All articles tagged with #autonomous systems
Europe is rapidly shifting its defense focus to drones and autonomous systems in response to Ukraine’s war lessons, with NATO pledging over $40 billion for counter-drone capabilities and the UK and Germany backing major drone programs; the move highlights software, AI, secure communications, and networked formations as core battlefield tools, exemplified by Helsing’s $18 billion valuation and rising European defense investment.
Israel Shipyards unveiled AREONOUS, a scalable autonomous counter-drone system featuring a ground-based net-launcher and an interceptor drone. It can protect airports/bases up to 50 km or serve as a 200 m soldier-portable kit, using Echodyne radar, Controp camera, and Innoviz LiDAR to detect and entangle FPV drones. The system is designed for rapid sensor/effector integration, with paying customers lined up to shield the company’s warships and broader defense operations.
The CFTC announced the formation of the Innovation Task Force to develop a clear regulatory framework for innovators in crypto assets and blockchain, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, and prediction markets and event contracts. Led by Michael J. Passalacqua, the ITF includes senior agency staff and private-sector experts to establish rules of the road for American innovators.
Ondas' 4M Defense secured a $30 million multi-year demining contract along the Israel-Syria border, with an initial execution period of up to three years and options for extensions. The project covers about 741 acres in a historically contaminated border region and showcases a technology-driven, autonomous approach to land clearance, aiming to expand Ondas' end-to-end border-security capabilities and serve as a reference for future large-scale demining programs.
A new undergraduate degree in autonomous systems focusing on drone technologies is being launched at NMITE in Hereford, in partnership with the UK Armed Forces, to train future drone warfare specialists and enhance military capabilities, with the program set to start in September 2026.
Neros, a drone manufacturer, closed a $75 million Series B funding round led by Sequoia Capital, aiming to expand its production capacity and R&D for advanced FPV drones, primarily serving US military programs and international clients, with a focus on reshoring drone manufacturing in the US.
Companies rushing to adopt AI are facing significant costs due to poor implementation, leading to 'AI debt' that includes security risks, inefficiencies, and increased burnout among workers. Experts emphasize the importance of careful planning, testing, and infrastructure development to maximize AI benefits and minimize disruptions.
AI-controlled drone swarms are poised to revolutionize combat by enhancing battlefield capabilities with autonomous, coordinated drone operations.
Dimitrios Kottas left Apple to start Delian Alliance Industries in Athens, aiming to disrupt Europe's fragmented defense market with innovative, low-cost autonomous surveillance and weapon systems, attracting $22 million in funding and challenging US dominance in defense tech.
Researchers demonstrated that ChatGPT, an off-the-shelf large language model, could effectively pilot a spacecraft in simulations, achieving second place in an autonomous spacecraft competition, highlighting AI's potential in space navigation and control.
Scientists at Texas A&M and the University of Nebraska have developed a synthetic lichen system that enables autonomous construction on Mars by binding regolith particles into structures using engineered living materials, potentially revolutionizing extraterrestrial building methods without human intervention.
Agentic AI refers to autonomous artificial intelligence systems capable of independently making decisions and taking actions to achieve goals, moving beyond passive tools to proactive agents that can sense, decide, and act without human input, with applications across various industries and potential risks and benefits.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks announced the second tranche of the Replicator initiative, focusing on scalable production of autonomous systems across air and maritime domains, along with integrated software enablers. The initiative aims to field thousands of autonomous systems by August 2025, involving over 500 commercial firms, with 75% being non-traditional defense contractors. Key projects include the Army's Company-Level Small UAS and the Marine Corps' loitering munitions, enhancing battlefield technology and experimentation. The initiative also includes classified systems and leverages commercial solutions for rapid development.
The U.S. Army's conventional fires study recommends focusing on more autonomous artillery systems with improved range and mobility, incorporating robotics, enhancing artillery rounds, and pursuing mobile howitzer options. The study has led to the cancellation of the Extended Range Cannon Artillery system in favor of extending the range of current artillery systems with innovative munitions. The Army is also exploring autonomous and robotic cannon solutions for joint forcible entry formations and pursuing mobile, indirect fires capabilities for light infantry and Stryker formations.
NASA's ARMADAS team has developed a system using simple robots, structural building blocks, and smart algorithms to autonomously build functional, high-performance large-scale structures in space, such as solar power stations and habitats for crew, enabling long-term presence in deep space. The system demonstrated its capability by autonomously building a meters-scale shelter structure using hundreds of building blocks, with the robots working together to assemble, repair, and reconfigure the structural materials. The technology's mission adaptive and digital assembly capabilities allow for reusability and self-reconfiguration to meet evolving needs, with plans to expand the library of voxel types for future applications in deep space exploration missions.