Top 12 Startups developing AI for Drones in USA
Feb 19, 2026
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22
1
Funding: $9.5M
Apeiron Labs creates autonomous underwater robots for ocean exploration. These are inexpensive vehicles, three feet long, five inches in diameter and weighing just over 20 pounds, travel 400 meters up and down the water column, collecting water samples to measure temperature, salinity and acoustics once or twice a day. They can be launched from boats or aircraft. After diving, the AUV navigates its terrain autonomously - the operating system uses models of the ocean to predict where it will surface. When it finally breaches and reconnects with the operating system - it incorporates the new data to refine its models. Apeiron sells its products to both civilian and defense customers. The Pentagon can use them to eavesdrop on submarines off the US coast, while fisheries may require more detailed temperature and salinity data in key fishing areas.
Apeiron Labs creates autonomous underwater robots for ocean exploration. These are inexpensive vehicles, three feet long, five inches in diameter and weighing just over 20 pounds, travel 400 meters up and down the water column, collecting water samples to measure temperature, salinity and acoustics once or twice a day. They can be launched from boats or aircraft. After diving, the AUV navigates its terrain autonomously - the operating system uses models of the ocean to predict where it will surface. When it finally breaches and reconnects with the operating system - it incorporates the new data to refine its models. Apeiron sells its products to both civilian and defense customers. The Pentagon can use them to eavesdrop on submarines off the US coast, while fisheries may require more detailed temperature and salinity data in key fishing areas.
2
Funding: $1.3B
Shield AI is developing X-BAT - large, AI-controlled vertical takeoff and landing fighter jet, as well as the Hivemind - intelligent platform for military applications. X-BAT has a 12-meter wingspan, a maximum range of 2,000 nautical miles, and a 4G maneuvering load factor. It can carry combat missiles and take off and land from ships, remote islands or rugged forward bases, eliminating dependence on traditional infrastructure. Its AI autopilot can operate in conditions of GPS and communications interference. The company is collaborating with the US Department of Defense to develop next-generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. Its Vidar multi-camera system, with day and night vision cameras and sensors, is installed on reconnaissance drones for edge video analytics and mapping. The company is also developing Tracker C-UAS, an intelligent software solution for the early detection of drones in air defense systems using video from electro-optical and infrared sensors.
Shield AI is developing X-BAT - large, AI-controlled vertical takeoff and landing fighter jet, as well as the Hivemind - intelligent platform for military applications. X-BAT has a 12-meter wingspan, a maximum range of 2,000 nautical miles, and a 4G maneuvering load factor. It can carry combat missiles and take off and land from ships, remote islands or rugged forward bases, eliminating dependence on traditional infrastructure. Its AI autopilot can operate in conditions of GPS and communications interference. The company is collaborating with the US Department of Defense to develop next-generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. Its Vidar multi-camera system, with day and night vision cameras and sensors, is installed on reconnaissance drones for edge video analytics and mapping. The company is also developing Tracker C-UAS, an intelligent software solution for the early detection of drones in air defense systems using video from electro-optical and infrared sensors.
3
Funding: $740M
Skydio produces smart drones for security, facility maintenance and defense. Skydio drones help complete even the most dangerous jobs safer, more efficiently and faster thanks to remote half-autonomous control. The Skydio Autonomy operating system sees and solves complex navigation problems in real time. It controls the drone in the most challenging conditions, automatically avoiding obstacles as small as a 1.2-centimeter wire, autonomously plans and executes optimal flight route, taking into account terrain, buildings, geofences, flight rules and airspace regulations. The operator can simply specify the destination. Skydio's main project is "Drone as a Rapid Response" (DFR) for police. When emergency call is received, Skydio X10 drones launch from their docking stations in seconds to respond, track objects, broadcast live streams and provide real-time situational awareness both indoors and outdoors, ensuring the safety of police officers and people nearby.
Skydio produces smart drones for security, facility maintenance and defense. Skydio drones help complete even the most dangerous jobs safer, more efficiently and faster thanks to remote half-autonomous control. The Skydio Autonomy operating system sees and solves complex navigation problems in real time. It controls the drone in the most challenging conditions, automatically avoiding obstacles as small as a 1.2-centimeter wire, autonomously plans and executes optimal flight route, taking into account terrain, buildings, geofences, flight rules and airspace regulations. The operator can simply specify the destination. Skydio's main project is "Drone as a Rapid Response" (DFR) for police. When emergency call is received, Skydio X10 drones launch from their docking stations in seconds to respond, track objects, broadcast live streams and provide real-time situational awareness both indoors and outdoors, ensuring the safety of police officers and people nearby.
4
Funding: $60.2M
Exyn is developing fully autonomous aerial robot systems with multi-modal sensing to enable robust performance in commercial environments.
Exyn is developing fully autonomous aerial robot systems with multi-modal sensing to enable robust performance in commercial environments.
5
Funding: $32.1M
Make your products and services more intelligent with The Neurala Brain, a deep learning neural network software that mimics how the human brain works. Neurala is looking to put AI in the hands of toy makers, drone enthusiasts and IoT engineers alike.
Make your products and services more intelligent with The Neurala Brain, a deep learning neural network software that mimics how the human brain works. Neurala is looking to put AI in the hands of toy makers, drone enthusiasts and IoT engineers alike.
6
Funding: $28M
Iris Automation is an artificial intelligence and safety avionics company building collision-avoidance systems for autonomous drones.
Iris Automation is an artificial intelligence and safety avionics company building collision-avoidance systems for autonomous drones.
7
Funding: $15.7M
Lucid builds robotic tools that fit right into your business and make hard jobs look easy.
Lucid builds robotic tools that fit right into your business and make hard jobs look easy.
8
Funding: $4.5M
Wonder Robotics provides robust AI layers for autonomous and safe flights for both commercial and military delivery drones.
Wonder Robotics provides robust AI layers for autonomous and safe flights for both commercial and military delivery drones.
9
Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision & Data Science for maritime, ports, harbors, boating & marinas, underwater drone inspections
10
Funding: $120K
Cleo Robotics is developing a revolutionary new drone technology designed specifically for indoor applications. The company claims to incorporate a combination of stereo vision-based SLAM and neural networks for indoor navigation and obstacle avoidance.
Cleo Robotics is developing a revolutionary new drone technology designed specifically for indoor applications. The company claims to incorporate a combination of stereo vision-based SLAM and neural networks for indoor navigation and obstacle avoidance.
11
Funding: $40K
Neya Systems is a leading developer of advanced unmanned systems technologies.
Neya Systems is a leading developer of advanced unmanned systems technologies.
12
Funding: $1K
Developer of AI-enabled and electric unmanned aerial systems. The company offers stealth to radar, autonomous operations, encrypted communications, multi-constellation navigation, anti-jamming and anti-spoofing systems, and endurance systems. It also provides smart Persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (SP-ISR) as a service. It can be used in the defense, security, and aerospace sectors.
Developer of AI-enabled and electric unmanned aerial systems. The company offers stealth to radar, autonomous operations, encrypted communications, multi-constellation navigation, anti-jamming and anti-spoofing systems, and endurance systems. It also provides smart Persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (SP-ISR) as a service. It can be used in the defense, security, and aerospace sectors.
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