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Oct 2, 12:11

Google's first Suncatcher satellite reaches orbit to test AI chips in space

Google has moved its orbital AI data center ambitions from paper to hardware. A prototype satellite carrying the company's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) reached orbit on October 1, 2026, and the data it returns over the coming weeks will help decide whether Project Suncatcher's vision of solar-powered compute clusters in low Earth orbit can survive contact with reality. The launch also puts the first real test data behind a concept that a Gartner analyst has said does not make economic sense.

Swancor expands recycled materials, eyes recyclable carbon fiber for drone components

Oct 2, 09:20

Champ-ray targets Japan drone market with power modules

Oct 2, 07:43

TCC Group targets Ukraine's postwar rebuild with cement acquisition

Oct 1

GPS-free indoor drones target high-rack inspection as smart warehouses expand

Oct 1

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SATELLITEGoogle to test AI computing in space with first orbital TPU launch

Oct 1

Google is preparing to send its in-house AI accelerator, the Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), into low Earth orbit for the first time as it explores whether AI computing can eventually expand beyond terrestrial data centers and into space. CEO Sundar Pichai recently announced that Project Suncatcher will begin its first in-orbit test on October 1, with computing power roughly equivalent to that of a single ground-based server.

DRONEAI reshapes drone competition from flight to autonomy

Sep 30

AI is rapidly reshaping the unmanned vehicle industry, pushing drones beyond autonomous flight toward autonomous mission execution. Competition is shifting from individual vehicle performance to AI decision-making, multi-sensor fusion, swarm collaboration, cross-platform software, and modular hardware.

DRONETaiwan-US drone production lines near launch

Sep 30

Production lines and testing facilities are now in place for the Taiwan-US attack drone Mighty Hornet IV, which is being developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology (NCSIST). The drone is expected to move into mass production soon, with both the newly opened campus in Chiayi County and a US production site shaping up as manufacturing bases.

DRONEVulcan wins US Army drone magnet contract as China decoupling drives selection

Sep 30

US rare-earth magnet startup Vulcan Elements has reportedly won a supply contract for the US Army's SkyFoundry drone program, underscoring Washington's push to localize drone production and reduce reliance on China's rare-earth supply chain. Vulcan will produce high-performance neodymium-iron-boron magnets for the brushless DC motors used in small drones.

DRONEAIDC conducts counter-drone system drill to expand airspace protection for critical infrastructure

Sep 30

Taiwanese aerospace company Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) said that after completing production of its advanced jet trainers, it will focus on accelerating the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The company is developing complete UAV systems in-house and has also expanded into counter-UAV system development.

DRONEAIDC sees NT$30 billion military maintenance boost, eyes drones

Sep 29

As the last Brave Eagle advanced trainer rolls off the line in September 2026, Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) says its military business is not ending with the trainer's development and mass production program. Instead, a new phase is just beginning, with maintenance and spare-parts supply contracts for the Indigenous Defense Fighter and Brave Eagle expected to generate more than NT$30 billion (US$941.3 million) in value.

DRONETaiwan breaks ground on aerospace and drone hub, targeting 2028 completion

Sep 29

Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) broke ground on the Minxiong Aerospace and Drone Industrial Park on September 28, aiming to provide critical testing and validation capabilities for the country's growing drone industry.

DRONEMicroIP unveils AI drone and edge systems at Taiwan Expo USA

Sep 29

MicroIP Technology showcased its AI drone vertical mission system at the 2026 Taiwan Expo USA in Dallas, drawing attention from organizers and US stakeholders. The company said the event highlighted Taiwan's push into higher-value edge computing systems beyond chips and servers, and that its products also attracted leading customers in Europe and the US.

DEFENSETaiwan's Brave Eagle reaches 55% domestic content, bringing 200 suppliers into aerospace

Sep 29

Taiwan's Brave Eagle advanced jet trainer program officially concluded its production phase in 2026, but the capabilities developed through the project could mark the beginning of a broader push toward greater defense aerospace self-reliance.

SPACE TECHTrump-Xi state dinner puts tech titans at the head table, spotlighting Taiwan's quiet supply chain clout

Sep 29

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arrived at the White House on the evening of September 24 US time to attend a state dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

SPACE TECHSpaceX's AI-in-space bet is worth trillions, but space data centers won't be ready until the 2030s

Sep 26

SpaceX's IPO has already put a price on "AI in space" in the capital markets. But the people actually building satellite computers describe a different timetable.

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