Can Nanoveu’s AI Chip Deliver Real-World Drone Endurance Without Hardware Changes?

From Simulation to Real Skies

Nanoveu Limited, through its subsidiary Embedded A.I. Systems Pte Ltd (EMASS), is stepping beyond simulation with the launch of live drone flight trials designed to validate its ECS-DoT AI chip’s promise of significantly extended drone endurance. The trials will use the palm-sized Crazyflie nano-drone, a modular and open-source platform, to confirm whether the endurance gains of over 50% seen in extensive Phase 2 simulations translate into real-world flight improvements.

These simulations, conducted across more than 300 hardware-in-the-loop campaigns, demonstrated endurance gains averaging around 60% for quadcopters and similarly impressive results for hexacopters and octocopters; all achieved without any changes to batteries, propulsion, or airframes. This software-driven efficiency leap could reshape drone mission economics by extending flight times and reducing operational costs.

Pushing the Boundaries of Drone Autonomy

Alongside endurance validation, EMASS is also testing ECS-DoT’s ability to power GPS-free indoor navigation using a minimal sensor suite; a single monocular camera and an inertial measurement unit (IMU). This capability is critical for drones operating in GPS-denied environments such as indoor facilities or complex defense scenarios. The chip’s ultra-low power AI enables real-time visual-inertial odometry, obstacle avoidance, and adaptive path planning, all within a sub-watt power budget.

Such autonomy without reliance on heavy sensors or external positioning systems could open new operational roles for small drones, including reconnaissance, infrastructure inspection, and security sweeps in cluttered or confined spaces. The trials aim to prove that ECS-DoT can deliver reliable, low-latency control and perception in natural environments, a key step toward broader commercial and defense adoption.

A Multi-Chip Future for Smarter Drones

EMASS envisions ECS-DoT as a scalable multi-chip solution, where dedicated ultra-low-power accelerators handle distinct drone functions; from energy-aware flight control to perception and navigation. This modular approach promises deterministic timing and further endurance improvements, potentially enabling richer sensing capabilities without increasing battery size or weight.

Starting with the Crazyflie platform allows rapid iteration and controlled testing under tight power and weight constraints, setting a high bar for future applications on larger drones. Following successful validation, EMASS plans to engage with airframe manufacturers and system integrators to explore ECS-DoT’s integration into larger platforms and more complex mission profiles.

Implications for the Drone Industry

Nanoveu’s move to live testing marks a critical milestone in commercialising its AI-driven endurance technology. By extending flight times and enabling autonomous navigation with minimal hardware changes, ECS-DoT could reduce operational costs and increase mission flexibility across commercial, industrial, and defense sectors. The technology’s software-defined nature also offers retrofit potential for existing drone fleets, accelerating adoption.

CEO Mark Goranson highlights the strategic importance of this phase, "We’ve proven our control stack at sub-milliwatt power; now we’re taking it from lab to live environments on a palm-sized airframe and building the evidence packs that OEMs need to move to pilots." The coming months will be pivotal as live trial data emerges and the company advances toward broader market engagement.