- Research Article
- 10.1088/1742-6596/3178/1/012091
A Comprehensive Review of Time Synchronization Technology in Drone Swarms
- Mar 01, 2026
- Journal of Physics: Conference Series
- Xianda Fu + 6 more +6
This paper systematically reviews the research status and future development trends of time synchronization technology in drone swarms. The paper first elaborates on the basic theory of time synchronization and defines the evaluation indicators for synchronization performance. Then, it deeply analyzes the characteristics and development status of time synchronization technologies such as centralized and distributed synchronization protocols, covering GPS time transfer, RBS, TPSN, FTSP, PTP, ATS, FF, and other synchronization protocols, as well as advanced directions such as time compensation technology under motion, communication technology, and hardware optimization technology. Finally, the paper summarizes the four major development trends of time synchronization technology: further improvement in accuracy, enhanced network robustness, faster clock servoing speed, and optimized communication resource allocation. This study provides an overview of the development of time synchronization technology in drone swarms under dynamic complex environments and analyzes possible future research directions.
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