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2022-11-01

Sentient’s AI-powered ViDAR to Play a Key Role in Lethal Battlespace

Sentient Vision Systems, the Australian tech innovator and pioneer of the world’s first optical radar, ViDAR (Visual Detection and Ranging), recently participated at EURONAVAL 2022, where it announced its regional expansion from its new base in the Netherlands.

Maurice A. Raaijmakers, Sentient Vision Systems’ newly appointed Regional Director of Business Development, Europe & Africa, said: “EURONAVAL offered us the ideal platform to promote the roll-out of the ViDAR maritime portfolio for a range of applications from NATO navies to coast guard, border patrol and search and rescue agencies. Lessons being learned in theatre in Ukraine demonstrate the need for real-time intelligence, which demands Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled surveillance technologies, including full motion video capture, to identify threats.

ViDAR Surface, along with our maritime portfolio, provide commanders with a competitive advantage, where split-second decisions spell the difference between mission success or failure.”

The ViDAR portfolio provides airborne solutions for both maritime and land Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and SAR with a mix of airborne pod and integrated platform solutions that incorporate a combination of AI-powered processors and EO/IR sensors for fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and UAS.

The radar enables airborne operators to cover a search area up to 300 times greater than an aircraft using traditional search methods.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence

The latest product introduction includes AI-enabled ViDAR Surface, a next-generation surface lookout providing a day and night autonomous ocean surface surveillance capability. This cost-effective solution is available in a range of single to multi-sensor self-contained pods. ViDAR Surface is designed for real-time situational awareness and can detect ships, low-profile boats, small boat swarms, persons in the water, and aircraft. It can be deployed with a range of shore-based and maritime surface platforms, either crewed or uncrewed.

According to Paul Harris, Global Director of Business Development, Sentient Vision Systems: “ViDAR is the maritime sensor of choice deployed by an increasing number of operators. Our platform agnostic approach enables us to partner with integrators and OEMs worldwide to optimise the user’s platform, reinforcing our global leadership with every successful roll-out of the ViDAR capability.”

Some of ViDAR’s notable milestones include:

Expansion of in-house manufacturing: Sentient was awarded a US$2.1 million Australian government grant to establish a sovereign in-house manufacturing facility for its world-leading ViDAR pods. It will enable volume manufacture.

Installation on Dutch Caribbean territories Coast Guard: ViDAR will soon to be installed on AW139 helicopters and Dash8 maritime patrol aircraft for SAR and ISR throughout the Dutch Caribbean territories. This will enable the Coast Guard to prosecute their operations much more effectively.

Engagement with U.S. DOD FCT: Sentient is currently undergoing a Foreign Comparative Technology (FCT) evaluation with the U.S. Department of Defense to provide ViDAR maritime systems for the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). The systems will be integrated into a medium-altitude long-range uncrewed aerial system operated by the USMC for littoral ISR missions.

In action with Diamond Aircraft: In Q4 2021, the Diamond Aircraft Special Mission Aircraft Division undertook a series of demonstrations of a new ISR and SAR capability based on its DA42 twin-engine light aircraft, the DA42MPP. In a remarkable turn of events, during its demonstration programme off the Belgian coast, this aircraft was tasked with an urgent live SAR mission over the North Sea to rescue 24 migrants who were adrift for 48 hours and could not be readily found by traditional search methods.

The ViDAR VMS-5-equipped DA42MPP detected this small vessel in the middle of a large wind farm within minutes of tasking due to the detection performance of the AI-powered optical technology.

Co-operation with Lockheed Martin MH-60R: Lockheed Martin has integrated ViDAR in an MH-60R as a prototype fit to demonstrate this cutting-edge Australian capability. The company will work with Sentient to further explore the ViDAR capability.

Harris concluded: “As a scalable and flexible technology, ViDAR is readily adaptable and platform agnostic. Importantly as a passive day/night system, ViDAR will become increasingly desirable for ISR and SAR missions in the contested and lethal battlespace.”

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