The FlightHorizon PILOT offering earned a spot in the Robotics and Automation category for enabling drones to evade midair collisions with other aircraft.
Unmanned aircraft are an unavoidable part of tomorrow’s skies, and our goal is to support the aviation sector in seamlessly incorporating drones while ensuring safety for all.”— Kraettli L. Epperson OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, UNITED STATES, October 7, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Vigilant Aerospace Systems has revealed that it secured a spot among the globe’s top four most promising Robotics and Automation enterprises in Fast Company’s 2026 Next Big Things in Tech awards. The publication calls attention to the firm’s FlightHorizon PILOT solution, “for bringing better situational airspace awareness to drones.” This system, an onboard safety and collision avoidance platform for unmanned aircraft, draws on two NASA patents and a research initiative from the U.S. Air Force.
Now celebrating its sixth edition, Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech awards salute emerging technologies poised to transform the ways individuals work and live. As the publication notes, “[f]rom safer AI to smarter eyewear to space robots, these 145 innovations are shaping the future of business and life.”
For the 2026 edition, editors and reporters assessed over 1,000 submissions to select 145 winners spanning all categories. Their evaluation covered each technology’s relevance, creativity, proven advancements, ability to scale, and prospective influence over the coming half-decade.
The Fast Company feature elaborated on Vigilant’s recognition: “As drones take on an increasing range of responsibilities, Vigilant Aerospace Systems aims to help them share the air with FlightHorizon PILOT. This hardware-software combination processes transponder signals from other aircraft, guiding uncrewed aerial vehicles away from other airspace users. Vigilant has also recently deployed a ground-based version for general-aviation airports to manage human- and robot-flown operations.”
Kraettli L. Epperson, CEO and co-founder of Vigilant Aerospace Systems, stated: “We are honored to receive this recognition from Fast Company. As autonomous aircraft take on more work, they need a reliable way to detect and avoid other aircraft in the airspace. FlightHorizon PILOT brings that safety capability onboard and makes it automatic. Drones are an inevitable part of our future and our aim is to help the aviation industry integrate drones safely and keep everyone flying.”
Honorees were chosen through several rounds of evaluation and conversations spanning multiple months. According to Fast Company global technology editor Harry McCracken, “[t]o be a Next Big Things in Tech honoree, a project needs to start with a fresh idea and show signs of momentum, but it’s also about where it could go in the years to come. We want to spotlight innovations that will help shape the future of business and technology over the next five years.”
This accolade positions Vigilant Aerospace alongside other 2026 winners such as Algen Biotechnologies, Inc., which merges genetics with artificial intelligence to investigate disease and pinpoint potential therapies; Emulate, Inc., which creates devices containing human cells that replicate aspects of organ function and might diminish the necessity for animal testing in drug development; and Synaptics, Inc. for their open-source Astra platform that brings real-time edge intelligence to home appliances, medical devices, and retail systems for countless users.
Vigilant’s technology rests on two licensed NASA patents, and the system has been deployed in projects for NASA, the FAA, and the U.S. Air Force, plus at uncrewed aircraft test sites and flight corridors nationwide. For aircraft manufacturers and operators, FlightHorizon PILOT provides a means to incorporate traffic awareness and collision avoidance into their aircraft as they gear up for new FAA regulations enabling routine drone operations over extended distances.
About Vigilant Aerospace Systems
Vigilant Aerospace is constructing the safety foundation for tomorrow’s flight. Built on NASA-patented technology, its FlightHorizon software merges radar, aircraft tracking data, and smart algorithms to detect air traffic, foresee conflicts, and deliver automatic collision avoidance. In partnership with government, defense, and commercial entities, the firm assists drones in flying beyond visual line of sight and safely sharing airspace with manned aircraft. Its mission: render autonomous aviation safer, more scalable, and practical for routine use. Learn more at http://VigilantAerospace.com
About Fast Company
Fast Company is a premier business magazine and media brand covering innovation, technology, leadership, creativity, and design. Established in 1995, it highlights the individuals, companies, and ideas reshaping industries and molding the future of commerce. Its journalism explores how forward-looking organizations compete, create, and spur transformation, inspiring readers to challenge conventions and lead with intention. Learn more at http://FastCompany.com
River Cordova
Vigilant Aerospace Systems, Inc.
+1 405-445-7224
rcordova@vigilantaerospace.com
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