Nov 3, 2020   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

SOR Autonomous Security Drone Collaboration

PERTH, Australia, Nov. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Strategic Elements Ltd (ASX:SOR) subsidiary Stealth Technologies has signed an agreement to collaborate with leading US based Autonomous Drone technology Company, Planck AeroSystems. The Companies will work 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 (e.g. thermal imaging).

Stealth Technologies is 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 be growing quickly at CAGR of 12.0% over the forecast period 2020-2026 (reaching USD 282.26 Billion by 2025)([1]). 

    --  The Planck Autonomous Control Engine (ACE(TM)) 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.
    --  ACE is deployed in five US federal agencies, and with two allied
        nations. The ACE system has commanded thousands of successful UAS
        sorties both at sea and from vehicles, on aircraft from many different
        manufacturers. Planck is working with the United States Department of
        Defense's Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO), the
        United States Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security
        on various aspects of its technology.
    --  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 whilst on patrol, effectively doubling the ASV's surveillance coverage capabilities. Drones could also recharge once landed on the ASV and be relaunched. In addition the unique perspectives of both the ASV and its drone can be combined to give an expanded patrol and surveillance dataset, enable more powerful AI use cases for mapping, navigation, object and person recognition, object and person tracking and scene reasoning.

The parties will also assess the potential of integrating mobile tethered drones with the ASV. This will give additional deployment options for drone-equipped ASVs to work at facilities located near to controlled airspaces and at those that have safety requirements that would normally preclude drone operation (e.g. airports, energy facilities). Traditional ground tethered drones can only fly in a single location, however drones tethered from the ASV could be mobile and move with the ASV whilst airborne.

Key Terms

    --  Planck Aero will provide ACE technology for integration into Stealth
        autonomous vehicles, and any other technologies agreed by the parties.
        Term of the Collaboration is 6 months.
    --  The Parties will explore commercial, industrial and defence applications
        and opportunities.
    --  Plank grants Stealth a royalty-free, non-exclusive, license to use
        Software for the purposes of the Collaboration for duration of the Term.
    --  Stealth will pay to Planck Aero for any Hardware provided under the
        Project. Any further payments will be as agreed between the parties from
        time to time.

Stealth Technologies

The Company's priority focus is its exclusive collaboration with giant US Fortune 100 Company Honeywell([2]) to build autonomous security vehicles for the correctional justice sector. The parties are working with the WA Department of Justice to build a fully autonomous robotic security vehicle for the Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison in Kalgoorlie to inspect, test and confirm the integrity of the secure perimeter.

About Strategic Elements Ltd

The Australian Federal Government has registered Strategic Elements as a Pooled Development Fund with a mandate to back Australian innovation. Strategic Elements operates as a 'venture builder' where it generates high risk-high reward ventures and projects from combining teams of leading scientists or innovators in the technology or resources sectors. The Company operates under a Federal Government program setup to encourage investment into innovation. The Company is listed on the ASX under the code "SOR".

More Information: Mr Charles Murphy, Managing Director Phone: +61 8 9278 2788 admin@strategicelements.com.au and www.strategicelements.com.au

This announcement was authorised for release by Strategic Elements' Board of Directors


     [1]
      https://dataintelo.com/report/perimeter-security-market/


     [2] 
     
              Disclosed to the ASX on 16/09/2019.

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SOURCE Strategic Elements Ltd