TAMPA, FL and SALT LAKE CITY, UT, Mar 31, 2026 – Draganfly and Palladyne AI completed integration testing of the SwarmOS platform on Draganfly drone systems, including a validated flight simulation.
The integration combines Palladyne AI’s Decentralized Edge Collaborative Autonomy (DECA) approach with drone hardware to support coordinated swarm operations without continuous communications or centralized control. SwarmOS enables drones to identify conditions, make decisions, and coordinate actions, adapting to changes such as communication loss or asset failure and allowing the swarm to reconfigure and continue operations.
“This milestone is a meaningful proof point,” said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly. “What excites us about this joint effort is the ability to enable true autonomous collaboration where systems that can think, adapt, and operate together in real time. This represents a significant advancement in capability and positions Draganfly to pursue some of the most demanding defense programs.”
“Completing the SwarmOS port across Draganfly’s defined platform and validating it through flight simulation is a significant step forward,” said Ben Wolff, president and CEO Palladyne AI. “SwarmOS isn’t about pre-programmed drones flying in formation, it’s about giving every drone in the swarm the intelligence to read its environment, collaborate with its teammates, and make the right decision in milliseconds. Paired with Draganfly’s proven hardware, we are building something operationally significant for the U.S. DoW.”
U.S. defense initiatives focus on large-scale autonomous systems that operate in contested environments with limited or no communications and centralized control. The SwarmOS integration between Draganfly drones and Palladyne AI enables coordinated drone operations under these conditions.
Source: Draganfly
About Draganfly
Draganfly is a technology company specializing in the design and manufacture of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, along with associated software and payloads. Its offerings include drone hardware, data analytics, and AI solutions aimed at enhancing aerial data collection and processing. Draganfly serves industries such as agriculture, public safety, defense, infrastructure inspection, and environmental monitoring. With over 20 years in the market, the company has established a reputation for innovation in drone technology and data solutions. Its annual revenue is estimated to be around $10 million, reflecting steady growth as drone applications expand globally. Draganfly is headquartered in Saskatoon, Canada, positioning it to serve clients across North America and globally. The company focuses on integrating advanced sensor technology and AI-driven analytics to provide actionable insights from aerial data, supporting decision-making in complex operational environments.
About Palladyne AI
Palladyne AI is a U.S.-based technology company that develops AI software and autonomy systems for robotics and defense applications. Founded in 1983, it is headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT. The company provides software platforms such as Palladyne IQ that enable robots to perform tasks in real-world environments. Its offerings support applications in manufacturing, defense, aerospace, energy, and infrastructure sectors. Palladyne AI also develops avionics, autonomous systems, UAV engineering services, and precision-manufactured components. Its software supports functions such as sensor data processing, decision-making, and task execution in structured and unstructured settings. The company’s autonomy systems operate across air, ground, maritime, and industrial domains, including environments with limited communications. Customers include U.S. government agencies, defense organizations, and industrial companies. Palladyne AI has shifted from hardware to software with a focus on machine learning and autonomy. The company has about 160 employees worldwide.