By Matt Hazenbush, Director of Communications and Member Engagement
Earlier this week, the Computing Community Consortium (CCC), in partnership with the IEEE Computer Society (IEEE-CS), convened leading researchers, practitioners, and technologists in Washington, D.C. for Computing on the Fly: Navigating a Vision for the Future of Drone Computing.
Held December 1-2 at The Darcy Hotel, the workshop brought together experts across robotics, artificial intelligence, distributed systems, communications, security, policy, and industry. Through talks, collaborative activities, and multiple rounds of structured breakout discussions, attendees explored emerging opportunities in drone computing and envisioned where the field could be by 2035.
A Collaborative, Forward-Looking Conversation
The workshop’s immersive format — featuring lightning introductions, plenary speakers, breakout groups, and full-group report-outs — encouraged participants to think broadly, creatively, and across disciplines. Conversations touched on a wide range of topics that will be explored more fully in the forthcoming workshop report, including:
- Evolving policy and governance considerations
- Questions of safety, security, and trust
- The role of edge-cloud infrastructure
- Advances in communications and networking
- Opportunities and challenges in AI-driven autonomy
Taken together, these early themes highlight the technical, societal, and policy dimensions shaping the future of drone computing.
In addition to shaping the forthcoming report, these themes are already informing community conversations. Christopher Stewart, co-chair of the workshop organizing committee, will share insights from Computing on the Fly at DroneSys — the First Workshop on Autonomous Drone Computing Systems and Applications — taking place December 6 as part of the ACM/IEEE Symposium on Edge Computing in Washington, D.C.
Thank You to Our Organizers and Partners
CCC extends its deep appreciation to the Workshop Organizing Committee for their leadership and vision:
- Kevin Butler, University of Florida (Co-Chair)
- Christopher Stewart, The Ohio State University (Co-Chair)
- Weisong Shi, University of Delaware
- Ufuk Topcu, University of Texas
We also thank the IEEE Computer Society Steering Committee for their partnership and guidance:
- Nils Aschenbruck, Osnabrück University
- Deborah Silver, Rutgers University
And, as always, CCC is grateful to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for supporting this community-driven visioning effort.
Next Steps: Workshop Report Coming in 2026
CCC is now synthesizing insights from the workshop into a comprehensive Computing on the Fly Workshop Report, to be published in 2026. The report will delve more deeply into the research challenges, opportunities, and long-horizon visions surfaced during the event.
Stay tuned to the CCC Blog and the CCC LinkedIn Showcase Page for updates and the report’s release. Stay connected with CCC for the latest insights, publications, and opportunities to engage by subscribing here.
