New research enables a robot to chart a better course
Researchers from MIT and the University of Pennsylvania have developed an open-source trajectory-planning system called MIGHTY. This system enables unpiloted aerial vehicles (UAVs) to quickly navigate obstacles while minimizing travel time. MIGHTY could enhance applications such as disaster recovery and last-mile delivery by democratizing access to high-performance trajectory planning.
- ▪MIGHTY allows UAVs to react to obstacles in milliseconds while maintaining a smooth flight path.
- ▪The system is efficient enough for real-time flight using only the robot's onboard computer and sensors.
- ▪MIGHTY is open-source, making it accessible to researchers, students, and companies worldwide without the cost of proprietary software.
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| Original publisher | MIT News |
| Canonical URL | https://news.mit.edu/2026/new-research-enables-robot-to-chart-better-course-0519 |
| Publication time | Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-19T04:09:57.228Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-19T04:09:57.228Z |
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| Summary source text | contentText |
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| Commercial reuse | May the content be reused commercially? | Not permitted |
Basis: Derived from the published RSS/Atom feed. Contact: [email protected]. Reviewed: 2026-07-24.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
By rapidly generating a smooth path plan that cuts travel time and avoids obstacles, the open-source “MIGHTY” system could streamline disaster recovery and parcel delivery. Adam Zewe | MIT News Publication Date: May 19, 2026 Press Inquiries Press Contact: Abby Abazorius Email: [email protected] Phone: 617-253-2709 MIT News Office Media Download ↓ Download Image Caption: A figure shows multiple flight pathways as a UAV starts from the center and flies toward 24 goals (dots around perimeter). The flight pathways are mainly red and end in cool colors, showing reduced speed. The rainbow clouds represent obstacles, with cooler colors representing taller obstacles.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at MIT News.