is unavailable.

By enabling fully decentralized, camera-based drone coordination, IIT Bombay’s research positions India at the forefront of next-generation UAV and AI-driven robotics development.

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