American defense technology company Shield AI has collaborated with Australia-based Sentient Vision Systems to develop a wide area motion imagery (WAMI) solution for the Department of Defense (DoD), the Australian Defense Forces (ADF), and other international customers.
The collaborative effort involves developing and integrating a ViDAR-enabled, wide-area-search capability onto Shield AI’s V-BAT tail-sitting unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This integration will enable Shield AI’s V-BAT to intelligently classify, track, read, and react to targets in dynamic missions. The company plans to fly the capability on V-BAT next year.
Sentient’s VIDAR AI system uses an Electro-Optic or Infrared (EO/IR) sensor to detect and classify targets in the imagery stream that would be invisible to a human operator or to conventional radar. With these enhanced capabilities, V-BAT will be even more proficient in executing the most challenging missions, offering a level of capability that significantly bolsters threat deterrence, thereby reinforcing international peace and security.
The V-BAT design allows users to integrate different types of interchangeable and customizable payloads and sensors, including EO/MWIR cameras, AIS, and Land/Maritime Wide Area Search (WAS) AI-based capabilities, based on mission needs.
“This work with our Australian partner, Sentient, is a unique opportunity to fuse the innovation prowess of two companies from allied countries on opposite sides of the world. Together, we are shaping the future of defense technology,” said Brandon Tseng, Shield AI’s President, Co-founder, and former U.S. Navy SEAL.
“Sentient is excited and proud to be working with Shield AI on this truly breakthrough solution,” said Mark Palmer, Sentient’s Chief Technology Officer, in a statement. “We look forward to combining the AI expertise and operational understanding of our two great teams to deliver superior ISR capabilities for today’s rapidly changing defense and security environment.”
