Member Spotlight: AIBOT

January 26, 2026

AIBOT develops autonomous aircraft platforms and AI-defined technologies designed to support advanced air mobility and scalable uncrewed operations across commercial and public-sector applications.

Value of AIBOT’s AUVSI Membership

AIBOT views AUVSI membership as a vital connection point between industry, government, and technical stakeholders, shaping the future of uncrewed systems. As a company advancing autonomous aircraft and software-defined architectures, AIBOT values AUVSI’s role as a central forum for policy discussions, regulatory updates, advocacy, and committee engagement that directly inform its development and operational strategy.

“AUVSI membership offers industry, government, and technical stakeholders a valued platform for policy discussions, regulatory updates, advocacy, and industry committees that are directly relevant to AIBOT’s work,” says company spokesman Stephen Rice.

Through advocacy resources and committee participation, AIBOT remains aligned with evolving U.S. regulatory expectations while contributing practical insight to industry-wide conversations. The organization also values the visibility AUVSI provides through programs such as member spotlights, which reinforce its role in shaping the broader uncrewed systems landscape. AUVSI’s emphasis on trusted supply chains further supports AIBOT’s long-term approach to balancing global manufacturing efficiencies with U.S. policy and security requirements.

Significant Industry Developments

AIBOT sees the continued maturation of operational frameworks for uncrewed aircraft as one of the most promising developments in the industry. Clearer pathways for Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations, autonomy, and structured testing are helping create more predictable and scalable operating environments.

At the same time, advances in onboard processing, communications reliability, sensor integration, and aircraft performance are enabling more capable platforms. These developments are expanding normalized use cases with clear public benefit, including emergency response, infrastructure inspection, and time-sensitive logistics.

Industry Challenges

One of the most significant challenges facing the industry writ large, and AIBOT in particular, is the impact of recent accelerated efforts by the U.S. government to onshore the manufacturing and supply base for drones, as well as expand the list of critical components identified on the FCC Covered List, thus restricting their importation from vendors outside of the U.S. Although AIBOT has many members of its leadership team of Chinese ancestry, that is where any comparison to Chinese-based companies such as DJI and Autel ends, because AIBOT has always been a U.S.-incorporated, California-based company. AIBOT was founded in Long Beach in 2022 and has corporate, test, and manufacturing facilities in several locations in California. As part of their long-standing commitment to burnish their domestic credentials as a proud U.S.-based drone company, they will step up efforts to revamp their supply chain and meet domestic end-product threshold requirements.

“We believe AUVSI, as an international advocacy and trade organization, is uniquely positioned to strike the right balance between supporting the onshoring of critical domestic supply and manufacturing facets of the drone industry, while also recognizing the fact that we are still part of a diverse global economy,” says Rice.

Criteria for demonstrating safety, reliability, and airspace integration are essential for companies to plan development and certification timelines with confidence. “Without shared criteria and repeatable validation methods, it is difficult for companies to plan development and certification timelines with confidence,” Rice explains.

AIBOT’s Role in the Industry’s Future

AIBOT aims to contribute to a clearer understanding of how autonomy, software-defined architectures, and structured flight testing can support the safe deployment of uncrewed and future crewed electric aircraft. By conducting testing at FAA-designated test sites and integrating AI within supervised and controlled frameworks, the company produces data that can inform long-term regulatory development.

The organization remains actively engaged in AUVSI committees focused on policy, airspace integration, and cybersecurity, contributing experience-based input that supports practical decision-making and aligns industry progress with regulatory expectations.

Support for High Safety Standards

Safety is foundational to AIBOT’s development process. Its aircraft are designed with fault-tolerant control systems, redundancy in critical components, and continuous system monitoring. Collaboration with FAA-designated UAS test ranges enables evaluation in controlled environments that meet regulatory standards.

“Safety is, and will always be, the primary factor guiding system design, testing, planning, and operational procedures,” stated George Jacobellis, PhD, Head of Flight Sciences, AIBOT.

Partnerships with established aerospace organizations further support verification activities related to flight control, autonomy, and system reliability.

Building Public Trust

AIBOT maintains open and transparent relationships with local partners in California, including government authorities and first responders, as it expands flight testing and future manufacturing operations. Participation in FAA-approved structured test ranges ensures oversight and alignment with regulatory requirements.

By focusing on public-interest mission categories such as emergency response and environmental monitoring, AIBOT demonstrates the practical value of uncrewed aircraft while supporting local economic development and long-term infrastructure investment.

AUVSI Experiences

At XPONENTIAL, AIBOT gained valuable insight into how the event supports structured supplier discovery. The concentrated environment enabled direct discussions with component and technology providers, accelerating early technical evaluations and strengthening the company’s sourcing strategy.

For more information, visit https://www.aibot.ai.