Twist Robotics

Twist Robotics is a Ukrainian defense-technology firm founded in 2021 and based in Kyiv, with additional operations in Lviv. The company specializes in unmanned aerial systems, focusing on AI-assisted visual navigation, FPV reconnaissance and strike drones, and GPS-resilient flight control systems. Viktor Sakharchuk serves as the director of the organization. The firm designs platforms capable of functioning in environments characterized by intense electronic warfare, addressing the critical need for autonomy when communication links are severed or jammed.

The company’s product portfolio includes the “Saker Scout,” an FPV reconnaissance and strike drone. Beyond airframes, Twist Robotics develops a suite of hardware and software infrastructure intended to simplify operator interaction with robotic systems in complex environments. A key component is the CYCLOP module, an autonomous target tracking system that uses computer vision algorithms to track designated targets. Once an operator locks on, CYCLOP assumes guidance control, allowing the drone to maintain mission execution even if communication is lost. The module supports daytime, low-light, and thermal imaging systems, ensuring functionality across various lighting conditions.

To address navigation challenges in GPS-denied environments, Twist Robotics offers the OSCAR visual navigation module. This system provides positioning by matching real-time terrain imagery from onboard cameras with preloaded digital maps. It enables reliable navigation in areas affected by jamming and spoofing, supporting both day and night operations with an accuracy range of 5 to 30 meters. The company also produces the STEZHKA module, which digitizes analog video feeds and transmits them alongside telemetry and mission data over secure radio links. This module provides video and data connectivity at ranges exceeding 30 km, with the ability to adjust transmission channels and output power in flight.

Twist Robotics also addresses power management and signal conversion through specialized hardware. The DZHERELO module provides stable power distribution for onboard computers, sensors, and mission electronics from high-voltage battery systems, protecting components from overloads and overheating. The CBPH module converts analog video signals into low-latency digital streams, allowing digital platforms to integrate analog cameras without hardware replacement. Additionally, the SNODE system employs a network of wireless acoustic sensors to detect and monitor activity in remote areas, with sensors deployable from UAVs to establish persistent surveillance coverage.

In the realm of training and simulation, the company offers the OBRIY UAV mission simulator. This tool replicates realistic mission environments by modeling terrain, weather conditions, communication constraints, and platform behavior. It supports operator training, mission planning, and technology validation without risking personnel or operational equipment. The firm also provides drone operator training and education services, alongside custom UAV development and platform design.

While primarily focused on defense applications, Twist Robotics has explored commercial projects such as ZeroToxVine, an AI-powered solution for robotic vineyard management that uses computer vision to detect weeds and pests. The company has also worked on SPATRA, a satellite-based transportation infrastructure monitoring project for freight flow analysis, and LEANPROCESS.AI, software for the real-time digitization and analysis of manufacturing processes. These initiatives demonstrate the firm’s broader capabilities in computer vision and autonomous robotic systems beyond the immediate battlefield.