Pearson Engineering has developed its existing ground laid ordnance detection technology, Threat-Sense, to support the identification of threats to mobility with the use of drones. Using artificial intelligence and robust synthetic threat libraries, Threat-Sense can detect anti-tank and anti-personnel mines and indicate to operators in varying environmental conditions where threats are present.
Threat-Sense, which has seen demonstrable success in end-user trials, was initially designed to provide increased situational awareness to vehicle commanders and has been proven when integrated with platforms ranging from Foxhound and HX60 to the Patria AMV and TRX 2 robotic combat vehicle.
Building on user feedback through detailed collaboration with international science and technology organisations, Threat-Sense was evolved by Pearson Engineering’s Unmanned Solutions team for integration with a drone to assist enhanced reconnaissance and stand-off from the vehicle.
The integration, now proven with NATO allies at the Suffield Research Centre in Canada, compliments Pearson Engineering’s highly flexible approach to supporting freedom of manoeuvre and mobility at pace and adds to a suite of ordnance defeating technologies already in Pearson Engineering’s product range.
Using a commercially available off-the-shelf drone, operators can control Threat-Sense up to 5km away, substantially reducing the risk to life and providing an additional method of surface laid threat identification. Threat-Sense is compatible with any drone which is capable of providing a sufficient video feed and the processing unit can be mounted on the drone with on-edge processing, or it can draw from the drone’s video feed for ground-based processing according to requirements.
Threat-Sense logs all of the detected threats with unique identifiers, GPS markers and timestamps and it has the ability to network information over Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) or Data Distribution Service (DDS) in real-time.
Pearson Engineering’s Senior Engineer for Unmanned Solutions explains “Through research, observation and collaboration with the commanders of armoured vehicles, we began to understand the huge volume of information that they receive and must be aware of. Threat detection is one such task with fatal consequences if sufficient intelligence is not available. Threat-Sense is designed to support Commanders, providing them with real time, artificial intelligence enhanced threat information through a simple and intuitive user interface.”
Pearson Engineering’s range of ordnance defeating products includes the internationally deployed Route Opening Mine Plough, Self-Protection Mine Plough, Route Proving Roller, Self-Protection Roller and Surface Clearance Device.
Threat-Pathway, a newer development designed to provide rapidly deployable scatterable mine clearance capability to combat vehicles and combat support vehicles has also taken part in a number of end-user demonstrations and trials.
Our battle proven minefield breaching products provide armoured vehicles with the capability to defeat anti-tank mines. Whether intended for deliberate breaching or to support ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ for fighting vehicles, our blast-resistant ploughs give Commanders the option to move unimpeded and in doing so, maintain a battlefield advantage.
Our earth loading capability delivers a powerful digging and carrying ability, enabling armoured vehicles to transport materials, clear obstacles, dig and fill trenches and to assist in construction tasks. Our loaders can be provided with varying degrees of function and therefore complexity to support different mission sets.
Our interrogation capability is rooted in providing additional capability for Counter-IED and Route Proving operations. To supplement physical detection from ground engaging roller systems, our interrogation arm can be used to further understand the nature of threats and to identify where risks may be present outside of the path of the roller.
Our obstacle and earth moving products include general purpose and multi-purpose dozer blades, designed specifically to meet the needs of different mission sets. Our blades are designed to be tough, robust and lightweight, enabling a wide range of obstacle and earth moving activities whilst minimising the impact on the vehicle’s mobility.
Typically used alongside Pearson Engineering’s Route Opening Mine Plough, Surface Clearance Device or Route Proving rollers, our highly configurable obstacle marking systems support battlefield mobility by quickly and reliably marking safe lanes and the edge of hazardous areas.
Our excavation capability is designed to support combat engineer operations such as digging, demolishing, removing obstacles and filling trenches to support Area Access and Area Denial.
Our approach is often described as a ‘Swiss Army Knife’ in that host vehicles can be adapted to take on various combat engineering roles, or to overcome challenges to mobility. Integration of our products with the vehicle is made via a Pearson Engineering Direct Fit Interface or Pearson Engineering Quick Connect. The most suitable integration method depends on the mission requirements and vehicle capabilities. Our engineers will work closely with end-users and vehicle manufacturers to define the most appropriate route to minimise the impact on the vehicle and to maximise operational capability. Decisions are often based on hydraulic and electrical availability as well as the required role of the vehicle. Our integration kits are used to fit products that are designed to enhance armoured vehicle agility, tactical flexibility and adaptability. They are designed to be configurable and to deliver ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ to operations.
Our recovery capability includes a range of dedicated and multi-purpose blades which are primarily designed to support the recovery of other vehicles and for moving of heavy obstacles. A powerful ground-engaging blade sinks into the earth to hold a vehicle static, acting as the force against which the obstacle can be pulled. The same blade can be articulated to provide some obstacle and earth moving capability.
Surface laid mines represent a rising threat as Armed Forces turn their attention to near peer conflict. Our solutions, each designed to support the missions of dedicated combat engineer vehicles or fighting vehicles, provide a comprehensive detect and displace capability to support deliberate clearance or self-extraction in the face of air delivered scatterable mines.
Our highly configurable rollers have saved countless lives, limbs and assets on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and have succeeded in ensuring ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ for soldiers around the world. Provided as either a full-width ‘route proving’ variant to actively check routes for the presence of Improvised Explosive Devices, or as a track-width ‘self-protection’ variant, our rollers are designed specifically to meet the needs of wide-ranging operational requirements. Our continued Research & Development and our approach to customisation provides confidence to those who use them.
Like all of Pearson Engineering’s products, our assault gap crossing solutions are designed to be modular, to be interchangeable with other mobility and counter-mobility equipment and to support ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ on the battlefield. In a time when units are tasked to ‘march divided and fight united’, independent manoeuvre support is key.
Our range of Mine Clearance platforms and tools provide Armed Forces and other organisations with scalable solutions for mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal and the defeat of improvised explosive devices. Our platforms and their tools can also be used to create mobility challenges for adversaries. Proven around the world, these mine clearance platforms and their tools are designed specifically to meet the needs of different operational contexts from large area clearance to support logistics and peace keeping operations through to clearance in complex terrain.