Airborne Vision and Autonomy (AVA) for Counter-sUAS

Under AVA (Airborne Vision and Autonomy for Counter-UAS), SSCI will develop a vision-based payload package for small UAS (sUAS) to search for, identify, accurately localize, and follow noncooperative sUAS "drone" targets. By putting sensors onboard a mobile platform, the system can maneuver to achieve higher pixels-on-target and better viewing geometry than ground sensors, enabling positive identification, and subsequent automated tracking and following. A system built around such vehicles can respond quickly to investigate emerging tracks from ground sensors or reports. This offers a valuable tool for addressing several elements of the find-fix-track-target-engage-assess chain. The solution is an extension to SSCI's FOCUS technology, which performs similar tasks for ground targets including persons and vehicles, including automated response to cues, up-close target investigation and identification, and tracking. Phase 1 is designed to quickly check two main risks: whether FOCUS classification methods extend well to sUAS targets, and whether the increased maneuvering capabilities of sUAS can be addressed by FOCUS search and track algorithms. In the Phase 2 program SSCI will build a demonstration prototype, and perform flight tests against a selection of small commercially available drones.