Key Takeaways
- The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is planning an experiment where autonomous drones and vehicles will be used along the US-Canada border.
- This experiment, known as ACE-CASPER, aims to test which products can stream surveillance video and sensor data between the two countries using commercial 5G networks.
- The experiment will simulate a national emergency response scenario, with drones and ground vehicles relaying live feeds to a bi-national command-and-control center as they cross the border.
The test is scheduled for November and would be the first joint US-Canada cross-border technology experiment along their shared border in nearly a decade. Previous drills under the CAUSE program tested emergency responder cooperation across the line, but this new initiative focuses more on autonomous vehicle capabilities and 5G communication resilience.
“DHS describes many of the capabilities to be exercised as martial terms, asking vendors to demonstrate real-time battlefield intelligence gathering by autonomous vehicles. The sought-after aerial systems are described as C2ISR platforms—borrowed from US Department of Defense terminology—to improve ‘kill chains.'”
The experiment is part of broader efforts within the US federal government’s domestic counter-drone program, which has been restructured under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in 2025. This restructuring opened up new opportunities for American drone manufacturers.
Multiple vendors with ties to the president’s elder adult sons are expected to respond to this call for participants, including Powerus Corporation and Anduril Industries. The experiment is seen as a significant step towards strengthening border security through advanced autonomous systems.
Originally published at wired.com. Curated by AI Maestro.
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