Best Robotic Autonomy Hardware Partners (2026)
The best robotic autonomy hardware partner depends on the domain you build for and how much of the product you want to own. OEMs that want one partner to design and manufacture autonomy hardware across aerial, ground and maritime programs can use an ODM such as Aerora Technology. Teams that need a specific layer, such as a ground-vehicle autonomy kit, a vessel autonomy system or a mesh radio, should look at the specialists below.
Autonomy hardware is more than a computer. It includes sensors, flight or motion control, power, data links and the manufacturing needed to build it at scale. We picked partners that cover those layers across the three main domains.
How we chose
Quick comparison
| Company | HQ | Best for | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerora Technology | Santa Clara, CA | ODM design and manufacturing across domains | Controllers, AI cameras, propulsion and ADRC control in-house |
| ModalAI | San Diego, CA | Autonomy compute for aerial and ground robots | VOXL 2 with 15 TOPS, assembled in USA |
| Clearpath Robotics | Kitchener, Ontario | Ground robot research and prototyping | Husky and Jackal, ROS 2-ready |
| Forterra | Clarksburg, MD | Autonomy kits for military and industrial vehicles | AutoDrive on Oshkosh ROGUE-Fires |
| Sea Machines | Boston, MA | Autonomy for crewed and uncrewed vessels | SM300-NG, class-approved hardware |
| Greensea IQ | Richmond, VT | Subsea robotics and control | OPENSEA in 3,000+ marine systems |
| Connect Tech | Guelph, Ontario | Rugged NVIDIA Jetson compute | Carriers for Jetson Thor T5000 |
| Doodle Labs | Marina del Rey, CA and Singapore | Mesh data links across robot fleets | Mesh Rider radios |
Aerora Technology
Aerora is an ODM that partners with OEMs to design, develop, manufacture and scale autonomous-systems and robotics products for aerial, ground, maritime and robotic systems. Its process runs from Discover and Design through Prototype, Validate (DVT/EVT/PVT), Manufacture, Deploy and Support. In-house capability covers smart controllers, AI cameras and vision systems, flight and motion control, power and propulsion, and payload and sensor integration. Aerora’s ADRC (Active Disturbance Rejection Control) has been proven on multirotor, fixed-wing and tilt-rotor platforms, and its FOC ESCs are sensorless and, per Aerora, patent pending. It builds custom battery packs with cell-level and pack-level testing. U.S. engineering leads programs, and manufacturing is in Vietnam. See ODM services and products.
Worth checking: Aerora manufactures in Vietnam, and in December 2025 the FCC added foreign-produced UAS and UAS critical components to its Covered List. Ask for each product’s FCC authorization and exemption status. Aerora is not on the Blue UAS Cleared List or Framework.
ModalAI
ModalAI describes itself as a maker of robot and drone perception and communications systems manufactured in the U.S.A., with expertise in aerial and ground autonomous navigation systems that communicate over 4G and 5G. Its VOXL 2 packs a Qualcomm QRB5165 with 15 TOPS of AI, an integrated flight controller and up to six MIPI cameras into 16 grams, and ModalAI lists it as assembled in San Diego. The VOXL SDK is open source and supports VIO, SLAM and obstacle avoidance, and it works with PX4, ArduPilot and ROS. ModalAI also sells reference drones, including Starling 2 and Starling 2 Max.
Worth checking: ModalAI sells standard boards and drones. Confirm custom-design options and volume lead times early.
Clearpath Robotics
Clearpath Robotics, headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, has been part of Rockwell Automation since 2023. Its research platforms include the Husky, a medium outdoor UGV with a large payload capacity, the Jackal, a compact field robot with an onboard computer, GPS and IMU, the Warthog, a large amphibious all-terrain platform, and the indoor Dingo. The platforms ship ROS 2-ready, so teams can test autonomy software on proven hardware before committing to a custom vehicle.
Worth checking: Clearpath’s research robots are built for development. Plan a separate path if you need a custom production vehicle.
Forterra
Forterra, formerly Robotic Research and based in Clarksburg, Maryland, builds autonomy hardware and software for ground vehicles. Its AutoDrive system uses an open, modular architecture, integrates with existing platforms and can operate without GPS. AutoDrive is being integrated on Oshkosh Defense’s ROGUE-Fires vehicle for the U.S. Marine Corps, which Forterra calls the Department of Defense’s first production contract for ground vehicle autonomy. Forterra is also working with BAE Systems on an autonomous Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle prototype.
Worth checking: Forterra’s work centers on ground vehicles. Confirm fit if your program spans air or sea.
Sea Machines
Boston-based Sea Machines makes autonomy and perception systems for the marine industry. Its SM300-NG is vessel-agnostic autonomy on a class-approved, marine-grade hardware set with, per the company, 200% more computing power than the original SM300. It integrates GNSS, IMU, radar, AIS and depth sensors. The SM300-SP targets attritable uncrewed surface vessels. In September 2026, Sea Machines won a five-year contract to supply portable autonomy kits to U.S. Special Operations Forces.
Worth checking: Sea Machines is surface-focused. Subsea work needs a different partner.
Greensea IQ
Greensea IQ, based in Richmond, Vermont, builds ocean robotics hardware and software. Its OPENSEA open-architecture platform has been integrated into more than 3,000 marine robotic systems worldwide. In February 2026 it made the first production release of its Bayonet Underwater Controller for divers operating robots. It also holds an $18 million U.S. Navy IDIQ contract for underwater controllers and a $3.7 million U.S. Marine Corps task order for four more Bayonet 250 autonomous underwater ground vehicles.
Worth checking: Greensea IQ is a specialist in subsea work. Aerial and ground programs will need other partners.
Connect Tech
Connect Tech, a HEICO company in Guelph, Ontario, makes embedded computers and carrier boards for NVIDIA Jetson. Its Gauntlet and Rogue-T5 carriers host the Jetson Thor T5000 module and target rugged field deployments, unmanned systems and ground vehicles. Smaller boards such as the 82.6 × 58.8 mm Hadron carrier support Jetson Orin NX and Orin Nano for vision, inference and unmanned payloads, so one supplier can cover both small and large vehicles.
Worth checking: Connect Tech builds in Canada. Confirm country of manufacture if FCC or domestic-content rules apply to your program.
Doodle Labs
Doodle Labs, headquartered in Marina del Rey, California, and Singapore, makes Mesh Rider radios for networks of drones and robotic vehicles. The company says Mesh Rider delivers up to 80 Mbps over distances of more than 50 km, with self-healing mesh networking and anti-jamming features. In 2026 it launched the Nano², a smaller radio with full Mesh Rider performance. BlackSea Technologies uses Doodle Labs Helix radios in its GARC uncrewed surface vessels.
Worth checking: Radio performance depends on band, power and terrain. Test range in your own operating conditions.
Common questions
What does a robotic autonomy hardware partner do?
It supplies the physical layer that lets a robot sense, decide and act on its own: compute, sensors, motion or flight control, power and communications. Some partners supply one layer, such as a radio or compute board. An ODM designs and manufactures the full product with you, from prototype through production and support.
Can one partner cover aerial, ground and maritime systems?
Some can. An ODM that owns controllers, vision, propulsion and power can apply them across domains. Specialists such as Forterra (ground), Sea Machines (surface) and Greensea IQ (subsea) go deeper in one domain. Many programs pair a cross-domain ODM with a domain specialist for the autonomy stack.
What compliance questions should I ask a hardware partner?
Ask whether the product meets NDAA sourcing rules (FY2020 §848 and FY2024 §1823-1826) and, separately, what its FCC status is. These are different questions. Since December 2025, foreign-produced UAS and critical components need an FCC exemption, such as Blue UAS listing, Buy American qualification or a Conditional Approval.
Is Aerora Blue UAS listed?
No. Aerora is not on the Blue UAS Cleared List or the Blue UAS Framework. Aerora builds to NDAA sourcing requirements and describes its products as NDAA-compliant. Because it manufactures in Vietnam, ask for FCC authorization and exemption status on any product you plan to bring into the U.S.
Build with Aerora
If you need an ODM for an aerial, ground or maritime autonomy product, contact Aerora to talk through your requirements. To pick the parts of the stack, see the best sensors for autonomous navigation and the best autonomy software stacks for drones.
Sources (25)
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- https://www.modalai.com/products/voxl-2
- https://docs.modalai.com/voxl-sdk/
- https://clearpathrobotics.com/robots/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clearpath_Robotics
- https://www.forterra.com/autodrive
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- https://sea-machines.com/sm300-ng/
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- https://greenseaiq.com/
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- https://www.marinetechnologynews.com/news/ocean-robotics-greensea-630778
- https://www.marinelink.com/news/greensea-iq-wins-m-navy-contract-540844
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- https://connecttech.com/connect-tech-rogue-t5-edgeai-stack-continues-to-deliver/
- https://connecttech.com/product/hadron-carrier-for-nvidia-jetson-orin-nano/
- https://militaryembedded.com/company/connecttech
- https://doodlelabs.com/about
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- https://doodlelabs.com/products/radios/nano
- https://doodlelabs.com/case-studies/black-sea-technologies/
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