Modern mobile robots are networked systems. Equipped with cameras, sensors, onboard computers, and wireless communications, they can observe and record the factories, warehouses, homes, and public spaces in which they operate. In July 2026, the United States (U.S.) Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added foreign-produced advanced robotic devices, including mobile humanoids and quadrupeds, to its Covered List, blocking new equipment authorization for these products.  The ruling responds to genuine security concerns. But it also brings into focus how heavily the U.S. robotics research base depends on the very supply chains it is designed to restrict. A critical gap has been brought to light by this ruling: U.S. robotics researchers rely heavily […]

The Computing Community Consortium (CCC) is thrilled to announce the next webinar in its Community Chat series: Computing on the Fly: Navigating a Vision for the Future of Drone Computing. During this exciting webinar and Q&A scheduled for November 3, 2026 at 2 PM ET, hear from the authors of CCC’s recent Computing on the Fly report as well as representatives from Purdue’s AirTonomy initiative and the U.S. Forest Service about the future of non-military drone computing and its applications for good. Speakers at this event will include Kevin Butler (University of Florida), Christopher Stewart (The Ohio State University), Nils Aschenbruck (Osnabrück University), Ufuk Topcu (University of Texas), Deborah Silver […]

The Computing Community Consortium (CCC) is excited to release a new key recommendations brief drawn from the recent Computing on the Fly: Navigating a Vision for the Future of Drone Computing report. The report lays out a vision for non-military drone infrastructure by 2035 and identifies twelve technical challenges standing in the way. This brief, Key Recommendations for the Future of Drone Computing, outlines the next steps, translating those challenges into specific actions for the four computing communities whose decisions will determine whether that vision is met: scientific funders, policymakers, industry, and academia. Action is urgent to realize the full potential of non-military drones. The report establishes milestones for 2028, […]

The applications of a national infrastructure of drones are numerous. From supporting supply chains and public works maintenance to minimizing damage from natural disasters, non-military drones have the potential to revolutionize our productive capacity. For this potential to become a reality, however, U.S. policy and scientific funding must align with the developments of drone computing over the next decade. To that end, the Computing Community Consortium’s (CCC) newest report, Computing on the Fly: Navigating a Vision for the Future of Drone Computing, lays out recommendations for maximizing the potential of drone computing. The findings are informed by the December 2025 Computing on the Fly workshop, which convened experts across computing […]

Computing on the Fly: Navigating a Vision for the Future of Drone Computing, the Computing Community Consortium’s (CCC) latest report, presents the benefits of advancing the United States’s non-military drone infrastructure, with numerous potential benefits to industry. Drones have the capacity to provide large-scale support to supply chains (particularly rural routes), for example, as well as revolutionize agricultural efficiency. By 2035, these benefits can be made tangible. Computing on the Fly also goes one stop further, laying out the exact ways to make this happen. Below, find a summary of the ways current industry efforts can advance non-military drone computing.  Key Challenges in Advancing Drone Computing  The report identifies twelve […]

  A recent CCC Computing Futures Symposium panel, featuring luminaries in the field — Robin Murphy (Texas A&M University), Melanie Moses (University of New Mexico), Chad Jenkins (University of Michigan), and Holly Yanco (University of Massachusetts – Lowell) — offered a captivating glimpse into the evolving landscape of robotics and autonomy. Moderated by Weisong Shi (University of Delaware), the discussion highlighted pivotal advancements in sensing, computation, and intelligence, exploring their profound implications for society, research, and education. Charting the Present and Future of Robotics  The panelists began by painting a vivid picture of the current state and future potential of robotics. Murphy, a pioneer in rescue robots, challenged conventional notions […]