The AI Grand Prix: Anduril's pursuit of autonomous perfection is coming to Ohio
Forget the pilots and the custom hardware. Anduril’s AI Grand Prix is a high-stakes software battle for a $500,000 purse and a seat at the defense giant. With identical drones and zero human control, the global pursuit of autonomous perfection culminates in Ohio this November.
The future of aerial warfare and autonomous systems is headed to the Buckeye State, and the stakes are as high as the flight paths.
Anduril Industries, the defense tech powerhouse founded by Palmer Luckey, has unveiled the AI Grand Prix, a global autonomous drone racing competition designed to scout the world’s elite software talent. Operated in partnership with the Drone Champions League (DCL), Neros Technologies, and JobsOhio, the event strips away the traditional advantages of hardware engineering to focus on a single variable: the code. With a $500,000 prize pool and a guaranteed job at Anduril on the line, the competition is a pure-play test of computer vision, path planning, and edge computing.
The level playing field
In a departure from traditional drone racing, where custom-built frames and proprietary motors often decide the victor, the AI Grand Prix enforces strict hardware parity.
- No Human Pilots: Systems must be fully autonomous with zero human control.
- Standardized Hardware: All teams will use identical drones provided by Neros Technologies, incorporating DCL’s AI vector module.
- Python-Based Battle: Software is the only path to victory. If you win, it’s because your autonomy stack is superior.
From simulation to the "Heart of It All"
The competition follows a rigorous three-phase schedule that bridges the gap between digital theory and physical reality:
- Qualification (April – June 2026): A virtual phase where teams submit custom Python-based AI algorithms into a DCL-built simulation.
- The Physical Shift (September 2026): Top-performing teams advance to a two-week, in-person training and qualification experience in Southern California to adapt their systems to live flight conditions.
- The Championship (November 2026): Season 1 culminates in the AI Grand Prix Ohio, where the world’s best will compete for the half-million-dollar purse in Columbus.
The ultimate job interview
While the cash is a significant draw—with the top 10 performing teams in Ohio guaranteed at least $5,000—the real prize is the career trajectory. Winning "a job" implies one role at Anduril for the 2026 season, though the company is also using the physical qualifiers to screen university talent for internships and entry-level roles.
The Ohio opportunity
Ohio is increasingly serving as the "test track" for the future of flight. Between the AI Grand Prix, the mission-critical work at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and the Ohio UAS Center, the state is firmly positioned at the intersection of Silicon Valley ambition and industrial-scale defense.
As Anduril continues to scale its presence—focused on "rebuilding the arsenal of democracy" through software-first platforms—hosting this high-stakes competition in Ohio underscores the state's strategic importance in the next generation of aerospace technology.
How to get involved
Registration is now open to individuals and teams of up to eight at theaigrandprix.com. Whether you’re a university research group or an independent developer, the message is the same: the hardware is settled. Now, show us the code.
