Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) will be advancing the development, demonstration, and deployment of AI-piloted unmanned systems with Shield AI.
“Through this partnership with NCSIST, we are helping enable the drone forces Taiwan is building with cutting-edge AI pilots that will allow drones to team and operate while GPS and communications are jammed,” said Brandon Tseng, president and co-founder of Shield AI. “Over the next five years, you will see Shield AI continue to grow and invest in Taiwan and the defence of Taiwan.”
Advancing and indigenising AI pilots
Under the agreement, NCSIST will utilise Shield AI’s primary artificial intelligence software, Hivemind platform to expedite the development of locally produced AI pilots for autonomous mission execution and coordinated operations across multiple systems.
This technology will enable a single operator to oversee multiple unmanned systems from a single ground control station.
The initiative incorporates the Hivemind software development kit (SDK) to ensure compatibility with domestically developed platforms, in addition to Hivemind integrations from Shield AI for demonstrations on NCSIST’s multi-role unmanned systems. This strategy enables sustained operations even with a limited workforce.
Hivemind empowers platforms to sense, decide, and act. It can reroute around no-fly zones, avoid obstacles, respond to unexpected conditions, and complete missions without human intervention.
By incorporating simulation-based training, AI development tools, and onboard edge computing, the platform ensures reliable operation in complex environments where GPS and communication may be compromised or unavailable.
As Taiwan’s leading defence research and development organisation, NCSIST plays a crucial role in validating and integrating capabilities for military applications. Collaborating with NCSIST facilitates the broader adoption of autonomous software across various platforms and mission sets.
