“AI Grand Prix pushes autonomous drone racing into a new dimension. In partnership with Anduril, we are applying DCL’s AI racing experience to create a global benchmark.” — Michael Kostka, Markus Stampfer, Alexander Lena, Co-CEOs of DCL.
Press Release:
Anduril Launches the AI Grand Prix, a Global Autonomous Drone Race
Anduril today announced the AI Grand Prix, a global autonomous drone racing competition challenging the world’s best engineers to prove their autonomy software under real-world flight conditions. Teams will compete for a $500,000 prize pool and a job at Anduril.
Conceived by Anduril founder Palmer Luckey, the AI Grand Prix is an open challenge to university teams and the boldest independent engineers from the United States and around the world. Competitors will race fully autonomous drones built by Neros Technologies, a leading American manufacturer of small unmanned aerial systems. No human pilots and no hardware modifications will be allowed — ensuring the competitive edge is gained entirely by developing the best software.
The race series is operated by the Drone Champions League (DCL), the world’s leading professional drone racing organization, whose AI vector module is integrated into the competition platform.
“This is an open challenge,” said Luckey. “If you think you can build an autonomy stack that can out-fly the world’s best, show us.”
The competition will begin with a remote qualification phase in spring 2026, during which teams from around the world will submit their autonomy software to race in a virtual environment. Top performers will advance to in-person training and qualification, adapting their systems from simulation to real-world 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. This builds on Anduril’s establishment of its hyperscale manufacturing facility, Arsenal-1, in Central Ohio and further positions the state as a growing hub for advanced industrial, autonomy, and technical talent.
Following the inaugural race in the United States, future seasons of the AI Grand Prix will expand globally, with events planned across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
The highest-scoring participant, or a single eligible member of the highest-scoring team, will have the chance to bypass Anduril’s standard recruiting cycle and interview directly with hiring managers for relevant open roles.
Sign up for updates and technical details at theaigrandprix.com.