Through collaboration with AeroVironment Incorporated (AV), Sentient, an Australian specialist in computer vision technology, has successfully integrated and demonstrated its automated target detection and tracking capability with AV’s family of small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS).
Under guidance from the Australian Army, Sentient is working with AV to provide an advanced situational awareness capability for land force operations that is in line with the requirements of Project JP129/4 of the Australian Defence Capability Plan.
Integrated into AV’s common Ground Control System (GCS), which serves the Puma, Raven and WASP SUAS, Sentient’s computer vision system analyses electrooptical and infrared imagery, transmitted from the UAS, in real time.
The system combines Sentient’s advanced computer vision software, Kestrel Land MTI, with the AV Screener.
ISR operators will be using the AV Screener as usual, just with the addition of automated target detection where and when required.
“In simple terms, ISR operators are able to turn automated target detection on and off at the touch of the button, without changing the ConOps or anything else within the GCS.
“Everything is integrated,” Dr. Paul Boxer, Managing Director of Sentient, said.
The Australian Army has successfully tested the solution.