COLUMBUS, Ohio — Defense technology company Anduril Industries has announced the launch of the AI Grand Prix, a global autonomous drone racing competition designed to test the world’s most advanced autonomy software under real-world flight conditions.
The competition will challenge university teams and independent engineers from the United States and around the world to develop fully autonomous flight systems capable of outperforming rival software — with no human pilots and no hardware modifications allowed. Teams will compete for a $500,000 prize pool, along with the opportunity for top performers to interview directly for jobs at Anduril.
Conceived by Anduril founder Palmer Luckey, the AI Grand Prix is intended as an open challenge to the global engineering community.
“This is an open challenge,” Luckey said. “If you think you can build an autonomy stack that can out-fly the world’s best, show us.”
All competitors will race identical drones built by Neros Technologies, a U.S.-based manufacturer of small unmanned aerial systems, ensuring the competition is decided purely by software performance. The race series will be operated by the Drone Champions League (DCL), the world’s leading professional drone racing organization, which has integrated its AI vector module into the competition platform.
The competition will begin with a remote qualification phase in spring 2026, allowing teams to submit their autonomy software to compete in a virtual racing environment. Top-performing teams will advance to in-person training and qualification rounds, where they will adapt their systems from simulation to live flight conditions.
The series will culminate in a live, head-to-head autonomous drone race in November 2026, hosted by Anduril in Columbus, Ohio, in partnership with JobsOhio. The event builds on Anduril’s growing presence in Central Ohio, including its Arsenal-1 hyperscale manufacturing facility, and further positions the region as a hub for advanced manufacturing, autonomy, and technical innovation.
Following its inaugural U.S. event, Anduril plans to expand the AI Grand Prix globally, with future competitions slated for Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
In addition to prize money, the highest-scoring participant — or an eligible member of the top-scoring team — will be invited to bypass Anduril’s standard recruiting process and interview directly with company hiring managers for relevant open positions.
Teams and individuals interested in participating or receiving updates can sign up at theaigrandprix.com.
