As autonomy scales across air, ground, and maritime domains, the policies, regulations, standards, and governance frameworks that guide integration must evolve just as rapidly. From emerging operational rules and certification pathways to cybersecurity, data sharing, spectrum management, and infrastructure readiness, decisions being made today will shape how autonomous systems are deployed, trusted, and scaled in the years ahead. Bringing together federal, state, local, tribal, and international stakeholders, this track explores how government and industry can align on the policies needed to enable safe, secure, and responsible adoption of autonomy. Sessions examine topics including counter-UAS authorities, AI governance, regulatory harmonization, industry standards, workforce and infrastructure readiness, spectrum allocation, and the global technology competition influencing domestic policy priorities. Designed for attendees navigating the realities of implementation, the track focuses on practical lessons, collaborative frameworks, and policy approaches that support innovation at scale.

From cyberattacks on operational systems to geopolitical disruptions, constrained access to critical components, and the growing threat of hostile uncrewed systems against critical infrastructure, today's autonomous systems industry must treat resilience not as a contingency plan, but as a core design principle. Sessions explore how companies and integrators are transforming how they design, source, and secure their systems -- not just tracking risk, but eliminating it. Compliance requirements such as NDAA restrictions and the FCC covered list are reshaping procurement decisions across the industry, while hardware and software bill of materials, zero-trust architecture, secure-by-design principles, export controls, and foreign component dependencies -- including battery supply chains and critical materials -- define the risk landscape for air, ground, and maritime platforms alike. Built for practitioners and decision-makers across engineering, cybersecurity, operations, and compliance who must translate global risks into operational strategy.

The next generation of autonomous systems will not be defined by any single breakthrough -- it will be built at the intersection of AI-driven perception, advanced propulsion, sensor fusion, human-machine teaming, and system assurance frameworks that can keep pace with rapid innovation. Across air platforms such as eVTOL and uncrewed aircraft, ground systems including autonomous vehicles and robotic platforms, and maritime applications spanning surface vessels and undersea systems, the engineering challenges are converging around shared questions of intelligence, integration, and operational readiness. Engineers, researchers, and technical practitioners will explore algorithm development, collaborative autonomy, swarm coordination, multi-vehicle ('m:N') operations, counter-UAS systems, and energy technologies across all domains. Emerging topics -- including AI/ML certification, detect and avoid, Agentic AI, AI assurance, verification and validation, quantum technologies, and modular architectures -- are examined in the context of real-world deployment readiness, where lab results must translate to the field.

Scaling autonomy from pilot to full deployment requires more than good technology -- it demands a layered ecosystem of infrastructure, manufacturing capability, data systems, and operational strategy. Whether standing up domestic production lines, integrating systems across airports, heliports, seaports, or logistics corridors, or building the data architectures that power long-term operations, the challenge is not just deploying autonomy but sustaining it. Sessions examine the infrastructure and manufacturing operations enabling autonomy at scale -- including production readiness, MRO infrastructure, reshoring and contract manufacturing, and additive manufacturing for operational continuity. Discussions also address systems-level coordination, AAM operations, airspace integration, and vertiport integration, autonomous maritime logistics, digital twins, predictive performance, and scalability frameworks that support everything from urban delivery networks to offshore inspection. Designed for integrators, manufacturers, infrastructure developers, data engineers, and commercial operators building the foundations of operational autonomy.

The uncrewed systems and robotics sectors are growing faster than the workforce trained to support them. Across engineering, operations, maintenance, and policy, demand for autonomy-ready talent is outpacing supply -- and closing that gap requires deliberate action across education, industry, and government. Sessions spotlight curriculum innovation, credentialing models, apprenticeship programs, re-skilling initiatives, and veteran transition pathways, with a relentless focus on bridging education and employment. From STEM engagement and community college programs to technical certification frameworks and career development pipelines, attendees will discover how partnerships are being forged to meet the moment and shape the next generation of the autonomy workforce. Ideal for employers, academic institutions, educators, workforce leaders, and policymakers committed to building the talent pipeline the industry depends on.

Deployment is where the promise of autonomy meets the complexity of the real world -- budget cycles, procurement constraints, evolving regulatory requirements, and the constant pressure to demonstrate ROI. Operational frameworks such as BVLOS authorization and Part 108 are expanding what is possible in the air, while autonomous ground systems are transforming logistics and inspection, and maritime autonomy is opening new frontiers in offshore operations and oceanographic research. Sessions share use cases, implementation strategies, and hard-won lessons from practitioners who have moved from pilot to scale. With a focus on what actually works -- from grant programs and venture capital to public-private partnerships and commercial air, ground, and maritime operations -- this track delivers actionable perspectives on where autonomy is creating real impact, and what it takes to get there.

National security demands on autonomous and uncrewed systems have never been higher -- and the pace of innovation required to meet those demands has never been more urgent. Sessions submitted to this track are reviewed and programmed by the AUVSI Defense committee, which operates its own dedicated stage and program schedule at XPONENTIAL. Accepted sessions become part of the AUVSI Defense program. Bringing together leaders from government, defense, industry, and academia, the program explores how autonomous and uncrewed systems are addressing operational requirements, bolstering warfighter protection, and strengthening global competitiveness. Sessions cover the full spectrum of defense autonomy -- from contested environment operations, electronic warfare, and multi-domain integration to acquisition pathways (OTAs, DIU, program management), trusted systems, and lessons learned from deployed platforms.