[News] TSMC Reportedly Planning Drone Rollout Starting in Arizona, with Suppliers to Be Confirmed in 4Q25

According to Liberty Times, in response to AI development trends and labor shortages, TSMC is reportedly planning to introduce a drone-based system for safety inspections, including fire safety and perimeter patrols around its facilities. After nearly a year of discussions with potential suppliers, the company is expected to finalize a partner in the fourth quarter of 2025, as the report indicates.

Notably, TSMC’s drone system will reportedly be deployed first at its Arizona facility in the U.S., as UDN News points out.

UDN News, citing industry sources, adds that TSMC’s Arizona sites are vast and situated in desert regions. Implementing an AI-powered drone solution for facility patrols, inspections, and emergency response could significantly reduce the company’s reliance on outdoor personnel, who are increasingly difficult to recruit.

Sources cited by Liberty Times also note that, in addition to its U.S. fabs, TSMC operates several gigafabs in Taiwan—each roughly the size of four typical semiconductor plants. The company is reportedly planning to procure at least 100 drones to enable real-time monitoring and rapid detection of any irregularities across its sites, as mentioned by the report. Liberty Times points out that TSMC intends to prioritize industrial safety monitoring in its drone applications.

The initial round of bidding has reportedly begun, with a final decision expected in the second half of 2025, as indicated by UDN News. The report highlights that several major Taiwanese drone makers—including Marketech International Corp (MIC), Coretronic (CIRC), and Thunder Tiger—are reportedly set to participate in TSMC’s drone system bidding.

Notably, sources cited in the UDN report suggest that vendors with prior collaboration or facility construction experience with TSMC are more likely to be selected.

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(Photo credit: TSMC)