SwarmDiffusion lightweight generative AI model enables robots to navigate complex, unknown environments using a single 2D image

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-image-robots.html

"avoids heavy mapping/ LiDAR... interconnects: Vision-Language Model identifying open floors vs. walls/ gaps from photo, Diffusion-based Trajectory Generation denoising/ refining rough guess into smooth, safe path toward goal... 90 ms navigation data processing real-time on robot's internal processor... requires only few robot-specific examples to learn robot/ drone platform's unique motion style... warehouse/ industrial logistics, monitoring crops/ inspecting infrastructure autonomously... future: swarm"

Related: Why 5G alone may not be enough for tomorrow’s factories
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1112484