Gulf site of UAV swarm test

The Navy will conduct two technology demonstrations of swarming unmanned vehicles over the next nine weeks. In the first demonstration Friday, a "flock" of 30 unmanned aerial vehicles will fly over the Gulf of Mexico. The LOCUST (Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology), first demonstrated in 2014, use a tube launcher that can propel the 30 UAVs within two minutes. An information-sharing data link between the UAVs enables autonomous collaboration. They will form up and four will break off and perform an unspecified task. The next demonstration in September will feature swarming unmanned surface vehicles. (Source: Sea Power 07/22/16)