ModalAI

Market context

ModalAI supplies autopilot, perception and edge-AI compute modules for drones and robots. Its VOXL and related systems help developers integrate onboard autonomy, navigation and vision processing into small autonomous platforms.

Products

• Starling 2 Max
• Stinger Vision FPV
• VOXL 2

Facts

• Website: https://modalai.com/
• HQ: San Diego, United States
• Founded: 2018
• Segment: AI Compute

Edge AI compute supplier for drones and robots

ModalAI supplies autonomous computer vision, flight control and communications modules for drones, robots and Blue UAS platforms.

• Target environment: Drones, ground robots, robotics labs, defence UAV programs, outdoor autonomy systems and 4G or 5G connected robot platforms.
• Deployment model: Edge AI autopilot and perception hardware supply through VOXL modules, developer kits and integrated communications systems.
• Customer context: Drone developers, robot builders, defence UAV teams, autonomy researchers and embedded robotics engineers.
• Workflow context: Onboard AI, flight control, vision-based navigation, SLAM, 5G connectivity, perception and autonomous robot communication.
• Commercial maturity: Commercial component supplier with VOXL autopilot and AI modules used in drone and robotics development.
• Market position: Embedded compute and autonomy hardware supplier serving the drone and robot control stack.
• Adoption constraints: Adoption depends on compute performance, power draw, sensor ecosystem, software support, defence compliance and platform integration.
• Adjacent context: Adjacent context includes drone autopilots, robot edge AI, onboard perception, Blue UAS components and autonomous navigation hardware.
• Source confidence: high

Events

• 2025-08-12 - Regulatory - ModalAI Stinger and Seeker FPV drones added to Blue UAS Cleared List - ModalAI announced that Stinger Vision FPV, Seeker Vision FPV 5 inch and Seeker Vision FPV 7 inch Max were added to the DIU Blue UAS Cleared List. The designation covers complete government-approved unmanned aircraft systems, not only individual autonomy compo…
• 2025-05-20 - Product Launch - ModalAI launches Stinger Vision FPV drone - The drone is built around ModalAI's VOXL 2 Mini autonomy stack. The platform targets GPS-denied indoor reconnaissance workflows. The product gives ModalAI a concrete offering for unmanned aircraft, air mobility or counter-drone operations.

Team

• Chad Sweet - Co-Founder and CEO

Supply chain relationships

• Corvus Drones - Voxl 2 AI Autopilot Supplier - ModalAI supplies the VOXL 2 AI autopilot used in Corvus Drones’ Corax greenhouse drone.
• Cleo Robotics - Voxl Sdk And Autonomy Compute - ModalAI supplies VOXL software and autonomy support used by Cleo Robotics for Dronut confined-space navigation.
• Gather AI - Voxl Autonomy Compute - ModalAI documents Gather AI in its case-study ecosystem for warehouse inventory drones using ModalAI autonomy compute.

Relationships

• XTEND - Technology Partner - ModalAI and XTEND partnered to combine XTEND XOS with ModalAI VOXL 2 autopilot across XTEND drone platforms.

Context tags

• Aerial robotics supply chain - Stack Layer - ModalAI's robotics role maps to the aerial robotics supply chain stack layer.
• Edge AI compute - Capability - Provides compute modules for drone AI and autonomy workloads
• Autonomous flight - Capability - VOXL SDK enables autonomous flight on drone platforms
• Robotics compute supplier - Peer Group - Supplies compute modules and autonomy SDKs for drone platforms
• Drone compute - Stack Layer - Drone compute module and autonomy platform provider
• Component supply - Commercial Stage - Core business: compute modules and SDK licensing
• Factories - Customer Environment - Industrial inspection and facility monitoring environments