University of Southampton student engineers will be working with global tech leaders to develop the next generation of drone technology thanks to a major new collaboration with industry leaders.
The new research and development project will demonstrate the world's first deployment of drones with blockchain technology embedded into their hardware. It will enable networks of drones to fly, communicate and record everything they do in a secure digital ledger, all without the need for a central computer or human controller.
The university students and researchers will be working with tech firm Minima AG as part of an initiative supported by global engineering leader Siemens and semiconductor giant ARM .
By 2030, the global commercial drone market is expected to exceed £44 billion, with increasing demand for resilient communication, regulatory compliance, and trustworthy data.
The project, being run through the University's School of Electronics and Computer Science , aims to meet these challenges.
Dr Ivan Ling , the lead supervisor of the project, commented: "This collaboration is an incredible opportunity for our students to work hands-on with some of the most exciting technologies shaping the future, such as blockchain, chip design, and drones.
"Together with Minima's engineering team, our students will design a hardware accelerator system that makes Minima blockchain operations faster and more energy efficient. It's a perfect fit with our research group's mission to build sustainable electronic technologies."
Drone networks normally rely on a central system or cloud computing to coordinate tasks and to store and verify data.
Minima's Blockchain technology (the shared digital ledger that underpins cryptocurrencies) will allow each drone to independently log telemetry, sensor data, environmental data, and mission history.
Instead of sending all their data back to one place, each drone will share and verify information directly with others in the network. This means the drones can plan, carry out, and adjust tasks together, and keep a secure record of everything they do as they go.
As they don't need the internet or a central control system, drones will still function in remote or challenging conditions.
Records will be automatically stored on the Blockchain in a way that can't be changed, and the system will continuously check that each drone is flying safely in line with international aviation standards.
The result will be a network of drones that's more independent, resilient, and transparent.
Hugo Feiler, CEO of Minima, commented: "This project puts Minima's core vision into action. By embedding blockchain at the chip level, we enable autonomous systems that can prove their actions and data without needing permission from any central authority. It's a foundation for the future of machines that need to be trusted by design."
The initiative is supported through Siemens Crea8 Venturing Program and ARM's Higher Education Partnership, providing students with access to cutting-edge tools.
The collaboration is structured to deliver a working proof-of-concept in 2026, with prototypes to be evaluated by a panel of industry drone partners.
The resulting prototype will serve as a reference design for drone manufacturers looking to integrate the tech into next-generation flight systems.
Carson Bradbury, Director Siemens Cre8Ventures, said: "This initiative represents a bold step toward building trust directly into machines at the edge. By combining embedded blockchain with digital twin technologies, we are setting the standard for secure, verifiable autonomy in aerospace and industrial systems. This collaboration with Minima allows us to accelerate the path from research to real-world deployment."
Professor Harold Chong , Head of Sustainable Electronic Technologies Group, commented, "Minima is leveraging their expertise in the convergence of embedded hardware and software to create a decentralized, fully autonomous system that is both efficient in decision making and secure, translating into a better user experience. This collaborative Group Design Project with Minima is a perfect example of our partnership with Siemens Cre8Ventures Open Higher Education Program, and it will stimulate future research opportunities."
The project positions the University of Southampton as a leader in embedded blockchain research and industrial automation.
