Versatile Imaging System for Target Detection and Assessment (VISTA)

The increasing threat posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has exposed critical gaps in existing detection and identification technologies, particularly in long-range and adverse environmental conditions. Current counter-UAS (C-UAS) solutions suffer from high false alarm rates, slow identification speeds, and limited effectiveness against diverse drone platforms operating in coordinated swarms. These limitations create operational challenges for military and security forces that must quickly distinguish between threats and non-threats in dynamic and contested environments. To address this challenge, advanced imaging and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions are required to enhance UAS detection, classification, and tracking accuracy at extended ranges. The VISTA (Versatile Imaging System for Target Detection and Assessment) system integrates a multispectral pan-tilt imaging platform with AI-driven image processing to enhance target identification capabilities while mitigating false alarms. VISTA combines visible (VIS), short-wave infrared (SWIR), and mid-wave infrared (MWIR) imaging with advanced AI-based classification techniques to detect and track UAS up to 100 pounds, traveling at speeds of up to 100 knots, at standoff ranges of up to 10 kilometers. The system applies multispectral fusion, spectral filtering, and deep learning algorithms to distinguish UAS threats from environmental clutter and non-hostile airborne objects. Additionally, it leverages predictive tracking through recurrent neural networks (RNN) to maintain persistent awareness while minimizing cognitive load on operators. In this Phase II effort, Eoptic will refine and optimize the VISTA system by finalizing system requirements, developing an advanced image processing pipeline, integrating a fully operational electro-optical system, and implementing AI-based tracking and classification models. The system will undergo rigorous testing and evaluation (T&E) at operationally relevant test sites to validate performance metrics and real-world feasibility. The resulting prototype will achieve Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, positioning it for a Phase III transition focused on deployment, integration with broader C-UAS architectures, and commercialization for both defense and civilian airspace security applications.