Aug 7, 2012ASDNews Source : Sentient Vision Systems

With the second Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (TUAS) having recently arrived in Australia, Sentient announced today that it has expanded its engagement with the Australian Army, providing additional Kestrel Land MTI licenses in support of the Shadow’s Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) operations.

Kestrel Land MTI is a software solution that automatically detects and tracks movement in electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) airborne full motion video. Actively deployed alongside the first Shadow 200 system in Afghanistan, the software processes the video imagery captured by the TUAS and automatically alerts ISTAR operators to small, moving targets such as dismounts and vehicles on the ground.

Kestrel increases operators’ overall situational awareness. By visually detecting and tracking any movement, the software allows them to rapidly uncover targets of interest. Especially over long missions, when operator fatigue becomes a challenge, Kestrel assists operators by drawing their attention to targets outside their actual field of view.

The ability to assess the Shadow’s ISTAR imagery in real time, thus having a direct understanding of the situation on the ground and therefore being able to respond to potential threats immediately is key.

Kestrel Land MTI is operated by the 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) Regiment. The additional software licenses are initially used for training purposes.

“Kestrel automated target detection is now an integral part of the ISTAR process and an important part of extracting additional capability from the Shadow system, said Simon Olsen of Sentient.

“Following extensive in-theatre operations, image analysts and operators find that the target cues they receive from Kestrel help to extend the capabilities of the deployed systems – enabling them do much more with each surveillance asset. Multiplying coverage without the need to multiply assets.”

photo US DoD

Dec 19, 2011 ASDNews Source : Sentient Vision Systems

Automated Target Detection Solution on board the AAI Shadow 200 UAV Systems

Melbourne, Australia - 19 December 2011 - Under the Defence Capability Plan Joint Project (JP) 129 Phase 2, the Australian Army is acquiring two complete Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) systems.

Sentient announced today that its automated target detection solution - Kestrel Land MTI - will actively support the TUAV systems in their surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition missions.

Operated by the 20 Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) Regiment, Kestrel Land MTI will assist Australian forces in analysing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) imagery from the AAI Shadow 200. The software processes the imagery in real time, automatically detecting small, moving targets such as dismounts and vehicles within the TUAV sensors' field of view.

The Army TUAV Capability Implementation Team, which is bringing the Shadow 200 into service, sees in Kestrel Land MTI a significant ISR capability enhancement.

The Shadow will be the Army's "eyes in the sky". Equipped with cutting-edge payload technology including advanced electro-optical and infrared sensors the Shadow will transmit real-time, full motion video (FMV) to the Ground Control Station (GCS) and remote video viewing devices. Kestrel will analyse the video footage and provide a real-time cue to operators on moving objects within the field of view.

This capability will enable the Army to effectively detect and respond to enemy targets, and thus protect Australian forces.

The Army has purchased three Kestrel Land MTI licenses for 20 STA Regiment, which will be deployed with the Shadow in Afghanistan early next year.

Sentient has been working closely with 20 STA Regiment and AAI over the past years and has successfully demonstrated Kestrel's automated target detection capability with the Shadow.

"Sentient's Kestrel Land MTI software has been in operation with Australian forces in Afghanistan now for over two years. It is that in-theatre experience in a variety of operational conditions that proved critical for the Australian Army." said Simon Olsen, Sales and Marketing Manager at Sentient.

Kestrel is currently supporting the Australian Army on board the ScanEagle which will remain in service in Afghanistan during the transition-in of the Shadow.