Near Earth Autonomy

Near Earth Autonomy, a spin-off from Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, was founded in 2012 by a team of roboticists: Sanjiv Singh (CEO), Marcel Bergerman (COO), Lyle Chamberlain (CTO), and Sebastian Scherer (Chief Scientist). The founders leveraged their extensive experience in autonomous systems, including their work on the world's first full-size autonomous helicopter flights with the U.S. Army in 2010. Singh, who holds a Ph.D. in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon, has been a central figure in the development of autonomous ground and air vehicles since 1985.

The company develops software and hardware solutions that enable aircraft, from small drones to full-size helicopters, to fly autonomously, particularly in close proximity to the ground and obstacles. Its core business involves creating autonomy systems that allow for safe takeoff, flight, and landing, even in environments where GPS is unavailable or unreliable. This technology is designed to be integrated into existing aircraft, effectively retrofitting them for uncrewed operations. Near Earth Autonomy serves both the defense and commercial sectors, with a significant focus on military applications. Key clients and partners include the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army, the Office of Naval Research, Boeing, Kaman, L3Harris, Leonardo, and Honeywell.

The business model centers on providing these autonomy kits and integration services to aerospace manufacturers and government agencies. Revenue is generated through contracts for developing and demonstrating autonomous capabilities on various aerial platforms. The company has secured significant funding, including a Series A round from Boeing in 2017 and a $10 million Series B investment from Kaman Corporation in 2022, bringing its total funding to approximately $18 million. Their product portfolio includes a suite of technologies for 3D mapping, collision avoidance, landing zone assessment, and relative navigation. These systems are crucial for applications like cargo delivery, infrastructure inspection, and aerial mobility. A major achievement was the first autonomous flight of a Leonardo AW139 helicopter in May 2025 as part of the U.S. Marine Corps' Aerial Logistics Connector program, demonstrating the viability of uncrewed logistics in contested environments.

Keywords: autonomous flight, uncrewed aerial systems, UAS, VTOL, robotics, aerospace, defense technology, drone autonomy, sense and avoid, GPS-denied navigation, autonomous logistics, cargo drones, aerial inspection, flight control systems, obstacle avoidance, Carnegie Mellon spin-off, Sanjiv Singh, military drones, autonomous helicopters, unmanned aviation