Zuppa has signed an MoU with Germany-based Eighth Dimension to develop AI-led swarm drone capabilities. The companies will work on teaming algorithms and real-time object recognition for unmanned aerial systems.
The collaboration aims to bring new autonomous functions to Zuppa’s UAV platforms. Both teams will focus on how the systems will operate, where the AI models will be tested, and when the prototypes are ready for testing.
The companies plan to initiate joint R&D efforts across India and Germany, with early field demonstrations anticipated in 2025. The work will include building AI models, onboarding integration, and live trials of swarm functions.
“By joining forces with Eighth Dimension, we’re taking a significant step toward the future of autonomous aerial intelligence,” Venkatesh Sai, founder and technical director at Zuppa, said. “Their expertise in distributed AI systems and real-time context learning complements our focus on rugged UAV platforms.”
Eighth Dimension builds AI frameworks that enable drones and robots to sense, reason, and act in real-time. Its applications cover defence, logistics and surveillance. Zuppa develops cybersecure autopilots and UAV systems for defence and industrial use.
Gaganpreet Singh, founder of Eighth Dimension, said the partnership aligns with the startup’s mission. “Zuppa’s deep experience in UAV design and deployment perfectly aligns with our mission to bring AI-enabled autonomy to real-world systems,” he said. “This partnership bridges European AI innovation with Indian engineering strength.”
The firms expect the project to support scalable and collaborative drone operations in future deployments.
Zuppa also previously partnered with Chennai-based Garuda Aerospace to advance the development of secure drone technology.
This involved an undisclosed investment and product orders, marking a step in strengthening India’s indigenous drone ecosystem, aiming to align with India’s push for self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission.
