ideaForge and Digital Media Professionals sign partnership to integrate edge AI silicon into drones and expand into Japan's defense market

ideaForge Technology Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Digital Media Professionals Inc. on April 28, 2026. Under the agreement, ideaForge will integrate DMP's Di1 edge AI system-on-chip into its VTOL UAV platforms, and DMP will serve as go-to-market partner for ideaForge's drone portfolio in Japan.

The Di1 SoC features an FP4-based neural processing unit for low-power inference and supports a 4-channel camera input for 360-degree vision. The combination targets defense surveillance, border security, infrastructure inspection, and precision agriculture missions.

Japan's drone market segment is projected to expand from $2.0 billion in 2025 to $5.1 billion by 2034. ideaForge ranks third globally on the DRONEII Global Drone Review 2024 list of top dual-use drone manufacturers and has logged more than 950,000 flights.