**Summary:**
Researchers have developed a new approach to improve communication and energy efficiency in UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) swarms, which are increasingly used in areas with limited infrastructure, such as emergency rescues, military operations, and remote area coverage.
The challenge: Complex environments can disrupt the wireless signals between UAVs and the ground, affecting communication quality and reliability. Additionally, UAVs have limited energy, so balancing communication needs with energy use is crucial.
The solution: The team proposed a system that integrates communication and control, using a multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) framework to coordinate the UAV swarm in real-time. They developed a new algorithm, called MAHPPO-AM, to optimize the UAVs’ actions and handle complex scenarios. This approach ensures fair communication rates for ground users while minimizing UAV energy consumption.
**Practical applications for the energy sector:**
1. **Energy-efficient monitoring:** UAV swarms can be used for energy infrastructure monitoring (e.g., power lines, pipelines) with improved energy efficiency, extending their operational time and reducing costs.
2. **Disaster management:** In emergencies, such as post-hurricane power outages, UAV swarms can quickly establish communication networks to coordinate recovery efforts while conserving energy.
3. **Remote area exploration:** For energy exploration in remote or hard-to-reach areas, UAV swarms can provide reliable communication and efficient energy use, reducing the need for extensive ground infrastructure.
4. **Inspection and maintenance:** UAV swarms can inspect and maintain energy facilities, like wind turbines and solar farms, with improved communication quality and energy efficiency, ensuring optimal performance and reducing downtime.
By implementing this technology, the energy industry can enhance the efficiency and reliability of UAV-based operations, leading to cost savings and improved safety.
Source: [arXiv](http://arxiv.org/abs/2509.23905v1)