TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US drone companies showed eagerness to cooperate with Taiwanese suppliers at the US-Taiwan UAS Supply Chain Development Workshop on Friday.
Held at National Taiwan University’s GIS Convention Center, the forum invited guest speakers from the US Department of Defense and drone makers to discuss how companies can enhance the US-Taiwan drone supply chain. The forum was hosted by NTU’s Unmanned Vehicles R&D Center.
In his keynote, Andrew Hong, deputy director of the Cyber Portfolio at the Defense Innovation Unit, noted the difficulty of getting products certified to meet the Defense Department’s standards. “It could take years to finally sign a contract,” he said, noting that smaller contractors do not fare any better.
One way is through the Recognized Assessors initiative, which will allow third-party organizations to evaluate drone platforms in compliance with DOD standards. The program is expected to start in September or October.
Hong also mentioned the Project G.I. program, which helps streamline contractor submissions and evaluation. He explained that it’s like a prize competition system instead of a traditional contract, aiming to speed up funding.
Next, Yi Liu (劉毅), director of iAuto, called for greater cooperation in the drone supply chain between Taiwan and the US. The company focuses on autonomous transport solutions.
He cited the firm’s strong performance in the Dubai World Challenge in 2019, placing second with its nimble autonomous truck system. The technology can be applied to food delivery services.
Although Liu mentioned sourcing components, like magnets, could pose an issue, he noted that there are several US suppliers, including a small company in Oklahoma, which could fit the bill. He called on companies on both sides to assist each other in finding the right partner.
After four years of hard work, Ghost Robotics’ robot dog has achieved success. Jake Hong, chief development officer, said its Vision 60 robots are all-terrain, rugged, and suited to civilian and military needs.
“It is sealed to IP67, so it’s fully submersible in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes,” he added.
Deployed in countries like South Korea and Japan, Hong explained that the robots are a force multiplier designed to assist countries with aging populations and beyond. They are modular, supporting payloads like light sensors and low-light cameras.
The company not only produces the robots but also provides maintenance services. Hong said he would be coming back to Taiwan frequently to look for manufacturing partners.
