Shield AI has delivered its first ViDAR (Visual Detection and Ranging) optical sensors to the US Marine Corps to support drone operations with artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled solutions.
ViDAR is a payload system designed to detect, identify, geolocate, and track objects using wide-area motion imagery.
It supports intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and search-and-rescue missions, particularly in challenging maritime environments.
The system can track multiple objects at altitudes up to 30,000 feet (9,114 meters) and detect both stationary and moving targets using ultra-HD multi-spectral sensors.
It operates without emitting a signal, providing real-time optical tracking across land and sea.
“As modern battlefields become more contested, platforms must detect, locate, classify, and track threats without relying on active emissions,” said Christian Gutierrez, VP of Hivemind Solutions at Shield AI.
Before deployment, ViDAR underwent extensive ground and flight testing on unmanned aircraft systems to assess its effectiveness in wide-area maritime surveillance.
After the testing phase, ViDAR was integrated into a program within the Naval Air Systems Command, which oversees the full lifecycle support of naval aviation aircraft, weapons, and systems for the US Navy and Marine Corps.
Latest Contracts
Shield AI develops AI-driven modular autonomy software, enabling the rapid deployment of autonomous systems across multiple platforms in the US and globally.
Last month, Booz Allen Hamilton and Shield AI partnered to advance uncrewed systems for the US military.
This collaboration combines Shield AI’s Hivemind software, which enables autonomous piloting for drones and fighter jets, with Booz Allen’s expertise in mission engineering.
In November 2024, Shield AI partnered with JSW Defence to produce the V-BAT drone locally for India’s military.
This initiative includes an investment of $90 million over two years from JSW Group, with $65 million allocated for the first year, to set up manufacturing, train personnel, and develop a local supply chain.