Project summary

During disasters, cell towers and internet links often go completely down. Small search drones struggle to coordinate without an internet connection. For this purpose, we will create free, open-source software that lets small drones talk directly to each other. This will allow drones to divide up search areas, share progress, and locate hazards without needing cell towers, satellite links, or human micromanagement.

What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?

To provide a reliable, low-cost drone coordination tool that works entirely offline. We will achieve this through three clear steps. First we will write lightweight software that sends tiny text-sized messages directly between drones over cheap radio chips, requiring zero internet. Second, we will add simple decision rules so the drones automatically assign each other search zones, ensuring every area is covered without repeating paths. Third, we will test this setup on real, inexpensive computer boards (like Raspberry Pis), film a clear demonstration showing it work even when connections drop, and share all code freely on GitHub.

How will this funding be used?

We are asking for $10,000 total (with a $5,000 minimum to get started):

• $3,000 for hardware & testing kits: Buying basic single-board computers, long-range radio antennas, batteries, and field cases to build the physical testbench.

• $5,000 for student/developer stipends: Pay for two university student programmers to write clean code, create step-by-step setup guides, and keep the GitHub page up to date.

• $2,000 for field trials & demo video: Outdoor testing logistics, battery replacements, and producing a short, plain-English video showing the physical system in action.

(If we only raise the $5,000 minimum, we will complete the core software and run tabletop bench tests, scaling down outdoor travel and video production.)

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

I am an academic living in Northern Cyprus for the past 4 years. I am going to kick-start it with my student and then will establish a team once funded.
Reference (Muhammad Toaha Raza Khan)

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

• Most likely cause of failure: Long-range radio signals (LoRa) transfer data slowly and can drop packets when drones move behind buildings or terrain. If signal loss is too severe, the drones might take too long to agree on who searches which area.

• How we handle this: We are designing the system to exchange only tiny packets of text data rather than heavy images, so the drones only need a split second of connection to stay aligned.

• Outcome if the real-world test underperforms: Even if the physical radio range is shorter than planned, the open-source codebase and simulation tools will still be fully documented and public on GitHub, allowing other rescue teams and researchers to build on our findings and adapt them to other radios.

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

We have very recently secured a number of international research funding awards through competitive processes, among them grants from the International Science Partnerships Fund (amounting to £80,000), the National Research Foundation of Korea (£450,000), the Québec Merit Scholarship programme (£35,000), and the AdımODTÜ research programmes.