What Oxford Dynamics does

Oxford Dynamics is a UK-based private defence-technology startup, founded in 2019 and headquartered at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, that develops agentic AI and embedded systems for space, security, and defence applications. The company was co-founded by Shefali Sharma, Mike Lawton, and Dr Edward Jackson, and operates with a headcount in the 11-50 range.

Its product portfolio centres on two integrated offerings: the Strider Robot, an autonomous ground vehicle designed to operate in chemical, biological, nuclear, and high-radiation hazardous environments for government customers such as Defra; and AVIS AI, an autonomous-intelligence software layer intended to be deployed across the Strider fleet at scale. The company also develops agentic AI for broader defence integration, with its technology being embedded into BAE Systems' Prophesea platform for monitoring military assets including warships and armoured vehicles.

Oxford Dynamics monetises through direct government contracting (a disclosed £1 million UK Ministry of Defence contract via the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in 2024) and through strategic equity partnerships with prime defence contractors, the first being BAE Systems in August 2025. No public pricing or unit economics are disclosed. The customer base is concentrated in UK defence and security, with two named customers — the UK MoD and BAE Systems — and stated ambitions to extend its embedded AI offering into the space sector.

Name

Oxford Dynamics

Website

https://oxdynamics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Oxford Dynamics is a UK-based defence-technology startup developing agentic AI, embedded systems, and the Strider CBRN robot for UK government agencies and prime defence contractors such as BAE Systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defence AI and Robotics

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Autonomous Defense Systems (AI/ML, Swarming, MUM-T) (IMABAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agents & Autonomous Workflows (Tool Use, Planning, Multi-Agent) (HDAAACAF), Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH), Military Space Systems (Defense Spacecraft) (IMABACAC)

Keywords

• Defence AI software
• Autonomous robotics systems
• Embedded intelligence platforms
• CBRN response robots
• Military asset monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Harwell

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Oxford Dynamics develops agentic AI and embedded intelligence solutions for space, security, and defence sectors. Its core offerings include the Strider autonomous ground robot designed for chemical, biological, nuclear, and high-radiation hazardous environment operations, and the AVIS AI software platform that adds autonomous decision-making to robotic systems. The company also develops agentic AI and embedded systems technology that has been integrated into BAE Systems' Prophesea platform for monitoring military assets such as warships and armoured vehicles.

Product overview

Oxford Dynamics is a UK-based defence technology startup that offers a portfolio of AI-powered products for hazardous environment operations and defence applications. The core offering consists of the Strider robot (an autonomous ground vehicle for CBRN/hazardous environments) and AVIS AI software (the autonomous intelligence layer). The company also develops agentic AI and embedded systems technology for broader defence sector integration, which is being embedded into BAE Systems' Prophesea military asset monitoring platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strider Robot
• AVIS AI Software
• Agentic AI and Embedded Systems Technology

Quantifiable outcome

• Technology deployed across BAE Systems' Prophesea platform monitoring military assets

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• BAE SystemscoreTechnology or Integration · 8 August 2025Oxford Dynamics' AI technology is being embedded into BAE Systems' Prophesea platform for monitoring military assets. This integration represents a product-technology partnership where Oxford Dynamics provides AI capabilities to enhance BAE's existing defence monitoring systems.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Anduril Industries: US-headquartered defence technology company building AI-driven autonomous systems (Lattice OS) for military and security applications. Closely comparable to Oxford Dynamics in developing agentic AI for defence use cases and securing embedded roles inside major platforms.
• Helsing: European (UK/Germany) defence AI company developing AI software for sovereign defence applications, with embedded software across air, land and maritime platforms. Highly comparable in mission, customer base (European MoDs), and AI-for-defence positioning.
• Shield AI: US defence AI company building autonomy software (Hivemind) for unmanned aerial systems and other defence platforms. Comparable to Oxford Dynamics in delivering AI autonomy for defence hardware and embedded integration into military assets.
• Rebellion Defense: Defence AI software company focused on decision-support, autonomous systems, and AI-enabled command-and-control. Directly comparable in mission to embed AI capabilities into Western defence programmes.
• Adarga: UK-based defence AI company providing AI-driven intelligence analysis and decision-support to defence and security customers. Comparable in geography, customer profile (UK MoD-adjacent), and defence AI software focus.

Broad incumbents

• BAE Systems: Global defence prime that is both Oxford Dynamics' strategic investor and a customer (Prophesea integration). Comparable as a broad incumbent spanning air, maritime, land and space — the same sectors Oxford Dynamics targets with embedded AI.
• QinetiQ: UK-headquartered defence and security company with deep relationships across the UK MoD. Comparable as a broad UK defence incumbent operating in robotics, autonomous systems and CBRN-related programmes that overlap Oxford Dynamics' focus areas.
• Palantir Technologies: US-listed data analytics and AI software company deeply embedded in Western defence (US/UK) and intelligence customers. Comparable as a broader defence AI/data incumbent that competes for AI-driven defence platform contracts.

Emerging players

• Boston Dynamics: Robotics company known for Spot and Stretch autonomous ground robots used in industrial, public safety and defence contexts. Comparable in developing rugged autonomous ground robots, including in hazardous-environment deployments.
• Clearpath Robotics: Autonomous ground robotics company serving defence, research and industrial customers, including CBRN and hazardous-environment use cases. Comparable in rugged autonomous ground robotics for defence and security end users.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oxford Dynamics