Strategic Elements Ltd subsidiary Stealth Technologies has signed an agreement to collaborate with leading US based Autonomous Drone technology Company, Planck AeroSystems. The Companies will work to enable drones to autonomously launch and land from the Stealth ground based autonomous vehicle platform (AxV).
Planck’s core enabling technology is vision-based precision landing on moving platforms without GPS. In sectors such as security, defence and resources drones can augment ground based cameras and sensors to provide additional range, multi-angle coverage and additional critical data (e.g. thermal imaging).
Stealth Technologies is developing an Autonomous Security Vehicle (ASV) for perimeter security in sectors such as transport, energy, defence, government and utilities providing critical services. The Global Perimeter Security Market is forecast to be growing quickly at CAGR of 12.0% over the forecast period 2020-2026 (reaching USD 282.26 Billion by 2025)[1].
- The Planck Autonomous Control Engine (ACE™) system is an embedded software solution that runs onboard a variety of unmanned aircraft systems to enable autonomous launch, recovery, relative navigation, and mission planning from a moving vehicle. With centimetre-level accuracy for precision take-off and landing, a drone can launch and recover reliably from small spaces. The sensor-guided flight accounts for motion of a vessel or ground vehicle, including roll, pitch, heave, and wind effects.
- ACE is deployed in five US federal agencies, and with two allied nations. The ACE system has commanded thousands of successful UAS sorties both at sea and from vehicles, on aircraft from many different manufacturers. Planck is working with the United States Department of Defense’s Combating T******** Technical Support Office (CTTSO), the United States Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security on various aspects of its technology.
- The precision landing system uses computer vision, artificial intelligence, and other onboard sensors, but does not require GPS or active communications. Existing unmanned aircraft systems use global positioning and are not capable of autonomous operation from moving vehicles. Planck’s intelligent navigation solutions enable new capabilities for surveillance, reconnaissance, real-time situational awareness, and force protection.
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The Stealth and Planck collaboration will focus on enabling the ASV to launch and land drones. This ability would enable the long runtimes of the ASV to be combined with the high speed of drones. Drones could be launched from the ASV at any time whilst on patrol, effectively doubling the ASV’s surveillance coverage capabilities. Drones could also recharge once landed on the ASV and be relaunched. In addition the unique perspectives of both the ASV and its drone can be combined to give an expanded patrol and surveillance dataset, enable more powerful AI use cases for mapping, navigation, object and person recognition, object and person tracking and scene r
The parties will also assess the potential of integrating mobile tethered drones with the ASV. This will give additional deployment options for drone-equipped ASVs to work at facilities located near to controlled airspaces and at those that have safety requirements that would normally preclude drone operation (e.g. airports, energy facilities). Traditional ground tethered drones can only fly in a single location, however drones tethered from the ASV could be mobile and move with the ASV whilst airborne.
Key Terms
- Planck Aero will provide ACE technology for integration into Stealth autonomous vehicles, and any other technologies agreed by the parties. Term of the Collaboration is 6 months.
- The Parties will explore commercial, industrial and defence applications and opportunities.
- Plank grants Stealth a royalty-free, non-exclusive, license to use Software for the purposes of the Collaboration for duration of the Term.
- Stealth will pay to Planck Aero for any Hardware provided under the Project. Any further payments will be as agreed between the parties from time to time.
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Stealth Technologies
The Company’s priority focus is its exclusive collaboration with giant US Fortune 100 Company Honeywell[2] to build autonomous security vehicles for the correctional justice sector. The parties are working with the WA Department of Justice to build a fully autonomous robotic security vehicle for the Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison in Kalgoorlie to inspect, test and confirm the integrity of the secure perimeter.
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This article highlights some fascinating developments in autonomous robotics and AI-driven technologies. I recently attended a conference where speakers on AI delved into similar topics, particularly the integration of AI and robotics in enhancing surveillance and security systems. One discussion focused on the potential for AI-powered drones and autonomous vehicles to work together seamlessly, much like the collaboration between Stealth Technologies and Planck AeroSystems described here.
The conference speakers emphasized how precision landing systems and AI-driven navigation—like Planck’s ACE technology—are game-changers. They mentioned similar applications in defense and critical infrastructure protection, underscoring the value of GPS-independent solutions. The ability to combine mobile tethered drones with autonomous ground vehicles was also highlighted as a revolutionary step, particularly for expanding surveillance capabilities in sensitive areas like airports and energy facilities.
This collaboration between Stealth and Planck showcases how AI can enhance efficiency and safety in critical sectors, and it aligns closely with the insights shared at the event. It’s exciting to see how these technologies are rapidly evolving to meet the demands of modern security challenges!
The integration of advanced AI with robotics is revolutionizing how robots perceive and interact with their environment. Modern AI systems, particularly those utilizing deep learning and computer vision, enable robots to process complex visual information, recognize objects, and understand spatial relationships with unprecedented accuracy. This enhancement in perception allows robots to work more effectively in dynamic environments, adapting to changes and handling irregular objects or situations that would have previously caused failures.
The improvement in AI reasoning and decision-making capabilities is transforming robot autonomy and adaptability. Rather than following rigid, SEO programmed instructions, robots can now learn from experience, generalize their knowledge to new situations, and make intelligent decisions in real-time. This advancement is particularly significant in applications like manufacturing, where robots can automatically adjust their movements and actions based on varying product specifications or environmental conditions, and in healthcare, where robots can assist in complex procedures while adapting to individual patient needs.
Perhaps most significantly, AI is enabling more natural and intuitive human-robot collaboration. Through advances in natural language processing and understanding of human behavior, robots are becoming better at interpreting human instructions, anticipating human actions, and responding appropriately to social cues. This improved interaction capability is opening new possibilities in service robotics, elderly care, education, and other fields where close human-robot interaction is essential. The combination of physical capability with AI-driven social intelligence is creating robots that can serve as more effective partners in both professional and personal settings.