Thousand-Unit Rescue Robot Swarm Completes First Real-World Earthquake Drill

China's Ministry of Emergency Management conducted the "Panshi-2028" large-scale earthquake emergency drill in Wenchuan, Sichuan from January 5-8. The drill featured the first real-world test of a "thousand-unit swarm" comprising 1,000 rescue drones and 200 ground robots.

The swarm was jointly developed by CETC and DJI, using a distributed swarm control architecture. Each drone and ground robot serves as an independent decision-making unit, sharing information through a mesh communication network and autonomously coordinating actions.

In the simulated M7.8 earthquake scenario, the thousand-unit swarm completed comprehensive search across 8 square kilometers within 72 hours. Drones handled aerial reconnaissance and life detection, while ground robots managed rubble interior search and supply delivery.

Drill commander, the Ministry's rescue coordination department director, stated that the swarm's efficiency equals that of 2,000 human rescuers. "Particularly in aftershock-prone hazardous environments, robot swarms can sustain operations without endangering human rescuers."

The system is expected to be formally commissioned into the national fire and rescue force in the second half of 2028.