Daily Tech: Defence Tech and Smart Mobility Surge: Drones, Robots, and eVTOLs Gain Ground Across U.S. Markets

FutureGate | June 27 2025

Serve Robotics Expands to Atlanta with National Growth Target

Serve Robotics (SERV), a leading player in autonomous delivery, has launched operations in Atlanta, marking a key milestone in its nationwide expansion. The company aims to deploy 2,000 sidewalk delivery robots across U.S. cities by the end of 2025. This move builds on successful rollouts in Los Angeles and San Francisco, with Serve’s robots already logging thousands of deliveries in partnership with major retail and foodservice brands. The Atlanta launch reflects growing institutional interest in automated last-mile logistics, particularly in high-density, high-demand metro areas.

From an investment perspective, Serve is positioned at the intersection of urban mobility and automation, tapping into a market projected to exceed $90 billion by 2030. Its ability to scale in heavily regulated environments offers a competitive moat, and its model could appeal to ESG-focused investors seeking exposure to emission-free urban delivery solutions.

Archer Aviation Shares Climb Following FAA Endorsement

Archer Aviation (ACHR), a developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, traded higher after favourable comments from FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau. While not explicitly naming Archer, the FAA leader emphasized ongoing collaboration with eVTOL innovators and signalled regulatory support to accelerate safe commercialization.

Archer’s "Midnight" aircraft is on track for certification by 2025, with plans to launch commercial operations soon after. The FAA’s constructive tone helps de-risk regulatory uncertainty — a key overhang for the eVTOL sector — and may increase investor confidence in the company’s roadmap.

Archer is one of only a few U.S. companies with signed deals with major aerospace and ride-share players (e.g., United Airlines), giving it both validation and visibility as the urban air mobility market begins to formalize.

Palladyne AI and Mobilicom Partner for Secure Autonomy in Defense Sector

Palladyne AI (PDYN) and Mobilicom (MOB) have entered a strategic partnership to jointly develop cybersecure autonomy solutions for drones, robotics, and other unmanned systems. Their collaboration will focus on building resilient software and hardware platforms tailored to meet the cybersecurity standards of defence and industrial markets.

This alliance comes amid rising global demand for secure AI-driven autonomy, particularly from military clients like the Pentagon, which has emphasized the importance of trusted autonomous systems. Both companies bring complementary capabilities: Mobilicom specializes in secure communication for unmanned vehicles, while Palladyne focuses on AI-based command and control systems.

Investors may view the partnership as a strong signal of both companies' defence-readiness and long-term growth potential in a sector seeing increasing U.S. federal funding and procurement interest.

AST SpaceMobile Surges on Defense-Focused Network Demonstration

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) rallied after revealing the successful demonstration of its space-based cellular broadband network tailored for military applications. The test validated the network’s ability to deliver reliable, secure communications in remote or denied-access environments — a critical feature for modern defence operations.

The demonstration supports ASTS's broader vision of building the first space-based cellular broadband network directly accessible by standard mobile phones. The success of this military-focused application could open up lucrative government contracts and dual-use tech opportunities.

From a strategic standpoint, ASTS is aligning its technology with U.S. defence modernization initiatives, which favour adaptable, infrastructure-free connectivity solutions. This adds another dimension to its commercial satellite ambitions, diversifying potential revenue streams and improving the investment profile.