$ZENA News: ZenaTech’s ZenaDrone Advances Defense Drone Portfolio with Initial IQ Sphere Prototype for Autonomous GPS-Denied Inspections, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Missions
Soccer ball-sized autonomous drone part of IQ Series, designed for dual-use applications including industrial inspection, public safety and critical infrastructure
July 07, 2026 07:30 ET | Source: ZenaTech Inc.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA) (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) ("ZenaTech"
, a technology solution provider specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announces its ZenaDrone subsidiary has commenced prototype development of the IQ Sphere, a soccer ball-sized autonomous platform designed for defense applications including ISR (Inspection, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and remote interaction in GPS-denied and confined environments. The platform is designed to provide real-time intelligence and situational awareness to enhance force protection during building clearance, tunnel exploration, ship boarding, and other high-risk missions. Expected commercial applications include pipeline and underground utility inspection, critical infrastructure security, underground mine inspection, and hazardous industrial operations.
"Autonomous systems are transforming how defense forces and critical infrastructure operators’ approach some of their most challenging missions," said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., CEO of ZenaTech. "Whether it's navigating pipelines, inspecting hazardous infrastructure, or operating in GPS-denied environments, there is growing demand for intelligent systems that can keep people out of harm's way while delivering real-time data and situational awareness. The IQ Sphere is another important step in our expanding portfolio of autonomous solutions and dual-use technologies development to address evolving defense, public safety and commercial needs."
Approximately the size of a soccer ball and weighing between five and six kilograms, the IQ Sphere features a lightweight protective spherical frame and a modular architecture designed for autonomous operation in confined and GPS-denied environments. The platform is intended to provide operators with enhanced situational awareness and remote inspection capabilities while serving as a foundation for future autonomous and robotic functionality. Designed with both defense and dual-use commercial applications in mind, the IQ Sphere is being developed as a next-generation autonomous platform for operating safely in complex and hazardous environments.
The IQ Sphere expands ZenaDrone's growing IQ family of autonomous systems at the development, testing or pilot stage. This includes the IQ Nano for indoor inventory management and security, IQ Square for outdoor line-of-site inspections, the IQ Quad purpose-build for land surveying, IQ Aqua autonomous underwater drone, and the IQ Glider maritime launch and refueling platform for aerial inspection and defense applications. These platforms along with the ZenaDrone 1000 and the company’s counter-UAS interceptor drones and defense platform are being developed to deliver autonomous intelligence, inspection, and mission capabilities across air, land, and maritime environments.
The Company expects the IQ Sphere prototype testing to begin over the coming weeks and will provide updates as future developmental milestones are achieved.
About ZenaTech
ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA) (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) is a technology company that specializes in AI autonomy drone platforms to transform industrial, government, and defense sectors. Its subsidiaries include drone manufacturing through ZenaDrone, a global Drone as a Service (DaaS) business, and a separate enterprise SaaS division of multiple software brands. The Company is executing an acquisition-led DaaS roll-up strategy to digitize and automate legacy service industries like land surveys and inspections, driving drone-based scalable, recurring revenue growth. With an operating footprint spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, ZenaTech is advancing AI drones for agriculture and logistics, as well as ISR, cargo, and counter-UAS applications for U.S. defense and NATO allies. The company is investing in next-generation technologies, including drone swarms, quantum computing, and advanced AI autonomy to capture long-term opportunities in key markets through its R&D initiatives.
About ZenaDrone
ZenaDrone, a subsidiary of ZenaTech, develops and manufactures AI-powered multifunction autonomous drone solutions integrating machine learning, predictive analytics, and advanced computing technologies, for government, defense, and industrial applications. This includes multifunctional drones for surveying, inspections, logistics, security, and defense applications. Its product portfolio includes the ZenaDrone 1000 for ISR defense and specialized cargo, the IQ Nano for indoor inventory management and security, the IQ Square for outdoor inspections and maintenance, the IQ Quad for land surveying, and the IQ Aqua for underwater applications. ZenaDrone operates three global manufacturing facilities in Arizona, Dubai, and Taiwan, and is advancing counter-UAS maritime interceptor drones and an integrated defense system.
Contacts for more information:
Company, Investors, and Media:
Linda Montgomery
ZenaTech
312-241-1415
investors@zenatech.com
Investors:
Michael Mason
CORE IR
investors@zenatech.com
Soccer ball-sized autonomous drone part of IQ Series, designed for dual-use applications including industrial inspection, public safety and critical infrastructure
July 07, 2026 07:30 ET | Source: ZenaTech Inc.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA) (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) ("ZenaTech"
, a technology solution provider specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announces its ZenaDrone subsidiary has commenced prototype development of the IQ Sphere, a soccer ball-sized autonomous platform designed for defense applications including ISR (Inspection, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and remote interaction in GPS-denied and confined environments. The platform is designed to provide real-time intelligence and situational awareness to enhance force protection during building clearance, tunnel exploration, ship boarding, and other high-risk missions. Expected commercial applications include pipeline and underground utility inspection, critical infrastructure security, underground mine inspection, and hazardous industrial operations. "Autonomous systems are transforming how defense forces and critical infrastructure operators’ approach some of their most challenging missions," said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., CEO of ZenaTech. "Whether it's navigating pipelines, inspecting hazardous infrastructure, or operating in GPS-denied environments, there is growing demand for intelligent systems that can keep people out of harm's way while delivering real-time data and situational awareness. The IQ Sphere is another important step in our expanding portfolio of autonomous solutions and dual-use technologies development to address evolving defense, public safety and commercial needs."
Approximately the size of a soccer ball and weighing between five and six kilograms, the IQ Sphere features a lightweight protective spherical frame and a modular architecture designed for autonomous operation in confined and GPS-denied environments. The platform is intended to provide operators with enhanced situational awareness and remote inspection capabilities while serving as a foundation for future autonomous and robotic functionality. Designed with both defense and dual-use commercial applications in mind, the IQ Sphere is being developed as a next-generation autonomous platform for operating safely in complex and hazardous environments.
The IQ Sphere expands ZenaDrone's growing IQ family of autonomous systems at the development, testing or pilot stage. This includes the IQ Nano for indoor inventory management and security, IQ Square for outdoor line-of-site inspections, the IQ Quad purpose-build for land surveying, IQ Aqua autonomous underwater drone, and the IQ Glider maritime launch and refueling platform for aerial inspection and defense applications. These platforms along with the ZenaDrone 1000 and the company’s counter-UAS interceptor drones and defense platform are being developed to deliver autonomous intelligence, inspection, and mission capabilities across air, land, and maritime environments.
The Company expects the IQ Sphere prototype testing to begin over the coming weeks and will provide updates as future developmental milestones are achieved.
About ZenaTech
ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA) (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) is a technology company that specializes in AI autonomy drone platforms to transform industrial, government, and defense sectors. Its subsidiaries include drone manufacturing through ZenaDrone, a global Drone as a Service (DaaS) business, and a separate enterprise SaaS division of multiple software brands. The Company is executing an acquisition-led DaaS roll-up strategy to digitize and automate legacy service industries like land surveys and inspections, driving drone-based scalable, recurring revenue growth. With an operating footprint spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, ZenaTech is advancing AI drones for agriculture and logistics, as well as ISR, cargo, and counter-UAS applications for U.S. defense and NATO allies. The company is investing in next-generation technologies, including drone swarms, quantum computing, and advanced AI autonomy to capture long-term opportunities in key markets through its R&D initiatives.
About ZenaDrone
ZenaDrone, a subsidiary of ZenaTech, develops and manufactures AI-powered multifunction autonomous drone solutions integrating machine learning, predictive analytics, and advanced computing technologies, for government, defense, and industrial applications. This includes multifunctional drones for surveying, inspections, logistics, security, and defense applications. Its product portfolio includes the ZenaDrone 1000 for ISR defense and specialized cargo, the IQ Nano for indoor inventory management and security, the IQ Square for outdoor inspections and maintenance, the IQ Quad for land surveying, and the IQ Aqua for underwater applications. ZenaDrone operates three global manufacturing facilities in Arizona, Dubai, and Taiwan, and is advancing counter-UAS maritime interceptor drones and an integrated defense system.
Contacts for more information:
Company, Investors, and Media:
Linda Montgomery
ZenaTech
312-241-1415
investors@zenatech.com
Investors:
Michael Mason
CORE IR
investors@zenatech.com
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