IAES International Journal of Robotics and Automation (IJRA)
Vol 15, No 3: September 2026

Consensus-based path planning for UAV swarms under multiple constraints: A review

Yana Lu (Beijing Information Science and Technology University)
Lianpeng Li (Beijing Information Science and Technology University)
Hui Zhao (Beijing Information Science and Technology University)
Xu Zhao (Beijing Information Science and Technology University)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Sep 2026

Abstract

UAV swarms are essential for emergency response, logistics, reconnaissance, and environmental monitoring, yet achieving safe and scalable path planning under dynamic conditions and complex constraints remains challenging. Unlike existing surveys that categorize algorithms by theoretical foundations, this paper systematically reviews UAV swarm path planning through the lens of spatial, temporal, and task-level consistency constraints. We classify recent advances into classical path search, intelligent optimization, and deep reinforcement learning, emphasizing how each addresses geometric continuity, behavioral coordination, and full-chain perception–decision–planning consistency under multi-constraint coupling. We further identify critical limitations in scalability, dynamic adaptability, and heterogeneous swarm cooperation, and outline future directions, including distributed control, multi-source perception fusion, cross‑platform collaboration, and robust autonomous decision-making. This review provides a unique, application‑centric taxonomy based on consensus constraints, offering actionable insights for developing consistency-aware UAV swarm path planning technologies.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

IJRA

Publisher

Subject

Automotive Engineering Electrical & Electronics Engineering

Description

Robots are becoming part of people's everyday social lives and will increasingly become so. In future years, robots may become caretaker assistants for the elderly, or academic tutors for our children, or medical assistants, day care assistants, or psychological counselors. Robots may become our ...