TII, Qualcomm to collaborate on edge-AI autonomous systems
Collaboration explores Qualcomm Dragonwing platforms for autonomous robots
#UAE #robotics – Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the global applied research centre of Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) has announced a strategic collaboration with California-headquartered Qualcomm Technologies to advance edge-AI and autonomous solutions across real-world environments. The partnership brings together TII’s applied research expertise in robotics and autonomous systems with Qualcomm’s edge-computing platforms to support development of intelligent systems capable of operating autonomously in complex indoor and outdoor scenarios. The collaboration will explore applications across energy, mining, construction and smart cities sectors, where autonomous systems can support safety, efficiency and environmental outcomes through real-time, on-device data processing without continuous cloud connectivity.
SO WHAT? – The collaboration addresses a fundamental challenge in autonomous systems by enabling real-time decision-making using AI at the edge rather than depending on cloud connectivity, which can be unreliable or unavailable in industrial environments such as mines, construction sites and remote energy facilities. Through the partnership TII will investigate new autonomous research areas including humanoid robots and coordinated aerial systems, positioning Abu Dhabi to develop capabilities with broad industrial and societal applications.
Here are some key facts about the new partnership:
Abu Dhabi-based Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research pillar of Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has announced a strategic collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies to advance edge-AI and autonomous solutions operating in complex indoor and outdoor environments.
The partnership combines TII’s applied research expertise in robotics and autonomous systems with Qualcomm’s advanced edge-computing platforms to develop intelligent systems capable of autonomous operation without continuous cloud connectivity through real-time, on-device data processing.
Edge-AI platforms enable drones, robots and autonomous platforms to perceive surroundings, make immediate decisions and respond using on-edge intelligence, with applications explored across energy, mining, construction and smart cities sectors supporting safety, efficiency and environmental outcomes.
TII will explore use of Qualcomm’s edge platforms including the Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ9 and IQ10 Series within its autonomous and robotic systems research, featuring compact, high-performance chipsets integrating advanced AI models, AI acceleration, computer vision, sensor processing and connectivity.
The collaboration aims to investigate applications across multiple autonomous form factors including humanoid robots designed to operate safely in human environments and coordinated aerial systems capable of indoor navigation and outdoor missions including search and rescue, inspection and environmental monitoring.
The partnership aims to accelerate innovations driving meaningful impact across key industries from infrastructure and logistics to environmental services and public safety, developing autonomous systems that are practical, adaptive and ready for wide-scale deployment.
Qualcomm Technologies’ Dragonwing platforms were originally developed to bring intelligence to mobile and edge devices and are now being adapted for real-time, on-device intelligence for autonomous systems and robots operating in dynamic environments.
Technology Innovation Institute operates nine dedicated research centres focused on advanced materials, autonomous robotics, cryptography, AI and digital science, directed energy, quantum, secure systems, propulsion and space, and renewable and sustainable energy.
ZOOM OUT – Last year Qualcomm announced the opening of a state-of-the-art Global Engineering Center in Abu Dhabi through a strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). An extension of Qualcomm's global engineering programme, the facility spearheads technical innovation in artificial intelligence, data centres and industrial IoT to meet growing regional demand for high-performance connectivity and power-efficient computing. The centre collaborates with Abu Dhabi-based and global companies to support local strategic initiatives, delivering products and services for energy, manufacturing, logistics, retail and smart mobility sectors. In November, Qualcomm announced its second engineering centre in the region, co-locating with HUMAIN in Riyadh.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
🎧 Listen to the podcast of Middle East AI News LIVE on 2 October 2025, when Middle East AI News talked to Dev Singh, Vice President, Industrial Solutions and Head of Qualcomm Abu Dhabi at Qualcomm, about the new engineering centre in the UAE capital.
Find out more about Qualcomm in the Middle East:
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HUMAIN, Qualcomm to deploy inferencing for hybrid AI (Middle East AI News)
Saudi HUMAIN unveils revolutionary Agentic AI PC (Middle East AI News)
Qualcomm to open AI & IoT engineering centre in UAE (Middle East AI News)
Qualcomm and HUMAIN forge Saudi AI data centre deal (Middle East AI News)
The edge-AI focus of this collaboration is interesting from a compute architecture perspective. As autonomous systems require real-time processing, the traditional cloud computing model doesnt work - latency kills. TIIs research breadth spanning quantum to AI positions them well to tackle the full stack challenges. Will be curious to see how the power efficiency tradeoffs play out compared to centralized cloud inference as these edge deployments scale.