Can drone swarms manage power and plan recharging routes entirely on their own? Two California-based companies are working to test that idea.
The SWARM project combines adaptive intelligence with wireless power beaming in an effort to remove the operational bottlenecks created by limited battery life in autonomous missions.
It centers around Reach Power’s proprietary targeted radio frequency power-beaming technology, which enables drones to navigate to designated waypoints and recharge mid-air without landing or human intervention.
Gambit’s AI autonomy system complements this by allowing individual drones to factor in battery status, mission requirements, and charging availability in real-time decision-making.
Together, the system enables a drone swarm to autonomously route aircraft to airborne charging points, sustaining continuous operations and reducing the need for direct human involvement in energy management.
“Drone swarms are only as persistent as their batteries,” said Chris Davlantes, Reach Power Founder and CEO.
“SWARM changes the equation. When a drone can recharge itself in the air without human intervention, the full potential of autonomy and swarming is unleashed from battery limits.”
Funding Secured
The companies said the SWARM project has received financial backing from the Pentagon, signaling support for technologies aimed at enabling persistent, self-sustaining drone operations.
The funding was provided by the Operational Energy–Innovation Directorate (OE-I) through its Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF).
“When a drone can recharge itself in the air without human intervention, the full potential of autonomy and swarming is unleashed from battery limits,” Davlantes stressed.
“OE-I has been an outstanding partner in helping advance this vision, and this OECIF funding award validates that the Department of War is prioritizing ways to fundamentally enable true drone autonomy.”
