Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

Drone Racing Champion Defeated by AI for First Time

Drone Racing Champion Defeated by AI

As first-person (FPV) drone racing becomes more popular, AI implementations have improved their performance versus human pilots. While there is still much unexplored land in this field of research, it has the potential to impact a variety of real-world applications for autonomous drones.

Researchers from the University of Zurich revealed an autonomous drone control system capable of outflying human pilots on race circuits in 2021. They’ve created a successor in the two years since, claiming to have defeated three world-champion FPV drone racers.

The new sport requires contestants to fly a small drone through a series of gates as rapidly as possible, with the video feed from the drone’s camera attached to the pilot’s goggles. Racers’ quick reflexes and high level of expertise test the boundaries of drone mobility, making them an appealing subject for research into autonomous control systems.

Swift’s AI was trained using a neural network and data from an onboard computer, a camera, and an inertial sensor. Swift set track records during the test, defeating three international world champions, owing to its ability to take much tighter corners than the human pilots. Autonomous racing system research is almost as ancient as drone racing, but recent achievements from the University of Zurich have taken it to a new level.

The most noticeable difference is that, although the human racers spent a week training on the test course, the artificial intelligence (AI) training procedure took only about an hour on a regular workstation desktop. The drone may have two advantages over the racers’ brains: it analyzes information faster and perceives inertia in a manner that humans do not. Swift’s video stream, on the other hand, was only 30Hz, whereas the pilots’ cameras refreshed at 120Hz, providing them much more visual data.

Swift has only been tested on one indoor circuit, whereas drone races are done in a variety of indoor and outdoor venues. It’s unknown how self-driving systems like Swift would handle things like wind or changing lighting conditions, so there’s definitely potential for additional research.

The findings of these and other tests could have far-reaching effects beyond drone racing. They could aid in the improvement of how self-flying drones navigate real-world settings for applications such as deliveries, search and rescue, combat, and others.


Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Related Articles

Top Trending

SEO Strategies for Ranking Websites in Taiwan
SEO Strategies for Ranking Websites on Google & Yahoo in Taiwan
Steps to Choose the Perfect Domain Name for Your Business
10 Essential Steps to Choose the Perfect Domain Name for Your Business Website
Telemedicine Tips
Telemedicine Tips: Scheduling Virtual Care Right
Steps to Take When You Get Injured
7 Crucial Steps to Take When You Get Injured and Need Help
Real Estate Markets in USA for First-Time Investors
Top 15 Real Estate Markets in USA for First-Time Investors to Watch Now

LIFESTYLE

wellhealthorganic.com effective natural beauty tips
Top 5 Well Health Organic Beauty Tips for Glowing Skin
Chemical-Free Alternatives to Your Favorite Beauty Products
7 Chemical-Free Alternatives to Your Favorite Beauty Products You Need to Try
Clothes That Flatter Your Natural Shape
How to Find Clothes That Flatter Your Natural Shape?
Tax-Saving Tips for Retirees in Germany
Maximize Your Savings: 10 Tax-Saving Tips for Retirees in Germany
Lauren Sanchez Jeff Bezos Italian summer wedding
Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sánchez Set for Glam Italian Wedding This Summer

Entertainment

t_o_princessxoxo
T_o_princessxoxo: What You Need to Know About Kalani Rodgers
rosamund pike nipple covers pierce brosnan bond scene
Rosamund Pike Feared Nipple Covers Tore Pierce Brosnan's Chest Hair
backstageviral .com
Uncover The Best Viral Content on BackstageViral.com
Classic Games That Need a Remake Right Now
10 Classic Games That Need a Remake Right Now: Nostalgia Reloaded
Nate Bargatze net worth
Nate Bargatze Net Worth: Education, Age, Height, Weight, Career & More

GAMING

Crypto Games
10 Crypto Games That Are More Than Just Play-to-Earn Experiences
Gaming Desks That Maximize Space & Comfort
10 Gaming Desks That Maximize Space & Comfort for Ultimate Setup
Compact Gaming Setups for Small Spaces
5 Compact Gaming Setups Perfect for Small Spaces In 2025
Classic Games That Need a Remake Right Now
10 Classic Games That Need a Remake Right Now: Nostalgia Reloaded
antiwordle
Play Antiwordle Game: A Fun Twist on The Classic Wordle Experience

BUSINESS

Plumbing Companies in the USA for Fire Sprinkler System Installation
Top 10 Plumbing Companies in the USA for Fire Sprinkler System Installation
Estate Planning Tax Strategies for Wealth Preservation in the UK
12 Estate Planning Tax Strategies for Wealth Preservation in the UK
Biggest NFT Fails and What We Can Learn From Them
The 7 Biggest NFT Fails and What We Can Learn From Them
Boston Event Planners for Sophisticated Urban Celebrations
10 Boston Event Planners for Sophisticated Urban Celebrations
World’s Richest Person 2025
World’s Richest Person 2025: See Who Topped Forbes’ Latest List

TECHNOLOGY

Telemedicine Tips
Telemedicine Tips: Scheduling Virtual Care Right
Strategies to Increase Your Visibility and Reach Online
7 Highly Effective Strategies to Significantly Increase Your Visibility and Reach Online
flingster review
Flingster Review: The Details of Anonymous Video Chat in 2025
Best Web Performance Testing Tools
7 Best Web Performance Testing Tools Every Developer Needs for Success
UK Proxies
UK Proxies: Reliable and Secure Web Access

HEALTH

Telemedicine Tips
Telemedicine Tips: Scheduling Virtual Care Right
Advanced Energy Shaping the Future of Surgery
How Is Advanced Energy Shaping the Future of Surgery?
Does Kratom Have Calories
Does Kratom Have Calories? Understanding Its Nutritional Profile and Metabolic Impact
Common Dental Issues
5 Common Dental Issues and How to Prevent Them
How Ice Baths Can Support Immune Function
How Ice Baths Can Support Immune Function?