Researchers at MIT have introduced MiFly, a technology that enables drones to determine their location in dark indoor spaces using radio frequencies.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers have developed a new technology that allows drones to autonomously position themselves in dark or low-light indoor spaces. The MiFly system utilizes radio frequency waves reflected from a single tag placed in the environment to determine the drone’s position and find its route. HOW IT WORKS? Two pre-installed radars on the drone determine its position by using radio frequency waves bouncing off the tag in the environment. These measurements are then combined with data from the drone’s onboard computer to predict the flying robot’s route. 7-CENTIMETER MARGIN OF ERROR Researchers conducting hundreds of experiments with commercially available drones emphasize that MiFly consistently operates with a maximum deviation of only 7 centimeters. CHEAPER AND MORE PRACTICAL MiFly provides navigation with just one tag that can be attached to a wall, making it a cheaper and easier-to-use system compared to other methods that require more reflectors. Moreover, the tag consumes much less power as it reflects signals from the drone instead of producing its own signal. USING MILLIMETER WAVE SIGNALS While developing MiFly, the researchers utilized millimeter wave signals. These signals, commonly used in modern radars and 5G communication systems, can pass through materials like cardboard, plastic, and interior walls, operating effectively in the dark. The team designed a special tag to differentiate signals reflected from the tag from those reflected from other parts of the environment by adding a small frequency to the signal it reflects. When reflections from the environment reach the radar at a single frequency, signals from the tag return at a different frequency, enabling the device to distinguish between the received responses. SELF-NAVIGATING DRONES MADE POSSIBLE If the technology developed by MIT is further advanced, it could enable the use of autonomous drones that find their own paths especially in industrial settings like warehouses and factories. This would allow for the transportation of heavy loads over long distances and their placement at high altitudes without human control.