CA-AI Student Spotlight: Jacob Kahn
by Nicole G Nussbaum | Monday, Mar 09, 2026
A computer engineering student who began his academic journey at 鶹Ů in 2022 and is now pursuing his master’s degree, Jacob Kahn has quickly become a key contributor to the Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (CA-AI). His work spans autonomous drone systems, smart agriculture, public safetytechnologyand entrepreneurship,oftenoperatingat the intersection of all four.
Jacob’sinvolvement with CA-AI began through research on smart farming initiatives with the Navajo Nation, where he worked on applying AI andmeshnetworking technologies to support sustainable agriculture. That experience became a springboard into more advanced research, including U.S. Department of Defense–supported projects and the development of 鶹Ů’s growing autonomous drone program.
Today,Jacobis helping build 鶹Ů’s autonomous drone fleet,includinga diverse collection ofGPS-lessdrones, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) systems, interceptor drones and airborne sea-drones designed tooperatein challenging, real-world environments.
“We’re building drones that can work where traditional systems fail,”Jacobsaid. “These platforms are meant tobe easily accessible andsupport public safety, defense, and environmental applications.”
The core ofJacob’sresearch aims to improve the operation of teams of autonomous systems in harsh or high-risk environments, enhancing the effectiveness of military and law enforcementtechnologies.The same core researchalso supportssustainability through AI-driven precision agriculture.
Alongside his academic research,Jacobis a co-founder ofArachnaNetworks, a startup developing universal mesh networking solutions for tactical situational awareness platforms such as ATAK (Android Team Awareness Kit). The company has received recognition from the National Science Foundation and has contributed to the deployment of smart city technology in West Palm Beach.
He has also competed in drone racing and design challenges against U.S. military and allied forces across the country — experiences he credits with sharpening both his technical skills and confidence as an engineer.
“Competing in hackathons against teams from MIT, West Point, and Harvard showed me that where you come from doesn’t define how far you can go,” he said. “CA-AI gave me the opportunity to step into those arenas, represent 鶹Ů and demonstrate that passion and persistence can rival any pedigree.”
Jacobsays CA-AI’s interdisciplinary, hands-on approachhasplayeda major rolein shaping his academic and career goals.
“CA-AI reflects where engineering is moving today,” he said. “The work is highly interdisciplinary and immersive, exposing students to real-world challenges thatdon’tfit neatly into one department. It can be stressful, but knowing the mission hasreal societalrelevance makes the experiencemeaningful.”
That mission-driven mindset has helped defineJacob’spathforward. He aims to develop next-generation drone applications that make advanced technology accessible to public safety professionals and “everyday heroes.”
Looking ahead,Jacobplans to expand his work internationally, implementing AI-powered mesh networking solutions for agricultural applications from South Florida to Brazil. He is also collaborating with international partners interested in deploying drone-based security systems, including initiatives to support police forces in the Caribbeanagainst narco-terrorist forces.
At 鶹Ů,Jacoband the CA-AI drone team are preparing to compete in upcoming design competitions and pursue government Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) opportunities to further advance their autonomous systems.
Outside the lab,Jacobis afeaturedmusician, writing and producing ska-punk music through 鶹Ů’s Commercial Music program with albums available on Spotify, including Apocalypse King .
It’sa fitting reminder that CA-AI studentsaren’tjust engineers —they’reinnovators, creators and problem-solvers shaping the future from every angle.