Canada’s Department of National Defence has tapped the services of local technology firm TerraSense to develop software that enhances soldiers’ situational awareness.
Called Multimodal Input Surveillance & Tracking (MIST), the tech will utilize artificial intelligence and sensor fusion to support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
It reportedly provides accurate object detection and tracking in real time by tapping multiple sensors without the need for a data link.
According to TerraSense, the software will be “sensor agnostic,” allowing it to take in data from existing ISR sensors with limited engineering requirements.
Additionally, the tech will help reduce the number of hours spent identifying potential targets.
“We set out to create a truly usable artificial intelligence system that can withstand the rigors of real-life operations and the demands of highly-trained operators without the learning curves found in legacy systems,” TerraSense chief technology officer Jozsef Hamari said.
The total value allotted for the project is $8.9 million.