“Success Has Become Our Normal.” Meet the Edge Autonomy Flight Operations Team

Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) are playing an increasingly critical role in the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that take place across complex landscapes around the globe. Whether the ISR mission is a military operation or an effort by border control agents or search-and-rescue teams, UAVs increase the situational awareness that leads to timely and effective decision-making in situations where the stakes are high. What makes uncrewed systems such a crucial tool for achieving an in-field advantage? Developed to carry a wide variety of payloads, UAVs facilitate the gathering and transmission of accurate data to key human actors in real or near-real time for a distinct in-field advantage.

Optical gimbal cameras are often the payload of choice for ISR missions. With a multitude of sensors (color and IR), laser pointers and range finders, geolocation capabilities, image stabilization, optical and digital zoom, and real-time data transmission, these cameras are ideal for a real-time data exchange that provides critical information to decision-makers in the field.  

Automated Tracking to Support the Operator and the Mission

Endurance flight times for small UAV can reach upwards of 20 hours, which means long shifts for the operator to monitor live footage—a mentally taxing endeavor. Two real-time data transmission features that can ease this burden and support those leading the mission are Moving Target Indicator and Object Tracking.

A Moving Target Indicator (MTI) is a comprehensive software function that uses onboarding image processing for data that is transmitted to the ground control station. By clearly differentiating between a moving target and background clutter, MTI provides the human decision-maker with clearer and more actionable intel. When using this feature, the operator is able to select modes such as “large object MTI” or “small object MTI” to more easily spot objects of varying sizes during an ISR mission. In either mode, these objects will not drift out of the UAV’s sights even when the angle or loitering position changes.

Large object MTI specifically helps the operator detect vehicles, drones, planes, and human targets. During a fast-paced mission, this data gives the operator a vital edge. User friendly and quick to respond, large object MTI can be easily switched to “tracking mode” on the indicated object while also continuing to observe and track other moving objects in the frame. This unique ability to toggle between multiple objects allows the operator to focus on the main target without losing coverage on additional moving objects that may provide essential intelligence.

 Small object MTI, on the other hand, assists the operator in challenging environments where the terrain is homogenous (for example, a dense forest), thus making it more difficult for a human operator to detect small or slow-moving targets. This feature automatically extracts valuable intelligence from the video stream in real time, allowing the operator to locate objects in a landscape that is complex or otherwise challenging. Small object MTI helps the operator review images at a much faster rate, allowing for swift yet accurate judgment calls that are crucial to mission success. This feature is especially beneficial in search-and-rescue missions where every passing second could be the difference between life and death. Once the target is located, the operator can zoom in to activate automatic object tracking and relay critical information to the rest of the team.

Whether the ISR  objective is executing military surveillance, locating missing persons during a natural disaster, or monitoring suspicious activity on a national border, payload cameras with Moving Target Indicator and Object Tracking features are not merely the human operator’s “eyes in the sky”—they are an advanced tool that improves situational awareness and accurate data transmission at a speed that can save lives and increase the likelihood of mission success. Edge Autonomy is committed to robust innovations that allow teams to share data and communicate more effectively, thereby improving the outcome of ISR missions in a variety of environments. Interested in the advanced optical gimbal cameras in Edge Autonomy’s Octopus line of ISR systems? Learn more about our cutting-edge solutions here.

Greg Nichols

As a U.S. Army Veteran with seventeen years in the aviation industry, Greg Nichols understands the critical role Edge Autonomy’s technologies can play in achieving mission success for soldiers on the battlefield.

“There was a time when I was the soldier on the ground,” he says. “I know how important it is to get fast and accurate intel, and I’ve been a part of mission operations from the boots-on-the-ground all the way up the chain of command.”

As Director of Flight Operations for Edge Autonomy, Greg applies this real-world experience to meeting customer needs. He leads a team of instructors, operators, and subject matter experts, including several Veterans with service in Army, Airforce, and Navy.

The US Flight Operations team ensures that the Edge Autonomy VXE30 Stalker uncrewed aircraft meets a wide array of mission criteria and are ready to perform under a variety of complex, ever-changing conditions. A portable, flexible, and quiet UAS platform, the VXE30 Stalker provides long-endurance, long-range mission support in a wide variety of environments. And with the newly-release VXE30 Stalker Havoc configuration, the range and payload capacity of the aircraft has more than doubled.

“Working with the VXE30 Stalker really makes me appreciate the robust capabilities of the aircraft and its ability to provide fast and accurate ‘eyes in the sky’ information to the team on the ground,” Greg explains. “Other systems I’ve used in the past have a significantly shorter flight time and smaller cameras, which honestly don’t make much sense in the field. On the other hand, the Stalker presents a full ISR package with a small logistics footprint so that our customers can get greater situational awareness when time is of the essence. This also reduces the cognitive load on the operator so that they can easily control the intel they need and want.”

Edge Autonomy is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the VXE30 Stalker and has been innovating and evolving the aircraft since 2006. With recent upgrades in range and payload capacity and exciting AI integrations on the horizon, this is a dynamic time to be a part of the Flight Operations team.

“This group is smart and highly motivated – I don’t think people realize how hard they work,” Greg says of his crew. “Every single one of them is exceptional.”

Flight Operations Ground Control
Edge Autonomy Flight Operations

Positive attitudes and unwavering commitment make this front-facing team a cohesive unit where everyone works together. “They want these aircraft to succeed in providing our customers with the best and most reliable intel possible. Their motivation and dedication are phenomenal. They often work long days and are happy to do so to meet our objectives.”

One of these primary objectives is conducting field exercises at both dedicated testing facilities and on military installations across the United States. At a recent demo over Fort Carson, Colorado, Edge Autonomy Flight Operations worked with active-duty personnel within the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), the Army’s original SFG focusing on the Eastern Europe area of operations.

“This year has consisted of back-to-back demos that showcase our innovations,” says Greg. “We’ve been all over the country conducting training events and demonstrations for our military partners. Success has become our ‘normal’ because it’s what we do all the time.”

This success means a growing demand for on-site demonstrations – and Edge Autonomy continues to expand to meet these needs.  

“I’m looking forward to our team doing even more fieldwork with our customers,” says Greg. “When we conduct on-site support, it isn’t just an opportunity to teach our customers how to operate our aircraft – it’s also an opportunity to learn from them and understand the real-world needs in the field.”

Based on this year’s track record of successful demonstrations and customer training, the future is looking bright for the Flight Operations Department.

“I’m very proud of this team,” says Greg. “Their success not only reflects on Edge Autonomy, but also helps us support our customers’ critical mission needs.”

Interested in joining a motivated, dedicated, and mission-ready team like this one? Take a look at our open positions.

Flight Operations Demo

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