Nanoveu (ASX: NVU) has secured exclusive evaluation rights for four autonomous drone swarm localisation and formation-control inventions from NTU Singapore.
The strategic move aims to integrate the IP with its ECS-DoT technology, targeting a comprehensive autonomous drone stack, bolstered by live trials demonstrating significant endurance gains.
These pivotal inventions cover GPS-free swarm coordination, utilising technologies such as monocular vision, ultra-wideband (UWB) tags, and RGB-D formations.
The agreement includes an option to convert this evaluation license into an exclusive worldwide license, with clearly defined terms and fees.
ECS-DoT Integration & Endurance Gains
Nanoveu is targeting seamless integration of this new IP with its proprietary ECS-DoT ultra-low-power control engine.
The aim is to create a complete autonomous drone stack, encompassing enhanced endurance, precise navigation, and advanced swarm intelligence capabilities.
Phase-2 live drone trials have already showcased significant endurance improvements.
Quadcopters recorded 60% gains, hexacopters 58%, and octocopters 57%.
These substantial improvements were achieved without any changes to batteries or airframes.
This integration has the potential to significantly expand Nanoveu's autonomy stack capabilities, particularly in challenging GPS-denied environments where traditional navigation systems are limited.
Commercial Terms & Equity
The initial evaluation license fee stands at SGD 50,000.
Should Nanoveu elect to convert this to an exclusive worldwide license, an additional SGD 85,000 will be due by September 2026.
Ongoing annual patent costs of SGD 50,000 would apply if the license is converted, for a potential seven-year term.
In a related development, 5 million performance rights have been issued to 62 Capital, with their vesting directly linked to VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price) milestones.
Market Opportunity and Strategic Context
This strategic acquisition positions Nanoveu within a rapidly expanding market.
The autonomous drone and swarm robotics market is projected to exceed US$35 billion by 2030.
This IP acquisition aligns perfectly with Nanoveu's broader AIoT roadmap.
It also complements the recent tape-out of its 16nm ECS-DoT Edge AI SoC, a significant milestone announced in January 2026.
The company has also been building momentum with other key milestones, including a A$7.5 million capital raising in January 2026 and strategic collaborations with global partners like Arrow Electronics and Semtech, announced in December 2025.
