German company implements acoustic artillery direction sensors on drones (Photo: Quantum Systems)
Quantum Systems, a German military technology company, is working on integrating acoustic sensors into its drones to track artillery through the sound of the shots.
According to the German website Hartpunkt, the unmanned systems developer is working to integrate sound measurement into Twister, Vector, and Reliant reconnaissance drones to enhance their ability to detect enemy artillery and mortar positions.
The sensor, developed by Weles Acoustics, weighs just a few grams and is the size of a finger, allowing it to be installed on any drone.
The company, which emphasized that the technology is still in “prototype” phase, expects mass production to begin this year for installation on drones.
The sensor should be capable of detecting artillery and mortar fire at distances of up to 15 km. The detection accuracy will be 5 degrees at a distance of 5 km, sufficient for approximate positioning, after which optical sensors will further investigate the target.
This means that, at least in the initial phases of the sensors, an operator will need to visually search for the target. However, in the future, these actions should be automated so that the camera will turn towards the direction of the shot.
Additionally, artificial intelligence will allow the system to recognize and classify the acoustic signature of a shot in the future, which will enable the drone not only to determine the direction of the shot but also the type of source, whether it is an artillery unit or a mortar.
Photo and video: Quantum Systems. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
