Brisbane-based Skyborne Technologies has unveiled its CODiAQ robotic weapons platform at AUSA 2025, introducing a new class of autonomous ground systems that combine four-legged mobility with modular lethality and AI-assisted targeting.
The system — formally named Controller-Operated Direct-Action Quadruped (CODiAQ) — is designed to deliver direct-fire precision using Skyborne’s proprietary payloads while remaining lightweight, low-cost, and operator-friendly.
CODiAQ was featured at the annual AUSA expo mounted with HAVOC 40mm and CHAOS 12GA launchers and is funded through the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict [OASD(SO/LIC)] Irregular Warfare Capabilities Development and Innovation Directorate.
According to Skyborne Technologies, CODiAQ is “purpose-built for the warfighter” and can be deployed in minutes to engage multiple targets across complex terrain. Operated by a single user via a handheld controller, the robotic system integrates AI-powered optical recognition and real-time targeting algorithms through its onboard Targeting Electronics Optical Box (TEOB).
“This is about giving soldiers a mobile, lethal asset they can control intuitively — and trust in close combat,” the company said in a release.
The quadruped platform is engineered for autonomous movement and can operate across rugged landscapes, staircases, wooded terrain, and urban obstacles. Rated IP67, the system is resistant to water and dust, making it suitable for varied environments and expeditionary deployment.
Skyborne emphasized that training time for the system is minimal — measured in days — enabling fast integration into infantry units without disrupting readiness. The company is positioning CODiAQ as a scalable force multiplier designed for tactical human-machine teaming, able to integrate into larger systems like Skyborne’s Cerberus MI sUAS to form a unified robotic combat ecosystem.
CODiAQ’s AI software supports day and night operations with onboard computing for autonomous threat identification and ballistic calculation, enhancing the operator’s situational awareness while reducing manual targeting burden.
“Our goal is to deliver lightweight, cost-effective direct-fire options that support maneuver forces without increasing soldier risk or logistical overhead,” Skyborne stated.
CODiAQ’s modular weapon suite and sensor-driven targeting also support mission flexibility, from room clearing to perimeter defense or mounted scout roles. The system can be adapted for lethal and less-lethal payloads depending on mission profile and rules of engagement.
Skyborne says the platform is already being fielded with U.S. government partners for evaluation across irregular warfare, reconnaissance, and mobile fire support roles.