Shield AI Extends Autonomy to Orbit with NOVI Satellite

Shield AI, in collaboration with Sedaro and NOVI Space, has successfully demonstrated trusted autonomy capabilities on a NOVI satellite in low Earth orbit (LEO). This marks the first time Shield AI’sHivemindAI pilot has operated in orbit, extending the company's autonomy solutions from aerial platforms to space-based assets. The on-orbit demonstration, announced August 24, 2026, involved Hivemind running on a NOVI satellite that led a constellation of six satellites, including five virtual ones. Working with Sedaro’s Autonomy Framework for the Edge (SAFE), Hivemind performed multi-objective optimization tasks, balancing imaging, spacecraft health, battery status, and pointing across the constellation. Over a 24-hour period, the system executed 189 commands generated by Hivemind and approved by SAFE. This achievement is significant for the burgeoning satellite constellation market, which underpins critical communications, Earth observation, and national security missions. These constellations are currently managed with largely manual workflows. The demonstration proves that trusted autonomy can be integrated into existing and future satellite systems, substantially reducing operator workload. StartupHub.ai data indicates that Shield AI, a defense-tech company focused on intelligent systems, has raised $1.5 billion in verified funding, with its latest Series G round in 2026 valuing it at $12.7 billion. This positions Shield AI as a major player, though its StartupHub score of 31/100 trails competitors like Anduril Industries (score 79/100) and Robust Intelligence (score 64/100) in our tracked metrics. The partnership between Shield AI and Sedaro, announced in late 2025, designates Hivemind as Sedaro’s preferred autonomy software for on-orbit demonstrations. Sedaro’s SAFE technology, developed with support from SpaceWERX, focuses on enabling trust in autonomous space operations through predictive onboard modeling and pre-execution validation. Dr. Michael Bartholomeusz, CEO of NOVI Space, highlighted that their satellites are designed for edge computing and AI capabilities, providing a platform for on-orbit testing. This demonstration validates the potential for satellites not originally built with autonomy in mind to orchestrate complex ISR missions using Hivemind. The expansion of AI-driven autonomy into space operations addresses the growing complexity and scale of satellite constellations. As Todd Wesley, vice president of Hivemind engineering at Shield AI, stated, autonomy will be key to making future space missions more scalable, efficient, and responsive without overwhelming human operators. This success moves Shield AI's trusted satellite autonomy capabilities forward, demonstrating a viable path to increased automation in space. The integration of Hivemind with Sedaro's simulation and validation tools offers a compelling model for future autonomous space missions.