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Mark Borgerson

In article ,
says...

wrote in message
ups.com...

Hint: Look up the accuracy specifications of GPS.

In 7-10 years it will be Galileo. The specifications are a little bit
eklastic as they depend on integration time. If you are talking about
RELATIVE separation this will in fact be only a few centimers, the
accuracy of DGPS.

The accuracy of the GPS systems isnt the issue anyway. Its
handling the problem of separattion of large numbers of drones.

If they have to communicate with each other that introduces
extra weight, a considerable processing issue and a vulnerability
to jamming and/or spoofing.

Frankly you'd probably be better off accepting a certain percentage
of losses due to mid air collisions

That's my position also. One of these days I'll have to set up a
Monte-Carlo simulation to try to judge the collision probability.
As it is, one of my customers still wants to have their autonomous
flying machines exhibit 'flocking and anti-collision' behavior.
Keeping track of where 49 other systems are and where they are
going IS a considerable processing issue---but you can simplify
by ignoring those that are more than 10 seconds flight away
from the system of interest.

Jamming and spoofing can be an issue---but it is somewhat difficult
to jam a spread-spectrum system that only has to communicate
a few hundred meters (from one drone to another).

Mark Borgerson