Transitioning multiagent technology to UAV applications

This paper describes the transition of academically developed multiagent technology for UAV coordination to an industrially developed application. The specific application is the use of lightweight UAVs with small Received Signal Strength Indicator sensors to cooperatively locate targets emitting radio frequency signals in a large area. It is shown that general techniques can be effectively transitioned, sometimes with minimal changes. However, clear differences in engineering and testing requirements of academia and commercialization require extensive effort in developing simulation and live flight testbeds. Although the technology has not yet been commercialized, initial live flight testing shows the potential of the approach.