ADASI has adopted VentureOne's Perceptra, a GPS-less navigation technology, and Saluki, a high-security flight control technology, both developed by the Technology Innovation Institute (TII). These technologies enhance resilience, precision, and security for autonomous aerial operations, addressing vulnerabilities in GPS-dependent systems. The agreement was formalized at IDEX 2025. Why it matters: This deployment of advanced autonomous flight technologies in the UAE strengthens aviation security and positions the region as a leader in resilient, GPS-independent navigation solutions.
Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has developed AI-powered autonomous drones capable of navigating complex environments at speeds up to 80 km/h using only a camera and IMU sensor. The drones use onboard AI-driven visual odometry and reinforcement learning to adapt to their environment in real time. In direct competition, the TII drone set a best lap time of 4.38s, compared to 6.32s and 5.34s for human pilots. Why it matters: This research demonstrates the potential of AI-powered UAVs to surpass human-operated drones in agility and precision, with applications for the transport of goods and potentially people.
TII's Secure Systems Research Center (SSRC) has developed 'Shaheen', the UAE's first RISC-V-based System-on-Chip (SoC), in collaboration with Khalifa University and other global partners. Shaheen is a test chip for drone flight control, incorporating features like a hypervisor extension, Zero Trust security, and a PULP ML accelerator. It serves as a pilot version for the Al Saqr SoC planned for 2023. Why it matters: This achievement provides the UAE with the foundational knowledge for domestic silicon manufacturing, promoting high-skilled jobs and autonomy in critical technology sectors like UAV security.
TII's Secure Systems Research Center (SSRC) has announced partnerships with Khalifa University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Tampere University, and SUPSI across multiple projects. These collaborations aim to advance secure systems research, with Khalifa University focusing on machine learning for exfiltration detection and secure drone communication, Georgia Tech working on attack-resilient software for cyber-physical systems, Tampere University focusing on critical infrastructure security, and SUPSI exploring AI-based secure autonomous navigation on Nano-UAVs. Why it matters: These partnerships highlight the UAE's commitment to advancing research and development in secure systems and autonomous technologies, fostering innovation and expertise in critical areas like cybersecurity and UAV technology.
TII's Secure Systems Research Center (SSRC) has partnered with Purdue University on a three-year cybersecurity project focused on ensuring the safe and efficient use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in urban environments. The collaboration will study security and resilience in cyber-physical and autonomous systems, addressing vulnerabilities in communication, navigation, and command and control. The project includes four phases: modeling and analysis of UAS security, developing algorithms for high-assurance autonomy, constructing an experimental environment, and testing mitigation strategies. Why it matters: The partnership enhances the UAE's capabilities in securing critical digital systems and fosters the growth of commercial autonomous drones and robots, opening new opportunities for enterprises.
KAUST and Aramco have signed an IP license agreement for the Hybrid Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Crawler Technology (HUCT), which combines aerial and terrestrial robotic capabilities. The HUCT will be used for inspection, monitoring, and other industrial applications within Aramco's operations. The agreement supports KAUST's mission to translate research into real-world applications, aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. Why it matters: This partnership demonstrates the growing innovation ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, leveraging academic research for industrial applications in robotics and AI.
KAUST researchers published a paper in Nature Electronics outlining communications infrastructure enhancements for 6G to provide global internet access and bridge the digital divide. They propose innovations like aerial access networks, intelligent spectrum management, and energy efficiency improvements. In a separate IEEE paper, KAUST and Missouri S&T researchers demonstrate approaches for improving network throughput using UAVs and balloons in areas lacking terrestrial infrastructure. Why it matters: The research addresses the UN's Sustainable Development Goal of universal internet access and aims to bring connectivity to underserved populations, enabling access to essential services and opportunities.
A research paper by Fatima Al Nuaimi, Dr. Pietro Tedeschi, and Dr. Enrico Natalizio from the Autonomous Robotics Research Center (ARRC) has been published in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics. The paper, titled “Privacy-Aware Remote Identification for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Current Solutions, Potential Threats, and Future Directions”, examines vulnerabilities in UAV Remote ID systems. It identifies challenges for industry and academia in enhancing UAV security and privacy. Why it matters: The research highlights critical security and privacy considerations for the rapidly growing UAV sector in the region and globally.