A single destination for timely, editor-curated robotics news from around the world.
Researchers from Ruhr University Bochum have developed an autonomous drone capable of detecting hidden cracks in concrete bridges. This drone can navigate narrow, poorly lit spaces and plan its own flight paths while storing inspection data on an SD card. The innovation aims to enhance the efficienc...
The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the Air Combat Command's Experimental Operations Unit have successfully conducted a flight of the XQ-67A Autonomous Collaborative Platform at the Nevada Test and Training Range. This flight marks a significant step in testing the capabilities of autono...
Reach Power has successfully demonstrated a pioneering autonomous drone flight lasting 10 hours, powered wirelessly. This achievement showcases the integration of onboard visual navigation and autonomous energy management, enabling the drone to operate without external intervention or physical power...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
WaiV Robotics has successfully conducted a series of open-sea demonstrations showcasing its autonomous drone launch and recovery system. Notably, the company achieved the first-ever autonomous maritime takeoff and landing at night, marking a significant milestone in maritime technology. This achiev...
Bulwark Dynamics has successfully raised $6.8 million in seed funding to advance the development of its Caravel autonomous landing craft. The company has entered into an agreement with Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard to facilitate the serial production of these vessels, which are designed to autonomously...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Amazon's Prime Air drone service recently delivered a package into a customer's pool in Texas, highlighting potential issues with delivery locations. As the service expands to 500 cities across the U.S., incidents of drones dropping packages into water bodies raise concerns about delivery accuracy a...
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...
FlybyOps, a Finland-based company, has introduced an enterprise drone operations platform aimed at addressing the complexities of scaling autonomous drone fleets. As commercial drone operations expand, managing pilots, equipment, approvals, and compliance becomes increasingly challenging, especially...
FlybyOps has unveiled an enterprise drone operations platform tailored for large-scale Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and autonomous drone initiatives. This Finland-based company aims to tackle the complexities faced by commercial drone operators as they expand their fleets, requiring effective...
Kratos has initiated production of its XQ-58 Valkyrie drones equipped with landing gear, alongside ongoing production of rocket-assisted takeoff variants. The U.S. Marine Corps is acquiring these landing gear-equipped drones for its MUX TACAIR program, highlighting the Valkyrie's strategic importanc...
AeroVironment is enhancing its Mayhem 10 launched effects system by integrating autonomous swarm capabilities through a partnership with Applied Intuition. This new software allows multiple Mayhem 10 drones to coordinate missions under a single operator's supervision, addressing future U.S. Army req...
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...
BAE Systems has launched the UK's first autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), named Brontanax, at the Farnborough International Airshow. This aircraft is designed to operate alongside crewed fighter jets like the Eurofighter Typhoon, enhancing combat capabilities through missions such as e...
Elistair has partnered with Exail to integrate its Khronos DroneBox with Exail's DriX unmanned surface vessel, enabling tethered drone maritime surveillance. This collaboration allows operators to maintain a persistent aerial view from shore, enhancing capabilities for naval, coast guard, and port s...
Anduril has introduced Thunder, a hybrid-electric tiltrotor combat drone developed in collaboration with Archer Aviation. Designed as a highly autonomous pilotless wingman, Thunder aims to operate alongside crewed helicopters like the AH-64 Apache, enhancing target acquisition and defense capabiliti...
L3Harris Technologies and Shield AI have successfully completed the inaugural live flight trial of their Distributed Spectrum Collaboration and Operations (DiSCO) system. This achievement marks a significant step in the development of autonomous electronic warfare capabilities. The successful fligh...
SYNDÉO, a Verona, Wisconsin-based infrastructure company, is advocating for underground drone bases, specifically its SmartVault Drone Base, designed for critical missions like infrastructure inspection and border security. This innovative subsurface station features a load-bearing hatch for drone c...
Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed an autonomous measurement system that utilizes drones and lasers to map volcanic gas concentrations with a low measurement error of approximately 5%. This innovative system aims to enhance volcanic eruption forecasting by trackin...
ParaZero Technologies has introduced its DefendAir platform, designed to intercept first-person view (FPV) drones autonomously before they can strike military vehicles. This system utilizes a non-explosive net-based interception method, creating a 360-degree defensive envelope around assets. The pla...
In response to aggressive maneuvers by Russian military satellites, U.K. startup Shield Space is developing swarms of autonomous cubesats to protect Western satellites. These drones, which can be deployed at a fraction of the cost of traditional satellites, will utilize lasers and other technologies...
China has introduced the Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the world's first catapult-capable drone carrier, successfully demonstrating the takeoff and landing of the GJ-21 stealth drone. This advancement marks a significant shift in the operational capabilities of amphibious assault ships, integrat...
The U.S. Navy has successfully tested a drone landing on moving ships without relying on GPS or human pilots. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) showcased this capability using onboard cameras, motion sensors, and advanced software, marking a significant advancement in drone tec...
Fortem Technologies and MBDA are expanding their collaboration to integrate autonomous counter-drone systems into military air defense networks across Europe and allied markets. This partnership builds on a technical collaboration initiated in 2024, which saw the integration of Fortem's DroneHunter...
WingXpand, a Missouri-based company, has launched xPAIR, a patent-pending autonomous control system designed for uncrewed aerial vehicles, ground robots, and watercraft. This innovative system aims to tackle the complexities faced by modern military forces by integrating various autonomous platforms...
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...
Bali has launched a pilot project to test drone delivery of food orders between Café del Mar Bali and Nuanu Creative City. This initiative, operated by SKYY Network and utilizing Grab's platform, aims to integrate drone delivery into existing logistics, marking Indonesia's first BVLOS food delivery...
XAG is enhancing agricultural automation by developing a new X Series robot system that integrates drones and automated liquid-handling equipment. This system aims to streamline the processes of charging, refilling, and cleaning drones, reducing the need for human intervention. The recent demonstrat...
In a recent address, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlined a vision for establishing a new Autonomous Warfare Command. This initiative aims to expedite the integration of drones and robotic systems into the hands of servicemembers, enhancing operational capabilities. The significance of this prop...
Advantech has unveiled the ASR-D501, a compact AI companion computer aimed at enhancing the development of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This innovative platform integrates edge AI capabilities, multi-sensor perception, and flight-controller connectivity, making it a significant advanc...
Researchers at Singapore University of Technology and Design and MIT have developed ALBATROSS, a hybrid robot that combines aerial and aquatic capabilities. This innovative design mimics the natural descent of a maple seed and the swimming motion of a fish, allowing the robot to transition seamlessl...
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