Shield AI Extends Autonomy to Orbit with NOVI Satellite

Shield AI Extends Autonomy to Orbit with NOVI Satellite

Shield AI demonstrated trusted autonomy on a NOVI satellite in low Earth orbit (LEO) with Sedaro and NOVI Space. It is the first time its Hivemind AI pilot has operated in orbit, extending autonomy from aerial to space-based assets.

The demonstration was announced August 24, 2026. Hivemind ran on a NOVI satellite leading 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. It balanced 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.

The satellite constellation market underpins critical communications, Earth observation and national security missions. It is burgeoning and still managed with largely manual workflows.

The demonstration proves trusted autonomy can integrate into existing and future satellite systems and substantially reduce operator workload.

StartupHub.ai data indicates Shield AI is a defense-tech company focused on intelligent systems. It has raised $1.5 billion in verified funding.

Its latest Series G round in 2026 valued it at $12.7 billion. Its StartupHub score is 31/100.

That trails Anduril Industries at 79/100 and Robust Intelligence at 64/100 in tracked metrics.

Shield AI and Sedaro announced their partnership in late 2025. It designates Hivemind as Sedaro's preferred autonomy software for on-orbit demonstrations.

Sedaro's SAFE technology was developed with support from SpaceWERX. It enables trust in autonomous space operations through predictive onboard modeling and pre-execution validation.

Dr. Michael Bartholomeusz, CEO of NOVI Space, highlighted that NOVI satellites are designed for edge computing and AI capabilities. They provide a platform for on-orbit testing.

The demonstration validates that satellites not originally built with autonomy can orchestrate complex ISR missions using Hivemind.

Expansion into space 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.

Integration of Hivemind with Sedaro's simulation and validation tools offers a compelling model for future autonomous space missions.