- Capability group
- Robotics & Autonomous Systems
- Domain
- Critical Technology · Hard Power
- Identifier
- factbase.org/cap/VSYEC0N507
- Reference
- Swarm robotics Wikipedia
Papers
16.1k
2020–2024
Paper growth
+107%
2020–24 on 2015–19
Patent families
37.6k
2020–2024
Filed abroad
20%
families in more than one office
What it covers
What the capability covers and what it leaves to others, and the indicators it will be measured by.
Bounds
Covers uncrewed-systems technology and its production ecosystem, absorbing the underwater platform node; specific platforms are asset classes registering at the indicator layer, and military employment sits with National Security under the capabilities each system serves.
Lineage
Relocated in v0.1 from the split group (formerly Drones, swarming and collaborative robots) at the same level, carrying its identifier, and absorbing Autonomous underwater vehicles (retired), a platform class recorded as a capability; the asset rule assigns platforms to the indicator layer.
Indicators
- uncrewed system production volumePending
- uncrewed platform export deliveriesPending
- swarming demonstrations conductedPending
Who publishes it
Papers classified to the capability, by year and by the nation of their authors' institutions, 2020–2024. Read from the v0.0 research topics Drones, swarming and collaborative robots and Autonomous underwater vehicles.
Papers by year
The five leading nations, papers by year
Share of papers, 2020–2024
Of papers with a known author nation; 23% have none and are left out.
- 1China33.7%5,142 papers
- 2United States11.2%1,704 papers
- 3India5.7%872 papers
- 4United Kingdom4.0%607 papers
- 5South Korea2.8%431 papers
- 6Canada2.7%415 papers
- 7Japan2.5%375 papers
- 8Italy2.4%368 papers
- 9Germany2.3%358 papers
- 10Australia2.3%350 papers
Leading institutions, 2020–2024
By fractional count: each paper divided among its authors' institutions.
- 1Northwestern Polytechnical University212fractional papers
- 2Harbin Engineering University192fractional papers
- 3Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics127fractional papers
- 4Beihang University124fractional papers
- 5Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications124fractional papers
- 6National University of Defense Technology118fractional papers
- 7Beijing Institute of Technology107fractional papers
- 8Harbin Institute of Technology94fractional papers
- 9Zhejiang University85fractional papers
- 10Dalian Maritime University79fractional papers
Who patents it
Patent families by the nation of origin of their applicants and their earliest priority year, from the CPC and IPC classes the capability is read from. 2025 onwards is incomplete: families are published 18 months after priority.
Families by priority year
The five leading origins, families by year
9,574 applicants filed here in 2015–2024; the five largest held 9% of families (HHI 36 of 10,000: unconcentrated).
Share of families by origin, 2020–2024
- 1China56.5%21,242 families
- 2South Korea16.2%6,081 families
- 3United States9.0%3,387 families
- 4Japan8.6%3,222 families
- 5Germany1.9%721 families
- 6United Kingdom0.8%317 families
- 7France0.8%306 families
- 8Taiwan0.5%193 families
- 9Israel0.5%173 families
- 10Türkiye0.4%163 families
Applicants filing most internationally, 2015–2024
Families filed in more than one office, by applicant as the offices name them.
- 1SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO LTD1,149international families
- 2AUTEL ROBOTICS CO LTD319international families
- 3TOYOTA MOTOR CORP306international families
- 4TOYOTA MOTOR CO LTD303international families
- 5SHENZHEN AUTEL INTELLIGENT AVIATION TECH CO LTD241international families
- 6HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD216international families
- 7SZ DJI INNOVATIONS TECH CO LTD205international families
- 8SONY GROUP CORP174international families
- 9WALMART APOLLO LLC170international families
- 10KIA CORP169international families
Classification read
- B64U Uncrewed aerial vehicles and their equipment · 471.2k documents
- B64C39/02 Uncrewed aircraft under the earlier scheme · 53.1k documents
- B63G8/001 Uncrewed underwater vehicles and docking stations · 23.5k documents
- B63B2035/006 Uncrewed surface vessels · 6.2k documents
- F41H7/005 Uncrewed ground vehicles for military or police roles · 816 documents
- G05D1/69 Coordinated control of several vehicles · 27.1k documents
- G05D1/104 Formation flying of several aircraft · 7.9k documents
- G05D1/0291 Fleet control of ground vehicles · 21.5k documents
Shares inventions with
Capabilities whose classes the same families also fall in, by overlap (Jaccard).
- Autonomous Systems & Trusted Autonomy7,664 families · 0.116
Who makes it
The companies that research, design, make, supply and operate the technology, the global leaders and the leading firms of every region.
50 companies in this capability, from 26 nations across 8 regions. Sorted by how experts see each company's global relevance in the field, from very high to very low.
- Very high5 companies
- 1Very highHardware & devicesShenzhenChina2006–Private
World's dominant drone maker, holding a large majority of the global civil and commercial drone market (Mavic, Matrice, Agras) and the top international patent applicant in this capability.
Very high relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Shenzhen · founded 2006
- 2Very highHardware & devicesSan DiegoUnited States1955–Private
Through General Atomics Aeronautical Systems it builds the MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper/SkyGuardian family and the YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototype.
Very high relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, San Diego · founded 1955
- 3Very highSystems integrationFalls ChurchUnited States193997kNOC
Prime contractor for the RQ-4 Global Hawk, MQ-4C Triton and MQ-8 Fire Scout high-end uncrewed aircraft.
Very high relevance · Systems integration · United States, Falls Church · founded 1939 · 97k staff
- 4Very highHardware & devicesCosta MesaUnited States2017–Private
Builds the YFQ-44A Fury CCA, Ghost and Altius drones, Dive-LD/Ghost Shark XL-AUVs and the Lattice software that coordinates autonomous swarms, with the Arsenal-1 mass-production plant in Ohio.
Very high relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Costa Mesa · founded 2017
- 5Very highHardware & devicesIstanbulTürkiye1984–Private
Maker of the TB2, Akinci and Kizilelma uncrewed combat aircraft and among the world's largest exporters of armed drones, sold to more than 30 countries.
Very high relevance · Hardware & devices · Türkiye, Istanbul · founded 1984
- High10 companies
- 6HighSystems integrationBeijingChina2008–State-owned
Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)State aerospace group behind the Wing Loong MALE drone family and the GJ-11 stealth uncrewed combat aircraft, widely exported to the Middle East and Africa.
High relevance · Systems integration · China, Beijing · founded 2008
- 7HighSystems integrationLodIsrael195315kState-owned
Israel Aerospace Industries (ELTA Systems)Pioneer UAV maker producing the Heron family, Harop/Harpy loitering munitions and uncrewed ground and naval systems for export.
High relevance · Systems integration · Israel, Lod · founded 1953 · 15k staff
- 8HighSystems integrationHaifaIsrael196620kESLT
Produces the Hermes 450/900 UAV family, SkyStriker loitering munitions and Seagull uncrewed surface vessels.
High relevance · Systems integration · Israel, Haifa · founded 1966 · 20k staff
- 9HighSystems integrationBeijingChina1999180kState-ownedChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
Its China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics builds the CH (Rainbow) series of armed drones, exported to numerous countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
High relevance · Systems integration · China, Beijing · founded 1999 · 180k staff
- 10HighHardware & devicesArlingtonUnited States19711,475AVAV
Leading maker of small tactical UAS (Puma, Raven, JUMP 20) and Switchblade loitering munitions, expanded by its 2025 acquisition of BlueHalo.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Arlington · founded 1971 · 1,475 staff
- 11HighSoftware & platformsSan DiegoUnited States2015––
Develops the Hivemind AI pilot for autonomous and teamed aircraft and the V-BAT VTOL drone used by US and allied forces.
High relevance · Software & platforms · United States, San Diego · founded 2015
- 12HighSystems integrationArlingtonUnited States1916172kBA
Builds the MQ-25 Stingray carrier tanker drone, the MQ-28 Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft (Boeing Australia), the Orca XLUUV and ScanEagle via Insitu.
High relevance · Systems integration · United States, Arlington · founded 1916 · 172k staff
- 13HighHardware & devicesSan DiegoUnited States1994–KTOS
Kratos Defense & Security SolutionsProduces the XQ-58 Valkyrie low-cost attritable combat drone and high-volume jet target drones such as BQM-167.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, San Diego · founded 1994
- 14HighSystems integrationBethesdaUnited States1995121kLMT
Its Skunk Works develops crewed-uncrewed teaming and the RQ-170 Sentinel, and it offers the Stalker and Indago small UAS.
High relevance · Systems integration · United States, Bethesda · founded 1995 · 121k staff
- 15HighHardware & devicesKongsbergNorway1814–KOG
World leader in autonomous underwater vehicles with the HUGIN and REMUS lines, plus uncrewed surface vessels.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · Norway, Kongsberg · founded 1814
- Moderate20 companies
- 16ModerateHardware & devicesSan MateoUnited States2014––
Largest US drone manufacturer, known for AI-driven autonomous flight in the X10 and X10D drones used by the US Army and public safety agencies.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, San Mateo · founded 2014
- 17ModerateHardware & devicesShenzhenChina2014–Private
China's second-largest drone maker (EVO series) and the second-largest international patent applicant in this capability.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Shenzhen · founded 2014
- 18ModerateHardware & devicesThousand OaksUnited States196015kTDY
Makes the Black Hornet nano-drone and SkyRaider via Teledyne FLIR, Slocum ocean gliders and Gavia AUVs.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Thousand Oaks · founded 1960 · 15k staff
- 19ModerateSystems integrationNewport NewsUnited States201144kHII
Its Mission Technologies division builds the REMUS family of uncrewed underwater vehicles, the most widely used military UUVs.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · United States, Newport News · founded 2011 · 44k staff
- 20ModerateSoftware & platformsMunichGermany2021––
Defence AI company producing HX-2 strike drones in volume for Ukraine, SG-1 Fathom underwater gliders and the CA-1 Europa uncrewed combat aircraft.
Moderate relevance · Software & platforms · Germany, Munich · founded 2021
- 21ModerateHardware & devicesMoosburg an der IsarGermany2015––
Europe's leading maker of eVTOL reconnaissance drones (Vector, Twister), produced in large numbers for Ukraine and NATO forces.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Germany, Moosburg an der Isar · founded 2015
- 22ModerateSystems integrationLeidenNetherlands1970157kAIR
Leads the Eurodrone MALE programme and develops remote carriers and crewed-uncrewed teaming for the FCAS/SCAF combat air system.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · Netherlands, Leiden · founded 1970 · 157k staff
- 23ModerateSystems integrationLondonUnited Kingdom1999100kBA.
Develops the T-150 heavy-lift drone (with Malloy), the Herne XLAUV and autonomous teaming for the GCAP Tempest programme.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · United Kingdom, London · founded 1999 · 100k staff
- 24ModerateSystems integrationAnkaraTürkiye1973–State-owned
State aerospace company producing the Anka MALE drone family and the Anka-3 flying-wing uncrewed combat aircraft.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · Türkiye, Ankara · founded 1973
- 25ModerateHardware & devicesGuangzhouChina2007–Private
Major maker of agricultural spraying drones and uncrewed ground vehicles used at large scale across China and Southeast Asia.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Guangzhou · founded 2007
- 26ModerateHardware & devicesGuangzhouChina2014–EH
Its EH216-S became the world's first uncrewed passenger eVTOL to receive a type certificate (CAAC, 2023), and it also runs large drone light-show swarms.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Guangzhou · founded 2014
- 27ModerateOperations & infrastructureSouth San Francisco, CaliforniaUnited States2014––
Runs the world's largest autonomous drone delivery network, which began with national medical deliveries in Rwanda and Ghana and now operates in Nigeria, Kenya and the US.
Moderate relevance · Operations & infrastructure · United States, South San Francisco, California · founded 2014
- 28ModerateOperations & infrastructureAlamedaUnited States2012––
Builds and operates fleets of wind- and solar-powered uncrewed surface vehicles for ocean data and maritime surveillance, used by the US Navy and in the Gulf.
Moderate relevance · Operations & infrastructure · United States, Alameda · founded 2012
- 29ModerateHardware & devicesParisFrance––EXA
Supplies uncrewed mine-countermeasure systems (DriX USVs, A18 AUVs) for the Belgian-Dutch rMCM programme and other navies.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · France, Paris
- 30ModerateHardware & devicesLisbonPortugal2001––
Maker of the AR3 and AR5 surveillance drones, flown for EU maritime surveillance (EMSA/Frontex) and by Ukraine; it became a unicorn in 2025.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Portugal, Lisbon · founded 2001
- 31ModerateSystems integrationRomeItaly194860kLDO
Produces the Falco Xplorer MALE UAV and the AWHero uncrewed helicopter, and works on GCAP uncrewed teaming.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · Italy, Rome · founded 1948 · 60k staff
- 32ModerateSystems integrationAnkaraTürkiye1991–State-owned
STM (Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik)Builds the Kargu rotary-wing loitering munition with swarming capability and the Alpagu fixed-wing loitering munition.
Moderate relevance · Systems integration · Türkiye, Ankara · founded 1991
- 33ModerateHardware & devicesOżarów MazowieckiPoland1997–Private
Poland's largest private defence firm, making the Warmate loitering munition and FlyEye and Gladius reconnaissance UAS, used in Ukraine and exported.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Poland, Ożarów Mazowiecki · founded 1997
- 34ModerateHardware & devicesIzhevskRussia1807–State-owned
Rostec-controlled group whose ZALA Aero unit mass-produces the Lancet loitering munition and Orlan-class reconnaissance drones; it is under Western sanctions.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Russia, Izhevsk · founded 1807
- 35ModerateSoftware & platformsZurichSwitzerland2017––
Its open drone operating system (AuterionOS, Skynode) and Nemyx swarming software are shipped on tens of thousands of strike drones for Ukraine and the US DoD.
Moderate relevance · Software & platforms · Switzerland, Zurich · founded 2017
- Low9 companies
- 36LowHardware & devicesParisFrance1994–PARRO
Europe's largest consumer and professional micro-drone maker (ANAFI USA/UKR), supplying NATO armed forces.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · France, Paris · founded 1994
- 37LowSystems integrationAbu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates2019–State-owned
UAE defence conglomerate making the Hunter swarming drones, Reach-S MALE and loitering munitions, and owner of Estonian UGV maker Milrem Robotics (THeMIS).
Low relevance · Systems integration · United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi · founded 2019
- 38LowSystems integrationSingaporeSingapore196727kS63
Develops uncrewed surface vessels for the Singapore Navy, the DroNet drone-in-a-box network and autonomous ground vehicles.
Low relevance · Systems integration · Singapore, Singapore · founded 1967 · 27k staff
- 39LowHardware & devicesKyivUkraine2014–Private
Ukraine's leading maker of fixed-wing reconnaissance UAS (Shark, PD-2), used at scale by Ukrainian forces and now also built in the UK.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Ukraine, Kyiv · founded 2014
- 40LowHardware & devicesKyivUkraine––Private
Maker of the Raybird long-endurance reconnaissance UAS, flown extensively by Ukraine's armed forces and exported abroad.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Ukraine, Kyiv
- 41LowOperations & infrastructureSeoulSouth Korea1969–003490
Korean Air (Aerospace Division)South Korea's main military UAV developer, building the KUS-FS MALE, KUS-FT tactical drone and stealth loyal-wingman UAV programmes.
Low relevance · Operations & infrastructure · South Korea, Seoul · founded 1969
- 42LowHardware & devicesMumbaiIndia2007–IDEAFORGE
India's largest drone manufacturer, supplying SWITCH and Q-series surveillance UAVs to the Indian Army and paramilitary forces.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · India, Mumbai · founded 2007
- 43LowHardware & devicesMount Pearl, NewfoundlandCanada2012–PNG
Supplies synthetic aperture sonar, subsea batteries and KATFISH towed systems used across Western UUV and AUV programmes.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Canada, Mount Pearl, Newfoundland · founded 2012
- 44LowHardware & devicesRawalpindiPakistan––State-owned
Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS)Pakistan's state-owned defence conglomerate, producing the Shahpar-II and Shahpar-III MALE UAVs for Pakistan's armed forces.
Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Pakistan, Rawalpindi
- Very low6 companies
- 45Very lowHardware & devicesTokyoJapan2013–6232
Japan's leading domestic industrial drone maker (SOTEN), positioned as the secure national alternative to Chinese drones.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Tokyo · founded 2013
- 46Very lowHardware & devicesTaichungTaiwan1979–8033
A core firm in Taiwan's 'non-red' drone supply chain, building military multirotor UAVs and uncrewed surface vessels for Taiwan's armed forces.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · Taiwan, Taichung · founded 1979
- 47Very lowHardware & devicesCape TownSouth Africa1981–Private
Built the Milkor 380, the largest MALE UAV developed in Africa, first flown in 2024 and ordered by the South African Air Force.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · South Africa, Cape Town · founded 1981
- 48Very lowHardware & devicesJohannesburgSouth Africa1994–Private
Africa's largest private defence firm, developing the N-Raven swarming loitering munition, partly produced in the US with Anduril.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · South Africa, Johannesburg · founded 1994
- 49Very lowHardware & devicesSão CarlosBrazil2007–Private
Latin America's largest drone maker, producing Nauru and Arator mapping and agricultural UAVs, with Embraer-backed investment.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · Brazil, São Carlos · founded 2007
- 50Very lowHardware & devicesSydneyAustralia––Private
Builds Bluebottle solar, wind and wave-powered uncrewed surface vessels used by the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Border Force for persistent maritime surveillance.
Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · Australia, Sydney
