Student engineers will work with tech giants, including Minima AG, Siemens, and ARM, on a research and development project.
The project will demonstrate the world’s first deployment of drones with blockchain technology embedded into their hardware.
This technology will allow drones to fly, communicate, and record all their activities in a secure digital ledger without a central computer or human controller.
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The University of Southampton students will lead the development of next-generation drone technology (Image: University of Southampton)
The project aims to meet the increasing global demand for resilient communication, regulatory compliance, and trustworthy data in the commercial drone market, which is expected to exceed £44 billion by 2030.
Dr Ivan Ling, the project’s lead supervisor, said: “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.”
Minima’s blockchain technology will allow each drone to log telemetry, sensor data, environmental data, and mission history independently.
This will enable the drones to plan, carry out, and adjust tasks together while keeping a secure record of their activities.
They will still function in remote or challenging conditions as they do not need the internet or a central control system.
Hugo Feiler, CEO of Minima, said: “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 collaboration is expected 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.
The project positions the University of Southampton as a leader in embedded blockchain research and industrial automation.
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