Skydio opens research site for autonomous drones in Zurich

(CONNECT) The American drone manufacturer Skydio has opened a research and development office in Zurich. Skydio Switzerland GmbH focuses on autonomous drone technology, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence, navigation and perception, as detailed in a press release.

At the new location, a specialized team is working on the central challenges of autonomous systems. This includes the coordination of several units, navigation without a GPS signal and real-time decisions directly in the system. The decisive factors for the location were its proximity to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) and the University of Zurich, as well as access to highly qualified specialists.

The office will be headed by Davide Falanga, Director of Engineering, Autonomy Systems, who most recently worked at Skydio's headquarters in San Mateo, California, for over four years. "I'm looking forward to building a team in Zurich that pushes the boundaries of what drones can do in practice," he is quoted as saying. "It is gratifying to see that the local ecosystem continues to be able to translate cutting-edge research into concrete and impactful applications of aerial robotics," said Davide Scaramuzza, Professor of Robotics and Perception at the University of Zurich, where Falanga received his doctorate.

With the location in Zurich, Skydio is opening its second research office in Europe after Tampere in Finland. The American company focuses on applications in the military, police and industrial sectors. ce/as