Shield AI has successfully conducted a second flight demonstration of its Hivemind autonomy software on a General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger, showcasing advanced mission capabilities in a live-virtual-constructive (LVC) environment. The June test featured coordinated operations between a live MQ-20 and its digital twin, marking a significant step toward scalable, mission-ready autonomy.
Building on their February integration during the Orange Flag exercise—which focused on administrative tasks—the latest demonstration tested tactical maneuvers, including formation flying and combat air patrol, using A-GRA-compliant mission planning tools.
Christian Gutierrez, VP of Hivemind Solutions at Shield AI, emphasized the importance of real-world testing:
“Autonomy doesn’t get better in a lab or inside a PowerPoint. It improves when it flies, when it fails, adapts, and flies again.”
Key achievements from the flight included:
Live-virtual autonomy: Coordinated tasks between physical and virtual aircraft.
Seamless integration: Real-time execution across C2 and edge systems.
Open architecture: A-GRA-compliant design enabling platform-agnostic deployment.
GA-ASI’s VP of Advanced Programs, Michael Atwood, highlighted the value of cross-vendor collaboration:
“Being able to rapidly integrate and test autonomy elements from multiple vendors helps ensure the most effective capabilities are available to the warfighter.”
Hivemind is designed to enable unmanned systems to perform complex missions in GPS- and communications-denied environments, offering modular, multi-platform autonomy with operational relevance.
