Lantronix Inc. and Swarmer are collaborating to create a custom compute module for Group 1 Unmanned Aerial Systems, a company announcement said Thursday.
This partnership aims to increase the onboard computing capabilities of defense drones. By integrating specialized hardware with AI software, the companies intend to improve the performance of autonomous systems during critical defense missions.
Based in Irvine, Calif., Lantronix is developing the module using the Open-Q™ 6490CS SOM [1]. This hardware is designed to support Swarmer’s AI software, which is used for visual navigation and automated target recognition [1].
The new compute platform is NDAA-compliant, meaning it meets the National Defense Authorization Act standards for use in U.S. government procurement [2]. This compliance is a prerequisite for many defense contracts involving unmanned systems, and critical infrastructure [2].
The upgrade provides a significant leap in performance. The combination of the Lantronix platform and Swarmer’s combat-proven software offers roughly four times the processing power [3] compared to previous iterations. Other data indicates this represents an increase of more than 400% compared to current platforms [1].
Lantronix provides Edge AI and Industrial IoT solutions for resilient enterprise networks and unmanned systems [2]. The collaboration focuses on ensuring that Group 1 systems—typically smaller, short-range drones—can process complex data locally rather than relying on remote servers.
“roughly four times the processing power”
The shift toward high-performance, NDAA-compliant compute modules at the edge allows smaller drones to execute complex AI tasks like target recognition without relying on a cloud connection. This reduces latency and communication vulnerabilities, making Group 1 systems more autonomous and effective in contested electronic environments.
