ADNOC, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), and ASPIRE, have launched a pilot project to test and deploy coordinated drone fleets for rapid aerial disaster monitoring. Signed during Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025, the research and development partnership underscores Abu Dhabi’s leadership in applying advanced autonomy to protect people, assets, and the environment.
Under the agreement, TII working in partnership with ADNOC and supported by ASPIRE, will pioneer a system that provides ADNOC’s Crisis Management Center with real-time aerial intelligence during emergency situations. The initiative integrates autonomous, long-range, and swarm-based drone operations into one unified framework.
At the facility level, drones stationed at ADNOC sites will be able to take off and stream live video directly to headquarters. Wider monitoring and long-range incident response will be launched from ADNOC’s network of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) hubs as well as smaller drones, linked back to ADNOC’s headquarters, enabling coverage across the country. In the event of large-scale incidents, fleets of autonomous drones can also be rapidly deployed via a mothership to scan extensive areas within a matter of minutes, searching for stranded people and offering them connectivity and informational support.
By combining these capabilities, the project will allow ADNOC to reduce response times, increase situational awareness and minimise risk to frontline personnel. The collaboration reflects a step toward integrating autonomous systems into live emergency operations, with potential to transform how critical infrastructure operators across the UAE and beyond safeguard their people and assets.
Andrew Strefford, Executive Director at ASPIRE, said: “Emergencies demand speed and clarity, and this collaboration is about delivering both. By combining ADNOC’s operational expertise with ARRC’s advanced robotics, we are showing how coordinated drone systems can provide immediate, actionable insights when they matter most. For Abu Dhabi, this is not just a pilot; it is an example of how applied R&D can turn deep tech into life-saving solutions that redefine resilience in critical industries.”
Prof Enrico Natalizio, Chief Researcher of TII’s Autonomous Robotics Research Center, said: “Drone autonomy has reached a point where single-use applications are no longer enough. What we are building with ADNOC is a coordinated, multi-layered system that integrates autonomous, long-range, and swarm operations into one seamless framework. By plugging directly into ADNOC’s Crisis Management Center, we are validating technologies that could be scaled across the wider energy and utilities sectors.”
Khaled Alblooshi, Vice President, Digital Projects and Innovations, ADNOC, said: “ADNOC continues to leverage advanced technologies including drones and robotics to enhance the safety and efficiency of our people and operations. Through this partnership with TII and ASPIRE, we will explore how coordinated drone fleets can be deployed to provide real-time intelligence across our value chain and better protect our people and assets.”
The pilot will operate under ADNOC’s Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) framework, with full adoption considered upon successful completion of the proof of concept. Beyond ADNOC’s immediate operations, the initiative has the potential to transform how critical infrastructure worldwide is prepared for, and responds to, emergencies; from utilities and energy to transport and environmental management.
By pioneering the integration of coordinated drone fleets into live crisis operations, Abu Dhabi is not only strengthening its own resilience but also setting a global benchmark for how AI and autonomy can safeguard societies and accelerate safer, more sustainable industrial practices.
