London, UK – October 28, 2025 – A groundbreaking development in the world of blockchain technology and autonomous systems is being announced by a consortium of industry leaders. The University of Southampton, together with Minima, Siemens Cre8Ventures, and ARM Flexible Access, are creating a prototype that will revolutionize drone security and reliability. The project, set to launch in January 2026, focuses on the development of an industrial-grade microchip capable of running a full blockchain node, directly embedded within commercial drones. This marks a significant advancement toward decentralized machine intelligence and autonomous systems for industries like supply chains and manufacturing.
The collaboration aims to address the current reliance on centralized infrastructure for secure and verifiable data management in drones. Minima’s ultra-lightweight Layer 1 blockchain will be directly integrated onto drone flight controllers, enabling each drone to operate as a full node – independent, self-verifying, and immune to third-party bottlenecks or centralized vulnerabilities. This forms the core of a tamper-proof, decentralized aerial network, redefining distributed ledger technology in edge robotics.
**Transformative Potential Beyond Drones**