Ukraine builds drone and robot autonomy so one operator can run multiple units
Facing a manpower shortage, Ukraine is developing autonomy for drones and ground robots that lets a single operator control several units at once. A unit known as Lasar's Group has demonstrated an approach where one pilot oversees an entire strike involving multiple bomber drones.
Ukraine is continuing to seek ways to offset a shortage of military personnel, and one path being pursued is greater autonomy in unmanned systems. Rather than assigning a separate operator to each drone or ground robot, developers are working on technology that allows a single person to control multiple platforms simultaneously.
A single-operator model
This approach has been applied within a unit referred to as Lasar's Group, which has demonstrated a model in which one pilot is responsible for an entire raid involving several bomber-equipped drones. In practice, this means multiple drones can be coordinated from a single control point during one operation, rather than each requiring its own operator.
Addressing the manpower shortage
Increasing automation and autonomy in this way is seen as a means of reducing the number of people needed to operate unmanned systems, while maintaining or improving the effectiveness of strikes. Given the prolonged nature of the war and the resulting personnel strain and losses, the ability to replace multiple operators with one person managing more autonomous systems is becoming an increasingly important element of Ukraine's military approach.
The push toward greater autonomy extends beyond aerial drone units to ground robots used in various military tasks as well. This technological direction reflects Ukraine's ongoing effort to use advances in unmanned systems to compensate for limited human resources at the front.
