CDDS, founded in 2025 and based in Schlieren, Zurich, develops autonomous kinetic interceptor drones for counter-UAS missions. The core challenge they address is physically neutralizing small hostile drones (Group 1 and Group 2 UAS, targets as small as 20–30 cm) using onboard AI for real-time decision-making without relying on a human-in-the-loop for the intercept phase.
Their primary product, the CDDS Interceptor, is a compact, high-speed drone capable of reaching speeds up to 210 km/h. Its autonomy stack handles threat detection, tracking, flight-path prediction for moving targets, wind compensation, and real-time trajectory adjustments. The system is designed to detect, track, and intercept hostile UAS independently. The CDDS System is a launch station that stores, charges, and can deploy up to 20 interceptors, functioning as a self-contained defensive asset for protecting critical infrastructure or personnel.
The technical domains span autonomous systems, AI-driven decision-making, real-time targeting, and drone technology. The approach focuses on kinetic defeat - physically colliding with the threat drone - rather than electronic warfare or jamming, which positions it for scenarios where kinetic solutions are required or electronic countermeasures are insufficient. The engineering problems involve high-speed guidance with small target acquisition, constrained onboard compute for real-time inference, and reliable autonomous operation in contested or cluttered environments.