Autonomous AI coordinates three UAVs in Taiwanese swarm exercise
NewsAugust 06, 2026
TAIPEI, Taiwan. Shield AI and Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology demonstrated a coordinated search mission involving three Mighty Hornet III uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) controlled by artificial intelligence (AI), the company announced in a statement.
During the field exercise, Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software launched the aircraft, divided a wide-area search mission among them, and coordinated their movements and communications, the statement reads.
Each UAV searched an assigned sector while observing a designated no-fly zone. One aircraft also maneuvered around a partial restricted area located within its assigned sector, the company says. Hivemind landed all three aircraft after the mission was completed.
National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology engineers developed and installed AI pilots on the aircraft in less than three months with support and training from Shield AI, according to the statement. The demonstration completed an initial integration contract and led to an expanded agreement covering additional autonomy development.
The Mighty Hornet III is a Group 2, X-wing aircraft with a modular, three-dimensional-printed airframe. It combines vertical takeoff and landing with fixed-wing flight and does not require ground equipment for launch or recovery, the company adds.
