It’s been possible to precisely coordinate the synchronised motion of drone swarms for quite a while now.

I have the same question. What is the software architecture to make that possible? Does any open-source solution exist?

ML most likely? Have a camera, and then adjust the drones to fit desired image going into that camera. Feed in windspeed and other data. Drones can fly themselves already so this is just more adjustments.

I can actually speak to this.

So there is software that does this for you using RTK base stations which provide better than GPS accuracy. The software is out there (skybrush is a good one open source one), you load your points into the flight controller of your drones and the show is actually fully automated after launch, the flight controllers just have waypoints and times where they should move so that the swarm doesn't collide.

You can actually do it without RTK but you have to come to terms with the fact that your drones could be within 6 meters off of the target location while RTK can give you cm accuracy in the sky. The FAA actually approves swarm operations and I was able to capture some of it in Miami during the Independency Day celebration (self-plug for my own channel incoming) which you can see here -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWO3Bo1y3B8

Thank you for the information, fascinating. I've been curious about this for a while, how drone swarms are coordinated by software to perform intricate shows. There must be some interesting questions to solve, like how to avoid collision, or if they need error correction in case of wind, etc.

Skybrush: Open-source drone light show and drone swarm management framework - https://github.com/skybrush-io

I learned RTK means "Real-time kinematic positioning". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real-time_kinematic_positionin...

Apparently it's possible to set up one's own RTK station. https://github.com/Stefal/rtkbase https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/setting-up-a-rover-base...

> There must be some interesting questions to solve, like how to avoid collision, or if they need error correction in case of wind, etc.

Yes, interestingly collisions aren't that difficult to avoid and wind can be countered but you can also simulate your show and tweak your "safety distance". You can actually see it in action in some drone shows when the lights go out... you'll the movements begin on the outer edge and then spread inwards minimizing the risk of collision.

RTK stations have been coming down in price little by little and are even commercially available from drone manufacturers like DJI for not a ridiculous amount of money.