3D Drone Swarms in Action | Mission Planning + Autonomous Clustered Formation using MDS 3

🚁 Watch me design and execute a 5-drone autonomous swarm mission using MDS 3 - an open-source multi-drone coordination system for PX4 autopilots. This video demonstrates real-time leader-follower clustering, 3D trajectory planning, and synchronized mission execution.

In this build, I'll show you how to design complex 3D flight paths on an interactive map, configure swarm relationships, auto-generate follower trajectories, and execute coordinated missions with just one command.

🔥 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
Design 3D drone trajectories on live maps (Google Earth-style)
Configure leader-follower swarm relationships
Auto-generate synchronized flight paths from offsets
Execute multi-drone missions with PX4 + MAVSDK
Test swarms using Docker SITL containers
Override missions in real-time during flight

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction - What is MDS 3?
00:18 Setting up MDS Dashboard
00:35 Design Swarm Mission (offsets, roles, clusters)
01:05 Design Drone 1 (Cluster 1 Leader) 3D Trajectory
02:45 Design Drone 4 (Cluster 2 Leader) 3D Trajectory
03:18 Generate Full Trajectory Offboard Setpoints
03:45 Export and Preview in Google Earth
04:55 Running Drone SITL Docker Containers
05:25 Starting the Swarm Mission
07:00 Testing Mission Override Capability
07:50 Outro + What's Next

🎯 KEY FEATURES IN MDS 3:
✅ Global Swarm Trajectory Mode - Design missions on 3D maps
✅ Auto-generation of follower drone paths from leader trajectories
✅ Dynamic leader-follower clustering with real-time formation control
✅ Comprehensive mission validation (CSV, KML, plots)
✅ Full UI/UX redesign with dark mode support
✅ Enhanced Docker SITL workflow for risk-free testing
✅ Robust preflight checks and failsafe systems
✅ Mission override and dynamic reconfiguration

⚙️ TECHNOLOGY STACK:
MAVSDK - Drone control API for PX4
PX4 Autopilot - Industry-standard flight stack
Python Backend - Mission planning engine
React Dashboard - Real-time monitoring interface
Docker - Containerized SITL simulation environment
MAVLink Protocol - Communication standard

🌍 REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS:
Strategic surveillance and reconnaissance
Border and coastal monitoring operations
Large-area mapping and surveying
Search and rescue coordination
Agricultural monitoring at scale
Synchronized aerial displays
Multi-point delivery systems
Infrastructure inspection
Emergency response operations

💡 WHY THIS MATTERS:
Traditional drone operations require one operator per drone. MDS 3 enables one operator to coordinate multiple drones with advanced formation control, automatic failover, and intelligent clustering. This dramatically improves operational efficiency for professional applications.

📚 COMPLETE MDS VERSION HISTORY:
This is part of an ongoing series documenting MDS development from v0.1 to v3.0. Watch the full evolution in my MDS playlist:    • Single Drone Show Basics with MAVSDK Offbo...  

🔗 PROJECT RESOURCES:
📂 GitHub Repository: https://github.com/alireza787b/mavsdk...
🐳 Docker Setup Guide:
https://github.com/alireza787b/mavsdk...
🎓 PX4 Autopilot: https://px4.io
🛠️ MAVSDK Documentation: https://mavsdk.mavlink.io
🌐 MAVLink Protocol: https://mavlink.io

🔧 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Supports unlimited drone count (tested up to 100 in SITL)
Sub-second command propagation latency
Kalman filter-enhanced state estimation
Three-way startup handshake protocol
Automatic leader election on failure
GPS-denied operation capable (with modifications)
Compatible with any PX4-supported vehicle
Extensible architecture for custom algorithms

💬 COMMUNITY & SUPPORT:
Questions about implementation? Join the discussion in the comments or reach out:
📧 Email: [email protected]
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alireza787b


⚠️ SAFETY DISCLAIMER:
This software controls autonomous vehicles. Always:
Test in SITL before real flights
Follow local aviation regulations
Maintain visual line of sight
Have manual override capability
Implement proper failsafes
Never fly over people
Obtain necessary permissions and insurance

Real-world operation requires expertise in:
PX4 autopilot configuration
MAVLink protocol
Drone safety procedures
Local airspace regulations
Risk assessment and mitigation

📈 WHAT'S NEXT:
Fixed-wing trajectory optimization
GPS-denied operation modes
Advanced collision avoidance
Machine learning integration
Vision-based formation control
Heterogeneous swarm support (mixing vehicle types)

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📜 LICENSE: CC BY-SA 4.0
🔒 Export Compliance: Check local regulations for autonomous systems

© 2025 Alireza Ghaderi | Advancing Multi-Drone Systems