Sentient’s AI-enabled ViDAR optical sensors soar on Edge Autonomy’s VXE30 “Stalker” UAS in successful live demonstrations

“The best part of my role is when I get to witness a customer’s excitement as they see for themselves what our aircraft are capable of, especially when they discover the flexibility, ease of use, and capability to easily integrate other technologies,” says Grace Burgess, Training Manager of Flight Operations at Edge Autonomy. “It’s really gratifying when a customer tells me, ‘That is exactly what we must have to fulfill our operational needs.”

And the demand for flight demonstrations and training is growing. Grace and the Edge Autonomy flight operations team have travelled the globe to showcase our uncrewed aerial capabilities for customers and partners, training new pilots and providing education for operations teams.

Not only does Edge Autonomy currently have more than 300,000 square feet of production and manufacturing space, but we also have multiple committed airspace locations devoted to training, demonstrations, and quality control.

“I enjoy traveling to meet our customers and partners wherever the need for our UAS technology lies,” says Grace. “And as a company we are also in an exciting time of expansion, which means that our dedicated flight operations facilities in the U.S. and overseas are growing to be even better equipped to accommodate the needs of our clients.”

A Strong Foundation in Aviation

Rapid growth and an ever-increasing demand for flexible and adaptive UAS technology makes strong organizational skills and a deep understanding of the industry a must. The daughter of a pilot who served in the U.S. Army while she was growing up, Grace found an early mentor in her father, who also worked in the drone and aviation industry. In addition to instilling her with a love of travel and a keen interest in technology, Grace’s military upbringing gave her a growth mindset and made her highly adaptable.

“This is a very fast-paced, ever-evolving industry and a lot is going on all the time,” says Grace. “Being resilient and adaptable to those changes is key to meeting the real-world needs our customers face, all while being open to learning about how our aircraft fit into current and future mission needs. It’s important not to be afraid to ask, ‘How can I learn more? How can I make this work?’ These questions not only lead to new technological innovations, but they keep me growing in my career.”

From flight safety and standardization to developing instructional curriculum and deploying as an operator, working in multiple disciplines within the UAS training arena gave Grace a solid foundation in aviation. Yet she believes her most intensive season of personal and professional growth began when she joined the Edge Autonomy team.

I’ve had opportunities at Edge Autonomy to complete trainings on new equipment and new technologies that I wouldn’t have been able to pursue elsewhere,” she explains. “My mentors within the company have given me so much opportunity for growth, as well as countless chances to move into leadership roles. I feel very blessed to have senior leadership that believes in my capabilities to step into more. More visibility and more responsibility.”

The Future of UAS: Maintaining the Human Factor in the Face of Automation

With all the buzz surrounding Artificial Intelligence and the swift changes taking place not only in aviation but in the broader technology culture at large, Grace believes it is critical not to lose sight of the human operators behind the technology.

“You have to understand people’s perspectives and the very personal ‘whys’ behind the needs our customers face,” says Grace. “We must remember that a human being ultimately operates a UAS. Our goal at Edge Autonomy, no matter what exciting technology advancements we implement, is to make a product that is as user-friendly and operable as possible.

“I’m really looking forward to up-and-coming capabilities that will give the operator even greater agility on the ground. How the operator controls the aircraft is going to change, I think, so it’s an exciting time to be working in this dynamic field.”

Interested in an aviation career at the forefront of innovation? Learn more about Edge Autonomy’s open positions across our locations in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

ViDAR – Sentient’s AI-enabled wide area motion imagery deployed for real-time maritime surveillance at the edge

Virginia Beach (Aug 28, 2023) – Sentient Vision Systems (Sentient) has successfully completed live demonstrations of its AI-enabled ViDAR (Visual Detection and Ranging) payload deployed on Edge Autonomy’s VXE30 UAS. The VXE30 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) solution is the latest and most advanced version of the “Stalker” series of small uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS) from Edge Autonomy. When coupled with Sentient’s ViDAR, the VXE30 provides a passive, wide area search capability, enabling it to serve a myriad of maritime operations. The joint capability will be on display at DSEI 2023, 12-15 September in London.

ViDAR, developed by Sentient, utilizes AI, Computer Vision, and Machine Learning integrated with Electro-Optic and Infrared (EO/IR) sensors to passively detect objects that are difficult to spot by the human eye or recognize on a conventional radar. With these enhanced capabilities, Stalker will be more capable of accurately detecting and locating people, objects, and vessels (day and night) far from the operator.

ViDAR has been deployed on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions (ISR), maritime patrol and border protection, as well as search and rescue missions since 2015. ViDAR is proven to be effective in challenging maritime conditions up to Sea State 6 (very rough with waves 13 to 20 feet high).

Sentient has successfully evolved ViDAR into a compact, lightweight, low power form factor—low SWaP (size, weight, and power) — suitable for deployment on small Group 2 / NATO Class 1 UAS such as the VXE30. Its successful integration onto the VXE30 demonstrates its broad operating envelope and ability to provide unprecedented long-endurance imaging capability in contested environments all around the world.

Joshua Stinson, Edge Autonomy’s Chief Growth Officer said, “The integration of ViDAR onto the VXE30 is an essential part of our UAS deployment program. ViDAR’s passive detection system will further the VXE30’s capabilities to remain undetected in a contested environment while carrying a powerful maritime detection sensor that provides a real-time picture of the maritime domain. This capability could make all the difference in a mission’s success.”

Paul Harris, Sentient’s VP of Business Development agreed and said, “We are delighted to be working with Edge Autonomy to demonstrate how effective ViDAR is at increasing the utility of the small and agile VXE30 for the challenges of the modern battlespace. We look forward to displaying our joint capabilities at DSEI.”

With close to 4,500 systems deployed, Sentient’s AI-enabled sensor edge solutions for wide area motion imagery are proven for detection in missions worldwide.

About Sentient Vision Systems www.sentientvision.com

Sentient Vision Systems specializes in passive, modular optical sensors for persistent, wide area motion imagery. Sentient’s artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled edge solutions better detect and identify small objects in real time, on land and at sea. With more than 20 years of development in moving target indication, AI computer vision and machine learning, Sentient has deployed thousands of systems worldwide in the field of Intelligence, Surveillance, Search and Rescue, enhancing situational awareness, accelerating informed decisions, and saved numerous lives. Follow Sentient on LinkedIn , VimeoYouTube and Twitter

About Edge Autonomy www.edgeautonomy.io

 Edge Autonomy is a leader in providing innovative autonomous systems, advanced optics, and resilient energy solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Federal Civilian Agencies, allied governments, academic institutions, and commercial entities. Edge Autonomy draws on a 34+ year history of aerospace engineering, advanced manufacturing expertise, and technologically advanced manufacturing. With headquarters in San Luis Obispo, CA, and key production capabilities abroad, Edge Autonomy’s 400+ team members deliver results in multiple markets. Follow Edge Autonomy on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

For further information:

Sentient Vision Systems

Edge Autonomy

Maurice A. Raaijmakers

Regional Director of Business Development

E: [email protected]

Philip Hicks (Media & PR)

T: +44(0) 7467510339

Susan Hoffman

Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Communication

E: [email protected]

T: +1 571-531-9634

 

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