WASHINGTON — Shield AI, a defense technology company recognized for its autonomous aircraft software, is expanding into the space sector. This move is facilitated through a collaboration with Sedaro, a startup specializing in cloud-based simulation tools used by the U.S. Space Force and major defense contractors.
The partnership aims to adapt Shield AI’s Hivemind Pilot system for satellite operations. The goal is to demonstrate how spacecraft can manage more tasks independently, reducing reliance on ground controllers. According to the agreement announced on December 3rd, Shield AI will utilize Sedaro’s digital engineering environment as its primary platform for development and testing in space scenarios. In turn, Hivemind will become Sedaro’s preferred autonomy software for future on-orbit demonstrations.
“The strategic partnership with Sedaro and its technology is a critical enabler of at-the-edge, in-orbit autonomy,” said Christian Gutierrez, vice president of Hivemind Solutions at Shield AI. This collaboration brings Shield AI’s “AI pilot” software into a new area.
Hivemind enables aircraft, drones, and other platforms to “perceive, decide, and act together,” enabling operations in GPS and communication-denied environments. While Shield AI has been collaborating with major defense primes to integrate the system into aerial, maritime, and ground vehicles, the Sedaro partnership marks its first venture into space.
This timing aligns with the increasing interest in AI technologies to grant satellites greater maneuverability and responsiveness to threats. Currently, most spacecraft rely on ground operators for routine orbit adjustments, collision avoidance, and mission updates. Across the space industry, companies are exploring AI tools for tasks such as debris tracking and data analysis.
Enhanced autonomy could enable satellites to reposition themselves, coordinate with other spacecraft, or investigate anomalies without requiring commands from Earth. These capabilities are becoming increasingly vital for constellations operating in contested environments. Sedaro’s cloud-based simulation system allows engineers to construct and test digital models of satellites and constellations on a large scale.
Using the platform, “Shield AI can rapidly iterate autonomous behaviors for proximity operations, swarm coordination, defensive counter-space, and cognitive battle management across constellations,” said Robbie Robertson, CEO and co-founder of Sedaro. He noted that the teams will model a progression of operations from traditional ground-centric control to in-orbit decision making, “paving the way for scalable, autonomous spacecraft operations in contested and communications-limited environments.”
The industry's movement towards larger, distributed constellations has amplified the need for autonomy that lessens the dependency on real-time human oversight. For Shield AI, the Sedaro partnership signifies a point of entry into that market. Simultaneously, for Sedaro, it adds a high-profile autonomy partner as military customers evaluate software-driven approaches to on-orbit operations.