SDA Selects EpiSci for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Award for AI-Aided Collaborative Satellite Sensing of Hypersonic Vehicles and Missiles
(POWAY, CA) – At Mach 10, a hypersonic weapon can reach the U.S. homeland in less than an hour. As emerging threats continue to push the bounds of flight speeds, the Department of Defense (DoD) is increasing demands to maintain superior counter technologies including the ability to detect, track, and classify hypersonic targets for its early warning defense systems.
EpiSci is excited to kick-off an SBIR Phase II contract with the Space Development Agency (SDA) to advance the capabilities of low earth orbit (LEO) overhead persistent infrared (OPIR) sensors. This effort builds on EpiSci’s established expertise in signal processing technology using state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) techniques to provide warfighters a competitive advantage.
Tracking a threat traveling at Mach 10 requires the collaboration of several satellites designed to accurately detect, classify, track, and predict the trajectory of targets. This problem is compounded by the fact that defense systems must be able to maintain custody of an increasing number of moving objects. EpiSci’s modular Tactical AI is positioned to solve these emerging challenges by delivering AI/ML enhanced algorithms for rapid, low-latency detection, classification, and predictive tracking at the edge. These emerging systems will be able to intelligently focus resources on objects of interest and adapt to never-before-seen targets. EpiSci is partnering with Raytheon Missile Systems to provide representative training and evaluation datasets of hypersonic targets in complex environments.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Space Development Agency, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.
Image Source: SDA
About EpiSci
EpiSci is a software company that develops next generation, tactical autonomy solutions for national security problems. EpiSci’s autonomy software is technology agnostic, operationally informed, tactically relevant, and has piloted swarms of uncrewed aerial systems and tactical fighter aircraft. Additional applications include crewed-uncrewed teaming for air dominance, cognitive sensors, networks for advanced communications systems, and battle management command and control for informed decision-making. EpiSci delivers unmatched speed, cost-efficiency, and scalability as the preferred partner for defense agencies & industry teams seeking mission-critical autonomy solutions. Learn more at EpiSci and follow EpiSci on LinkedIn.
About SDA
As part of the U.S. Space Force, SDA is recognized as the Department of Defense's constructive disruptor for space acquisition, SDA will quickly deliver needed space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter to support terrestrial missions through development, fielding, and operation of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. SDA capitalizes on a unique business model that values speed and lowers costs by harnessing commercial development to achieve a proliferated architecture and enhance resilience. SDA will deliver a minimum viable product - on time, every two years - by employing spiral development methods, adding capabilities to future generations as the threat evolves. For more information, visit www.sda.mil.