Engineering Out Loud: S13E1 – How many robots can a single human supervise?

by Engineering Out Loud

22 June 2026

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Will swarms of autonomous aerial vehicles be able to aid humans in wildland firefighting or package delivery? Research summarized in a new paper in Field Robotics represents a big step towards realizing such a future. In this interview, Professor Julie A Adams describes the research showing that one person can supervise more than 100 autonomous ground and aerial robots.

“Engineering Out Loud” is a podcast from the College of Engineering at Oregon State University. It is for anyone who wants to know more about how engineering is changing the world. Hear from researchers about how they are tackling humanity’s biggest challenges, including enabling access to clean water, preparing and recovering from natural hazards, and improving human the health and safety. Get a sneak peek into the future and learn what motivates the College of Engineering faculty, students, and staff to do the hard work of innovation.

Engineering Out Loud A podcast from the College of Engineering at Oregon State University

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