Wide-Area Autonomous Maritime Target Detection and Classification (WAMTDC)
Abstract
WAMTDC is a FY 2023 new-start JCTD. The WAMTDC JCTD will develop a low-space, -weight and -power (SWAP) maritime sensing and automated processing capability for demonstration aboard an unmanned aircraft. While initially integrated within a Group Two Stalker Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), this capability will be broadly applicable for multiple follow-on UAS and fixed-wing platforms. The sensor package will feature ViDAR (Visual Detection and Ranging) for maritime search and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)-enabled object detection capability, coupled with AI/ML-enabled Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) object classification capability. The addition of ViDAR will enable the UAS to search an area 300 times larger than a traditional EO/IR sensor alone. The onboard ML-based target detection and classification will be underpinned by a capability for Agile Model Refinement that provides the flexibility to identify new vessel signatures while deployed. This on-board contact classification will allow very low bandwidth contact reporting. This low-bandwidth contact reporting, when used in concert with an autonomous UAS, will be critical when operating unmanned systems in a contested electromagnetic and cyber environments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2024
- Source ID
- 189aae01c3bc5ae42fac768f7dda9677