A single destination for timely, editor-curated robotics news from around the world.
Ørsted has successfully completed a trial of a large cargo delivery drone at its Hornsea 2 offshore wind farm in the North Sea. The trial aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using drones to replace traditional sea vessel trips for maintenance operations, demonstrating the capability to deliver payl...
The FAA has announced a $12 million funding initiative for 19 companies and organizations focused on drone research and testing projects. This funding is part of the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Broad Agency Announcement Program, aimed at enhancing the safe integration of drones into the US...
Research from The University of Texas at Austin reveals that autonomous drones searching for missing persons may only need to recalculate their routes two or three times to maximize efficiency. This finding challenges the notion that constant route adjustments are necessary for optimal performance d...
Recent drone strikes in the Black Sea have targeted cargo ships, highlighting the growing dangers in this vital trade corridor. These attacks underscore the escalating tensions in the region, particularly affecting agricultural trade routes crucial for Ukraine's economy. The significance of these s...
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...
Wing and Walmart have selected the Denver and Seattle metropolitan areas for their upcoming drone delivery services, set to launch in 2027. This expansion will add two significant markets to their existing network, which already serves over three million customers across nearly 20 U.S. metro areas....
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has allocated $12 million to fund 19 drone research and testing initiatives aimed at enhancing the safe expansion of drone operations within the National Airspace System (NAS). These projects, supported through the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Broa...
The US Navy is evaluating the MQ-9B SeaGuardian drone as a potential force multiplier for maritime patrol operations. This drone, capable of taking off and landing on water, features an open architecture that allows for the integration of new sensors and effectors, enhancing its operational flexibil...
The Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI) has established the Supercooled Water Experimental Arctic Tower (SWEAT) to facilitate research on drone icing. Opened in early 2025, this facility allows researchers and students to examine how ice accumulation impacts drone lift a...
Taiwan is integrating U.S. technology with its shipbuilding capabilities to develop sea drones, responding to increasing maritime security challenges posed by China. This initiative is part of Taiwan's broader strategy to enhance its naval and coast guard procurement plans, aiming to bolster its def...
China is progressing from large formations of identical drones to a more complex network that coordinates uncrewed systems across air, land, and sea. The China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) highlights the evolution of drone swarms from mere numbers to distributed systems capable of...
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...
NOAA has appointed Mississippi State University to host the Cooperative Institute in the Gulf of America (CINGA), aimed at enhancing research collaboration on Gulf ecosystems. This initiative builds on a 20-year partnership with NOAA, focusing on science-based decision-making for the northern Gulf r...
Spirit Energy has successfully concluded a £40 million decommissioning campaign in the UK North Sea, which involved plugging and abandoning three subsea wells and removing over 234 tonnes of subsea infrastructure. The operation, conducted between April and July 2026, was executed in collaboration wi...
The deputy commander of United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM), Army Lt. Gen. Joseph Jarrard, stated that the U.S. is currently unprepared to defend against potential drone swarm attacks within its borders. Speaking at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama, he highlighted...
A US manufacturer is preparing to produce the Magura sea drones, which were designed and battle-tested in Ukraine. This initiative marks the first time these drones will be manufactured in the United States, reflecting a strategic move by the White House to enhance military production capabilities....
Taiwan has awarded contracts for dozens of sea drones to bolster its Coast Guard capabilities amid rising tensions with China. This decision reflects Taiwan's commitment to enhancing its maritime defense using U.S. technology as a countermeasure against China's expanding maritime operations in the r...
Ørsted has successfully conducted a four-week cargo drone trial at its Hornsea 2 offshore wind farm in the North Sea, in collaboration with Skyports Drone Services. The trial involved transporting maintenance kits weighing up to 65 kilograms (143 pounds) between a service vessel and turbine tops, ma...
The ongoing severe wildfire season in the western U.S. has led to a significant increase in drone incursions, with 74 incidents reported by the U.S. Wildland Fire Service as of September 1. This marks a rise from 53 incursions in 2025 and 32 in 2024, highlighting a troubling trend in aerial firefigh...
Northrop Grumman has secured an $18.8 million contract to develop next-generation solid fuel ramjet propulsion for the U.S. Army's XRC missile prototypes. This initiative aims to improve the detection and engagement of unmanned aerial systems at extended ranges, addressing the evolving threats faced...
The City of Northglenn, Colorado, is evaluating new regulations for commercial drone delivery hubs as the industry grows in the U.S. The proposed ordinance will focus on ground facilities for launching and supporting delivery drones, acknowledging that the Federal Aviation Administration governs air...
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 US Navy has awarded a $10 million contract to Saildrone to utilize autonomous vessels for mapping the Atlantic Ocean floor. This initiative, assigned by the Naval Oceanographic Office, is set to commence in 2026 and will continue through most of 2027, enhancing military knowledge of critical und...
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...
Recent research published in the International Journal of Intelligent Machines and Robotics highlights the innovative use of drones for moss and lichen removal from sloping roofs. This application addresses the safety concerns associated with manual removal, which can be hazardous for workers. The...
Northrop Grumman has successfully conducted an aeroballistic test of a new 50mm round for its Raid Hunter air defense system. The test involved firing the projectile from an XM913 Chain Gun to validate its performance and gather flight data, which will aid in developing a guided, proximity-fuzed pro...
Poland and Canada have formalized a defense cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in military training and joint exercises. The agreement was signed by Poland’s Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Canadian Minister David J. McGuinty dur...
Firestorm Labs, based in San Diego, showcased its ability to manufacture UAV parts using 3D printing technology aboard the USS Essex during a two-week voyage to the Rim of the Pacific 2026 military exercise. The company produced over 1,000 drone components, which were assembled into Squall UAVs for...
Unauthorized drones continue to pose significant challenges to wildfire response efforts in the Northwestern U.S., particularly affecting operations at the Wrights Spring Fire in Oregon. The Northwest Incident Management Team 7 reported five drone incursions over several days, which grounded aerial...
Researchers at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have developed miniature drones powered by sound, utilizing Helmholtz resonance. This innovative approach allows the drones to convert sound waves into propulsive force, enabling controlled motion and navigation. The significance of...
Researchers in Canada have developed the Ice Dart drone, capable of landing on steep, slippery surfaces like icebergs. This drone can grip icy slopes of nearly 60 degrees, making it a valuable tool for monitoring Arctic environments. The Ice Dart's unique landing gear absorbs impact and utilizes ret...
Northrop Grumman has unveiled the Raid Hunter, a new short-range air defense system designed to protect military bases from aerial threats. This 50mm gun-based system aims to counter cruise missiles and drone swarms, addressing a critical gap in short-range air defense capabilities. The introductio...
The U.S. Army has initiated a search for a counter-drone missile, referred to as the Next Generation C-sUAS Missile, with a budget cap of $150,000. This missile is required to be compatible with Raytheon's Coyote launcher, as specified in the Request for Information (RFI). This initiative is signif...
Boeing and Northrop Grumman have successfully conducted a pioneering test that allows P-8A Poseidon crews to command MQ-4C Triton drones. This advancement in command and control architecture enables the P-8A to issue autonomous mission orders to the Triton, enhancing operational flexibility in dynam...
The Air Force has initiated a research project to explore wireless power beaming for drones, led by Reach Power and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s NIMBUS Lab. This effort aims to enable unmanned aircraft to operate longer without needing battery swaps, enhancing their role in military communic...
Researchers at the Civil Aviation University of China are pioneering a method to recharge drones mid-air using laser beams aimed at receivers beneath their wings. This innovation addresses the critical issue of limited battery life, which has been a significant barrier in drone technology advancemen...
The Royal Navy is conducting trials of a robotic boat designed to autonomously launch and recover drones at sea, enhancing uncrewed maritime surveillance capabilities. This initiative, in collaboration with ACUA Ocean and Teledyne FLIR Defense, aims to improve persistent aerial reconnaissance while...
Northwestern University has unveiled the 'Phantom Twist,' a drone designed to achieve low visibility by spinning at speeds of up to 25 times per second. This innovative approach creates a motion blur that allows the drone to blend into its surroundings, rather than achieving complete invisibility. M...
At the RSS 2026 conference in Sydney, Northwestern University showcased the Phantom Twist drone, which is significantly harder to see in flight compared to traditional quadrotors. This drone achieves its stealthy appearance by spinning rapidly at 15 to 25 Hz, leveraging the limitations of human visi...
An innovative autonomous surface vessel, the Ranger, has successfully completed its Sea Acceptance Test (SAT) in Germany, demonstrating its ability to be launched from a submarine's torpedo tube. Developed by Gabler and Flanq, the Ranger is designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance...
DeepOcean has successfully completed the recovery of the subsea wellhead protection structure at Spirit Energy's Seven Seas field and disconnected subsea infrastructure at the Grove West field in the North Sea. This operation utilized proprietary tooling developed in-house for decommissioning and wa...
On July 11, Ukraine reported that its aerial drones struck 28 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov, part of an ongoing campaign that has targeted nearly 80 ships since July 6. This includes a significant number of oil tankers from Russia's shadow fleet, leading to a temporary halt in shipping through...
Flylogix, a pioneering drone company, has secured contracts with prominent oil and gas operators to address methane emissions within the industry. This initiative comes as part of a broader effort to mitigate environmental impacts associated with fossil fuel extraction and production. The collaborat...
Ukraine executed a significant uncrewed surface vessel (USV) attack on the Nefrit, a multipurpose offshore vessel, in Sochi, Russia. This operation marks the first known USV strike on the resort city, located approximately 350 miles from Ukrainian-held territory, highlighting the expanding reach of...
A recent report indicates that China is investigating a maritime defense model utilizing autonomous drones to protect contested islands in the South China Sea. Researchers from the China Coast Guard Academy and Dalian Maritime University propose a network of aerial, surface, and underwater drones, w...
A Lightfish uncrewed surface vessel (USV) owned by Seasats had a notable encounter with a Chinese Type 052D guided missile destroyer near the Philippines. The incident, reported by Reuters, occurred approximately 73 miles northeast of Luzon Island, highlighting the increasing presence of USVs in str...
Maritime defense technology company Saronic has revealed plans to construct a $3 billion shipyard named Port Alpha in Brownsville, Texas. The facility aims to enhance U.S. shipbuilding capabilities for both defense and commercial vessels, with construction expected to commence later this year and op...
Saronic, an Austin-based technology startup, has announced plans to construct a new shipyard in South Texas, with an estimated investment of $3.2 billion. This development comes shortly after the company's maritime drones were utilized by the US military in combat for the first time this week. The...
An engineer from the University of Houston has created an innovative onboard safety system designed to enhance drone safety by preventing crashes. This new technology enables drones to navigate around obstacles and avoid potential collisions, even in the face of unforeseen circumstances that may dis...
The Royal Navy has showcased a new shipboard strike capability with the demonstration of the combat-proven Nyan Kamikaze drone, highlighting its commitment to integrating advanced drone technology across its fleet. This event signals a significant step towards a hybrid future for naval operations, a...
RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.
Daily robotics news, in-depth analysis, conference highlights, and discussions with professionals worldwide.
