A single destination for timely, editor-curated robotics news from around the world.
Recent advancements in monocular Visual-Inertial Odometry (VIO) and perception-aware planning have been reported in the Journal of Field Robotics. These innovations are set to significantly improve the performance of autonomous drone racing by enabling more accurate navigation and obstacle avoidance...
Army Chief Technology Officer Alex Miller recently discussed the service's plans for autonomy, particularly through the Futures and Autonomous Systems Command. This initiative is part of the Pentagon's broader strategy to enhance autonomous capabilities across military operations. Miller emphasized...
A pilot from the US Air Force successfully directed an uncrewed YFQ-44A Fury drone during a flight, marking a significant advancement in military aviation. This demonstration, which took place in October 2026, showcased the potential for crewed fighters to command autonomous drones, enhancing combat...
Zone 5's CEO Thomas Akers announced that the company's acquisition by Norwegian defense firm Kongsberg marks a significant advancement for the startup. This acquisition enhances Zone 5's capabilities, allowing it to offer a range of products from a reusable drone interceptor to a low-cost cruise mis...
The U.S. Department of Defense is significantly increasing its investment in autonomous systems, with recent contracts awarded to various companies for drone production and AI-piloted aircraft. Notably, Orqa U.S. secured a $38 million contract for the Drone Dominance Gauntlet II program, while Shiel...
Aslan Motion Technologies has officially launched its online store, aslanmotion.com, featuring a range of components tailored for unmanned systems. The initial product lineup includes a GPS module, a 4-in-1 ESC, a flight controller, an IR and overt LED module, and a BLDC motor, all manufactured in R...
ANRA Technologies has unveiled ANRA VISTA, a receive-only application designed to enhance awareness of nearby drone activities. Launched on October 14, 2026, VISTA provides public safety agencies and enterprise drone operators with critical information about drone flight intentions and positions sou...
Rownd, a defense autonomy startup, has obtained a $10 million contract from the Department of War to advance its development of low-cost, autonomous drones for military use. This initiative is part of Rownd's strategy to create attritable mass, allowing military forces to deploy affordable drones th...
The Pentagon's Drone Dominance Program is set to initiate a significant competition, aiming to procure around 60,000 one-way attack drones under a $450 million Phase III initiative. This initiative also includes a delay of the Gauntlet 2.5 competition for reusable bomber drones until early November,...
Researchers from Shinshu University and Chiba University have developed a new hydrogel electrode that significantly prolongs the functionality of insect antennae as odor sensors. The hydrogel maintains over 92% of the antenna's initial signal for seven hours, addressing the common issue of drying ou...
Sikorsky has revealed a new concept for the Nomad 100 vertical takeoff and landing uncrewed aircraft system (VTOL UAS), featuring a containerized deployment package that holds four aircraft and their support equipment in a single 20-foot shipping container. This innovation was presented on October 1...
MonoRace has introduced a robust monocular AI system designed specifically for high-level drone racing. This innovative technology enhances the performance of racing drones by improving navigation and obstacle avoidance capabilities, allowing pilots to achieve champion-level speeds and precision. T...
Powerus has launched the Guardian-3, a fully autonomous drone interceptor, marking a significant advancement in counter-drone technology. This third-generation system aims to minimize human operator involvement, building on the semi-autonomous capabilities of its predecessor, the Guardian-2. While t...
Powerus Corporation has introduced the Guardian-3, a counter-drone interceptor capable of transitioning from vertical hovering to forward flight autonomously. This third-generation aircraft was showcased at the Association of the United States Army’s 2026 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., highligh...
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has released a report titled CAP3304: Managing Noise from Emerging Aviation Technology, which explores the assessment and management of noise from drones and eVTOL aircraft as commercial operations grow. The report highlights gaps in current aviation noise stand...
Ukrainian defense technology firm Buntar Aerospace has successfully raised $16 million in a recent funding round aimed at expanding its production capabilities and developing autonomous systems. This investment increases the company's total capital to $30 million, allowing it to leverage its experie...
Recent developments highlight the importance of drones in autonomous warfare, particularly in executing one-way attacks. These systems are designed to operate independently while maintaining connectivity with their units, which is essential for effective multi-domain operations. The integration of...
A bipartisan coalition of 29 U.S. governors has formally requested federal officials to enhance counter-drone training for state and local agencies. This appeal follows the implementation of new powers under the SAFER SKIES Act, which was enacted in December 2025. In a letter dated October 6, the go...
Recent conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have highlighted the increasing importance of drones on the battlefield, a trend expected to continue as technology evolves. The effectiveness of these drones will depend on their ability to reduce cognitive load on operators, which is where Palladyne AI's decent...
Northrop Grumman has successfully completed the first flight of its self-funded YFQ-48A drone wingman. The aircraft demonstrated fully autonomous capabilities, including taxi, takeoff, in-flight maneuvers, and landing, during its flight over the Mojave Desert in California. This milestone is signif...
Saab UK and Kraken have announced the development of an experimental autonomous 'drone seeker' vessel aimed at enhancing maritime security against aerial threats. This prototype integrates Saab's Giraffe 1X radar with Kraken's K3 Scout platform, creating a counter-UAS system that can operate indepen...
Digital Force Technologies (DFT) has been awarded a $500 million contract by Joint Interagency Task Force 401 to supply advanced counter-drone systems. This contract, announced on September 29, supports the Domestic Shield program, which aims to enhance drone defenses for military installations and...
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is conducting tests on commercial counter-drone technology in collaboration with state and local law enforcement agencies. Announced on October 1, this initiative by DHS's Science and Technology Directorate involves a week-long assessment at a federal test f...
Utopia Compression, a technology firm with over 20 years in the defense sector, is entering the commercial UAV and advanced air mobility markets with AI-based software solutions. Their technology, validated by clients like the U.S. Air Force and Navy, enhances situational awareness for drone operato...
Ouster, Inc. has partnered with Seneca to integrate its REV8 OS1 Max native color digital lidar into Seneca's autonomous drone platform. This collaboration aims to improve 3D perception capabilities in drones, enabling safer and faster operations in complex wildfire environments. The integration of...
The evolving landscape of drone warfare emphasizes the significance of manufacturing capabilities alongside technological advancements. As the industry shifts focus, factors like scale and repeatability are becoming crucial for success in drone production, particularly for FPV drones and autonomous...
On September 28, 2026, Matternet introduced its M3 autonomous drone delivery platform, designed to facilitate package delivery from rooftops without on-site staff. The system includes an aircraft capable of carrying up to 11 pounds within a 10-mile radius, a dock for charging, and a drop-box portal...
IEEE Spectrum's latest Video Friday showcases a variety of robotics innovations. Featured is Goose, a small home robot designed for light household tasks and companionship, although specific functionalities remain undisclosed. The highlights also include Skydio's F10, an asymmetrical fixed-wing dro...
SkyfireAI and Lithuania-based DBOX have entered a collaboration to advance integrated autonomous drone operations in the United States. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed at the Lithuania–U.S. Business Forum in Miami, attended by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda. The partnership ai...
Skydio has unveiled its first fixed-wing drone, the F10 Lightrunner, at the Ascend conference in Nevada. This aircraft is designed for long-distance missions, capable of reaching speeds of 100 mph and operating within a 30-mile radius for up to two hours. Alongside the F10, Skydio introduced the Meg...
Lowe’s has initiated a drone delivery pilot program in Matthews, North Carolina, enabling customers to receive tools and household essentials via Wing drones within 20 minutes. This service, available through DoorDash, marks Lowe’s as the first home improvement retailer in the U.S. to offer such a d...
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has advanced H.R. 10304, the Drone Safety Statement Modernization Act of 2026, which mandates that small drone manufacturers provide a safety statement to operators upon their first activation. This bill aims to enhance safety awareness among new...
Researchers at Delft University of Technology have developed a whisker-based tactile framework that allows tiny drones to navigate complex environments without relying on visual input. Inspired by the natural whiskers of rodents, this technology equips drones with artificial whiskers that provide re...
ABZ Innovation has inaugurated a new drone manufacturing facility in Szentendre, Hungary, which is among the largest dedicated civilian drone production sites in Europe. This expansion is driven by increasing demand for drones in various sectors, including agriculture and industrial cleaning, with t...
The city of Raleigh, North Carolina, is utilizing drones and AI technology to create a digital twin aimed at addressing urban challenges and planning for future growth. Collaborating with tech partners like Esri, NVIDIA, and Microsoft, Raleigh seeks to enhance traffic management and urban developmen...
ABZ Innovation, a Hungarian startup, is set to initiate non-military drone production in the United States next year. This move follows the company's plans to expand its output in Hungary, as stated by its CEO. The decision to establish a foothold in the US market is significant for ABZ Innovation,...
Odyssey has unveiled Odyssey-3, a versatile world model designed to control robots, humanoids, autonomous vehicles, and drones using a unified AI system. This autoregressive diffusion transformer is trained on a diverse set of visual observations, allowing it to adapt with minimal task-specific data...
ABZ Innovation has inaugurated a new manufacturing facility in Szentendre, Hungary, which is recognized as one of the largest civilian drone production sites in Europe. This facility will enhance the manufacturing capabilities for agricultural and industrial drone technology in the region. The esta...
Sandbox AQ has successfully tested its quantum sensor-based Magnetic Navigation (MagNav) on Northrop Grumman’s Lumberjack drone, marking a significant milestone in unmanned aircraft systems. This test is the first of its kind for an attritable drone, showcasing the potential of quantum navigation in...
Elroy Air, a US drone startup, has successfully conducted its first autonomous, uncrewed flights of the Chaparral hybrid-electric aircraft under the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program in Louisiana. These flights focused on transporting various cargo types, including medical supplies and industrial equi...
Hermeus has partnered with Anduril to integrate autonomy software into its Mk 2 Quarterhorse drone, with flight testing set to begin next year. This collaboration aims to enhance the drone's capabilities, allowing for automated flight controls and scalability in operations, as emphasized by Hermeus...
SiMa.ai and ARK Electronics have formed a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the deployment of next-generation autonomous drones. They are introducing the ARK-SiMa.ai Modalix MLSoC Bundles, which are production-ready solutions designed to facilitate the development of intelligent drones for...
Infinit Drones has unveiled the Dock M400, an autonomous docking platform designed for the DJI Matrice 400 drone. This innovation allows for remote launching, recovery, and battery management without the need for on-site personnel, addressing a significant gap in the enterprise drone market. The Do...
Agri Spray Drones (ASD) has announced its shift from being a distributor of spray drones to becoming a manufacturer and technology company focused on agricultural drones. This evolution is driven by years of operator experience, which will inform product development, quality control, software, and a...
L3Harris and ARX UK have tested the CORVUS-RAVEN sensors mounted on unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to enhance battlefield awareness. These sensors are designed to track approaching threats, allowing operators to maintain a safe distance from potential dangers. The implementation of the CORVUS-RAVE...
The Commercial UAV Expo is set to take place in Las Vegas from September 1 to 3, attracting over 3,700 professionals and more than 240 exhibitors. This year's event is particularly significant due to ongoing changes in the U.S. commercial drone industry, including the FAA's development of a new fram...
Arizona-based Iveda has unveiled the IvedaAir line, featuring the GX10-F100, a gas-powered autonomous helicopter drone. This unmanned aircraft boasts an impressive flight endurance of over 150 minutes, significantly surpassing traditional battery-powered quadcopters. With a cargo capacity of 19 poun...
Saildrone successfully executed two Joint Air-to-Ground Missile launches from its Surveyor unmanned surface vehicle (USV) during the US Navy's Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first-ever missile launch from a Saildrone USV, showcasing the integrat...
DJI has revealed the winners of its DJI Enterprise Drone Onboard AI Challenge 2026, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of enterprise drones. The competition encourages the development of AI models that enable drones to make real-time decisions, addressing various applications such as crop counting,...
DefendEye has announced plans to scale up production of the Overwatch Drone, the world's first autonomous AI drone designed for first responders, following a significant investment round led by NovaCapital. This funding will enable the company to enhance its operations and manufacturing capabilities...
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