The Computing Community Consortium (CCC), together with the IEEE Computer Society, held a two-day workshop titled Computing on the Fly Workshop on December 1–2, 2025 at The Darcy Hotel in Washington, D.C. The event gathered experts from robotics, AI, distributed systems, and other areas to explore the future of drone- and edge-computing through 2035.
Discussions ranged from current capabilities and challenges to long-range visions for drones that compute, communicate, and coordinate in dynamic environments. The workshop emphasized collaboration across multiple communities — robotics, AI, systems, and more — to identify shared research directions.
In addition to formal sessions, the gathering offered valuable networking opportunities. Attendees forged connections, exchanged ideas, and laid groundwork for future interdisciplinary collaboration. The workshop’s recaps include photos that capture both the serious work and the community energy.
Looking ahead, CCC plans to synthesize the ideas and insights from the workshop into a public research agenda. This roadmap will help guide efforts around drone computing, edge systems, and related research in years to come.
CCC extends its deep appreciation to the Workshop Organizing Committee for their leadership and vision:
- Kevin Butler, University of Florida (Co-Chair)
- Christopher Stewart, The Ohio State University (Co-Chair)
- Weisong Shi, University of Delaware
- Ufuk Topcu, University of Texas