US firms AEVEX and Divergent Technologies are teaming up to develop a next-generation autonomous drone designed to move from concept to production faster.
The upcoming unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will combine AEVEX’s experience building operational drone systems with Divergent’s digital manufacturing technology.
At the center of the effort is the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS), which uses AI-powered design software, industrial 3D printing, and robotic assembly to manufacture complex structures.
The companies will explore adaptable airframe designs and digital production methods intended to shorten development timelines, reduce the number of parts, and support production at scale.
The goal is to create a faster and more flexible path from digital design to operational capability as mission requirements change.
“Working with Divergent allows us to evaluate next-generation manufacturing concepts that could improve responsiveness and bring new flexibility to how future unmanned systems are developed and delivered,” said Manan Patel, chief technology officer at AEVEX.
From Digital Design to Assembly
DAPS relies on AI-powered engineering software that creates designs optimized for both performance and manufacturing.
Once a design is finalized, it is sent directly to industrial 3D printers that produce individual structural nodes using alloys selected for each application.
A software-controlled robotic system then assembles the printed components into a complete structure without requiring custom tooling.
Divergent said the process allows manufacturers to modify designs and shift production more quickly than traditional manufacturing methods.
“We’re proud to collaborate with AEVEX to deliver mass at the pace of need,” said Lukas Czinger, co-founder and chief executive officer of Divergent Technologies.
“Divergent is a force multiplier for our customers’ programs, and we’re excited to integrate DAPS with AEVEX’s field-proven expertise to set a new standard for delivering capability at speed and scale.”
