DARPA has selected Shearwater Aerospace to provide AI-driven software for its Albatross program, which aims to extend drone endurance by exploiting atmospheric energy rather than adding new hardware. As a subcontractor, Shearwater will supply automated mission-planning tools and micro-weather forecasting technology that allow unmanned aircraft to identify and ride favorable wind conditions. The Smart Flight system dynamically adjusts flight paths in real time, treating weather as an energy source instead of a constraint. Upcoming flight demonstrations will test how software-enabled planning improves range and persistence, supporting DARPA’s broader focus on autonomy and resilient unmanned operations.
