COLUMBUS, Ohio — Defense tech company Anduril Industries announced Wednesday the launch of the AI Grand Prix, a global autonomous drone racing competition that will challenge engineers to develop flight software for fully autonomous drones.
The competition will feature identical drones manufactured by Neros Technologies and will prohibit human pilots and hardware modifications, placing the emphasis entirely on software performance. Anduril said teams will compete for a $500,000 prize pool, with top performers also eligible for job interviews with the company.
According to Anduril, the contest is open to university teams and independent engineers from the United States and abroad. The race series will be operated by the Drone Champions League, a professional drone racing organization that provides the competition platform.
The AI Grand Prix will begin with a remote qualification phase in spring 2026, during which teams will test their autonomy software in a simulated environment. Selected teams will advance to in-person training and qualification rounds, transitioning their systems from simulation to real-world flight conditions.
The final event is scheduled for November 2026 and will take place in Columbus, Ohio, where Anduril plans to host a live, head-to-head autonomous drone race in partnership with JobsOhio.
Anduril said the competition builds on its recent expansion in Central Ohio, including the development of its Arsenal-1 manufacturing facility. The company described the event as part of its broader efforts to advance autonomous systems and technical talent.
Future seasons of the AI Grand Prix are expected to expand internationally, with events planned in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.