Swiss researchers invent drone-flying AI that tops champions

Swiss researchers at the University of Zurich and Intel have invented a drone-flying AI that defeated world-champion drone racing pilots in first-person view (FPV) races. This AI, named “Swift,” learned to fly through simulated environments using reinforcement learning and then transferred its skills to the physical world with extraordinary precision. It outperformed humans in consistency, speed on complex tracks, and the ability to calculate optimal racing lines in real-time, demonstrating a breakthrough in agile autonomous flight and marking a significant step towards AI capable of mastering complex, high-speed physical tasks.

• AI named “Swift” developed by University of Zurich & Intel researchers.

• Trained via reinforcement learning in simulation, then transferred to real drones.

• Defeated world-champion FPV drone pilots in head-to-head races.

• Demonstrates superhuman reaction times, consistency, and trajectory optimization.

• A landmark achievement in agile autonomous robotics and AI control.

• Paves the way for AI in high-speed delivery, inspection, and disaster response drones.

AI outflies world champions. Swiss researchers’ drone-flying AI demonstrates a breakthrough in autonomous, agile flight and real-time control.