Medical and Hospital News  
UAV NEWS
Kestrel Supports Project NANKEEN In Afghanistan

Kestrel's ability to detect very small moving targets less than a few pixel in size, allows the ADF to operate the Heron at a wider field of view, extending the area of observation.
by Staff Writers
Melbourne, Australia (SPX) Nov 11, 2010
Sentient has announced that Kestrel Land MTI, its computer vision system for electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) sensors, is actively deployed in support of the Heron Unmanned Ariel Systems (UAS), operated by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in Afghanistan.

Under Project NANKEEN, Kestrel Land MTI assists Australian Defence Force (ADF) commanders by analysing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) imagery from the Heron. The software processes the imagery in real time, automatically detecting and tracking small, moving targets such as dismounts and vehicles within the sensors' field of view.

WGCDR David Riddel, RAAF Deputy Director - Air Combat Capability and Project Lead for NANKEEN, sees in Kestrel Land MTI a significant ISR capability enhancement, extending the Heron's ability to provide situational awareness for Australian and Coalition forces on the ground.

"Kestrel detects any small movements in the field of view and alerts our operators to targets that are easily missed - camouflaged vehicles in tough terrains, dismounts or squirters leaving houses", Riddel said. "This gives our commanders a complete understanding of the situation on the ground."

Riddel stresses the benefits of Kestrel Land MTI for long ISR missions, increasing productivity through consistent, reliable detections.

"Especially over long periods of observations, Kestrel has been proven to be very valuable. It helps fatigued observers by drawing their attention to targets outside their actual field of vision."

Kestrel's ability to detect very small moving targets less than a few pixel in size, allows the ADF to operate the Heron at a wider field of view, extending the area of observation.

"Kestrel acts as a force multiplier, allowing us to increase our area of coverage", Riddel pointed out. "As a result, commanders will be aware of potential threats to ADF operations earlier and will be able to respond more quickly and with more effect."

Simon Olsen, Sales and Marketing Manager at Sentient, is proud of Kestrel's achievements in Afghanistan.

"The rapid acquisition of the Heron UAS for Project NANKEEN was built on low risk. The cornerstone of the deployment was the Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination (PED) facility. Kestrel's low risk, plug and play integration into the PED provided a perfect fit for the requirement. It has proved to be a key intelligence asset for Australian deployed forces", Olsen said.

The RAAF operates the Heron and Kestrel Land MTI out of Kandahar, conducting ISR missions which include IED search, overwatch, and battle damage assessment.

Kestrel Land MTI was developed by Sentient as a part of the Capability and Technology Demonstrator Program, managed by the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation.



Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
-
UAV News - Suppliers and Technology



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


UAV NEWS
Multi-Purpose UAVs To Get NG STARLite Radars
Baltimore MD (SPX) Nov 09, 2010
Northrop Grumman has been selected to supply an additional 40 STARLite wide area surveillance radars featuring synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and ground moving target indicator (GMTI) capabilities for the U.S. Army's Extended-Range Multi-Purpose unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Under the terms of the contract option, radar deliveries to the Army's Product Manager Robotic and Unmanned Sensors ... read more







UAV NEWS
WFP needs to urgently feed 50,000 of Benin flood victims

Pakistan taxes own citizens to raise money for flood relief

Natural disasters in Africa hamper millennium goals

Storm deaths, cholera heap more misery on Haiti

UAV NEWS
GPS IIF-1 Introduces A Host Of New Capabilities For Users

Lockheed Martin Delivers Key GPS III Test Hardware Ahead of Schedule

Few Americans using location-based services: Pew study

GPS maker Garmin hanging up on smartphones

UAV NEWS
The Brains Of Neanderthals And Modern Humans Developed Differently

Talking numbers with children helps math

Differences In Human And Neanderthal Brains Set In Just After Birth

Brain Trumps Hand In Stone Age Tool Study

UAV NEWS
Virus threatens endangered parrot species

Evolution 'tipping point' identified

Endangered Finnish seal stock makes small recovery: experts

The Myth Of A Germ-Free World And Antimicrobial Products

UAV NEWS
Mosquito trial in dengue fever battle

Fears rise with more cholera deaths in Haiti capital

TB still kills millions of poor, says WHO

Clinics in Haitian slum overwhelmed by cholera cases

UAV NEWS
Chinese vase sells for record 43 million pounds in Britain

Pet boom has Shanghai mulling one-dog policy

British PM, in China, urges G20 cooperation, more freedoms

Lawyer linked to Nobel winner says barred from leaving China

UAV NEWS
China says ship, crew hijacked off Somalia in June rescued

Pirates claim nine million dollar ransom for S.Korean tanker

Latin America and money laundering

Somalia pirates take South Korean trawler

UAV NEWS
Hong Kong luxury home sales reach historic highs

Moody's boosts China ratings on 'resilient' economy

China inflation surge prompts rate hike expectations

China needs 'sound' world economy to pursue forex reform: Hu


The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement