Stealth Technologies, an Australian company specialising in the development of autonomous security vehicles, has signed an agreement to collaborate with leading US based Autonomous Drone technology company, Planck AeroSystems.
The companies will partner to enable drones to autonomously launch and land from the Stealth ground based autonomous vehicle platform (AxV).
Planck’s core enabling technology is vision-based precision landing on moving platforms without GPS. In sectors such as security, defence and resources drones can augment ground-based cameras and sensors to provide additional range, multi-angle coverage and additional critical data, such as thermal imaging.
Stealth Technologies, a subsidiary of Strategic Elements Ltdis developing an Autonomous Security Vehicle (ASV) for perimeter security in sectors such as transport, energy, defence, government and utilities providing critical services.
The Global Perimeter Security Market is forecast to grow at CAGR of 12% over the next six years.
Precision take-off and landing
The Planck Autonomous Control Engine (ACE) system is an embedded software solution that runs onboard a variety of unmanned aircraft systems to enable autonomous launch, recovery, relative navigation, and mission planning from a moving vehicle.
With centimetre-level accuracy for precision take-off and landing, a drone can launch and recover reliably from small spaces. The sensor-guided flight accounts for motion of a vessel or ground vehicle, including roll, pitch, heave, and wind effects.
The precision landing system uses computer vision, artificial intelligence, and other onboard sensors, but does not require GPS or active communications. Existing unmanned aircraft systems use global positioning and are not capable of autonomous operation from moving vehicles. Planck’s intelligent navigation solutions enable new capabilities for surveillance, reconnaissance, real-time situational awareness, and force protection.
The Stealth and Planck collaboration will focus on enabling the ASV to launch and land drones. This ability would enable the long runtimes of the ASV to be combined with the high speed of drones.
Drones could be launched from the ASV at any time while on patrol, effectively doubling the ASV’s surveillance coverage capabilities. Drones could also recharge once landed on the ASV and be relaunched.
