Palladyne AI Validates Decentralized Edge Autonomy & Heterogeneous Swarming

Palladyne AI has successfully completed the first flight test of IntelliSwarm, an integrated autonomy stack that combines proprietary software with specialized edge-AI avionics.

The milestone involved the integration of Palladyne AI’s SwarmOS autonomy software with its NDAA-compliant BRAIN X2 Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) flight computer. This technical demonstration was conducted using Palladyne Defense’s Banshee loitering munition platform, a reusable mini-bomber UAV designed for contested environments. During the flight, the system demonstrated autonomous collaboration with Red Cat drone platforms, validating the ability of heterogeneous vehicles to operate as a unified force.

The integration of the software and hardware components was achieved in a three-week period. By combining GNC with autonomous swarming capabilities into a single stack, the system embeds perception, decision-making, and flight control at the edge. This decentralized architecture is designed to maintain real-time performance in environments where GPS or communications are denied. Unlike centralized command structures, this approach allows platforms from different manufacturers with varying roles and payloads to operate as collaborative peers within a secure mesh network.

Ben Wolff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Palladyne AI, commented, “IntelliSwarm is flight-proven technology today – not a future concept. This successful integration fundamentally changes what’s possible and economically viable in AI-enabled unmanned systems.

“Demonstrating IntelliSwarm on our Banshee platform, while collaborating with Red Cat drone platforms, showcases our vertical integration, rapid execution, and commitment to delivering battlefield advantages. For defense customers and UAV manufacturers, IntelliSwarm provides the foundational autonomy layer to accelerate next-generation swarming while reducing costs, speeding deployment, and enabling decisive edge performance in denied domains.”

The Banshee platform used in the test is a mini-bomber concept built for affordability and mission resilience. It is intended to provide precision effects with a lower cost per effect than traditional low-cost FPV drones. The successful flight validates the combined, tamper-proof edge-AI solution in a real-world scenario, marking a step toward operational readiness for both the IntelliSwarm stack and the Banshee aircraft.

Dr. Denis Garagić, Chief Technology Officer of Palladyne AI, stated, “By natively integrating SwarmOS with BRAIN X2 we’ve created a seamless stack for embodied intelligence, precise flight control, and heterogeneous coordination. This allows platforms of any design, mission, or origin to function as a unified, adaptive force—achieving levels of interoperability and resilience that were previously out of reach.”

Palladyne AI, a U.S.-based firm specializing in embodied AI-powered collaborative autonomy and advanced aerospace engineering, intends for IntelliSwarm to serve as a building block for future unmanned programs. The company plans to make the technology available to other Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and attritable munitions manufacturers following full testing and commercialization. Under this model, any vehicle equipped with the stack will be able to communicate and collaborate within a decentralized autonomous network.

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