Lockheed Martin and Arquimea develop AI-based surveillance and reconnaissance systems

This solution Lockheed Martin y Arquimea will serve to provide greater autonomy to AI when operating in unknown environments and will help strengthen security in defense and civilian areas, through the detection of hidden threats and the monitoring of risks and disasters.

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, the advanced aerospace development division of the global technology company, and the Spanish company Arquimea have completed the development of an enhanced anomaly detection capability for intelligence platforms, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) such as drones and other agent-piloted systems artificial intelligence, which substantially improves the scanning of mission areas.

Esta innovadora tecnología reduce el número de exploraciones que un sensor debe realizar para identificar patrones inusuales o desviaciones del comportamiento esperado en datos, sistemas o procesos -específicamente en los espectros electroóptico e infrarrojo-, mejorando drásticamente la detección de cambios en las características físicas, lo que simplifica y agiliza la toma de decisiones en entornos estratégicos.

Esta capacidad ha sido ya testada a bordo de un sistema aéreo no tripulado (UAS) sobrevolando un entorno selvático. Gracias a su avanzada tecnología, el sistema logró identificar cambios en las características físicas del terreno a partir de memorias episódicas entrenadas en redes neuronales. Al comparar esas observaciones con los ‘recuerdos’ almacenados, el sistema pudo detectar irregularidades críticas y generar vistas únicas del entorno mediante algoritmos de aprendizaje automático, que permiten readaptar la misión.

Este avance ha demostrado su valor incluso para predecir características de la imagen que pueden no ser visibles desde un único punto de vista. Permite ir más allá de una simple comparación de imágenes y que las plataformas de inteligencia artificial puedan actuar en situaciones para las que no han sido específicamente entrenadas.

Esta solución servirá para dotar de mayor autonomía a la IA a la hora de operar en entornos desconocidos y generar alertas tempranas, especialmente en los ámbitos de la defensa, environmental monitoring, autonomous flight, and the detection of threats such as forest fires, ecological disasters and equipment failures.

As a global technology leader, Lockheed Martin collaborates with the Spanish industry to drive innovation and transformation, strengthen deterrence and foster a dynamic ecosystem of dual-use technologies. Our work with Arquimea is part of a key research and development initiative that drives advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, which supports Spain's participation in the development of these cutting-edge technologies, explains Emanuele Serafini, Vice President of Lockheed Martin for Western Europe.

Based on these advances, Skunk Works and Arquimea will continue exploring how these technologies of neural networks can improve other sensors embedded in IRS platforms, enhancing the decision-making of autonomous systems.

“Skunk Works is committed to the development of manned and unmanned equipment to optimize operational flexibility, shorten data acquisition times for decision-making, and improve pilot safety. We will continue collaborating together to anticipate emerging threats for our clients, states OJ Sanchez, Vice President and General Manager of Skunk Works.