Shield AI and Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) successfully demonstrated a coordinated autonomous search mission using three Mighty Hornet III unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) powered by Shield AI’s Hivemind AI pilot technology. The demonstration showed the drones could autonomously coordinate searches, communicate with each other, avoid designated no-fly zones, and complete autonomous landings.

The partnership began earlier in 2026, with NCSIST engineers working alongside Shield AI to integrate Hivemind into Taiwan’s unmanned systems. After completing the initial project in less than three months, the successful test led to an expansion of the partnership to further develop autonomous capabilities.

Shield AI said the technology is designed to allow drones to operate with greater independence by enabling them to sense, make decisions, and act without direct human control. NCSIST highlighted the rapid training and technology transfer that allowed Taiwanese engineers to independently operate the AI-enabled systems.

The Mighty Hornet III is Taiwan’s first X-wing high-agility UAV, combining vertical takeoff and landing with fixed-wing flight capabilities. The collaboration reflects Taiwan’s broader effort to strengthen autonomous defense technologies and expand its unmanned systems capabilities.