Sydney researchers develop high-tech sensing technology for Australian Defence
NSSN Co-Director and Director of Sydney Nano Professor Ben Eggleton. Image courtesy of the University of Sydney.
The Jericho Smart Sensing Lab located in the University of Sydney Nano Institute and supported by the NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN) has developed a prototype sensor system for the Royal Australian Air Force that mimics the brain’s neural architecture to deliver high-tech sensing technology for the Australian Defence Force.
Professor Ben Eggleton who leads the Jericho Smart Sensing Laboratory is the co-Director of NSSN and Director of Sydney Nano Institute.
Dubbed MANTIS, the system under development integrates a traditional camera with a visual system inspired by neurobiological architectures. This ‘neuromorphic’ sensor works at incredibly high speeds, which will allow aircraft, ships and vehicles to identify fast moving objects, such as drones.
“Combining traditional visual input with the neuromorphic sensor is inspired by nature. The praying mantis has five eyes – three simple eyes and two composite. Our prototype works a bit like this, too,” said Professor Ben Eggleton.
Neuromorphic sensors are relatively new technology. Sydney Nano has taken the latest of these systems and integrated their capability with cutting-edge design.
MANTIS combines two visual sensing modes in a lightweight portable unit, operated via dashboard interface, with a processing system that is on board the craft, ship or vehicle. The aim is to enable a direct comparison of images and allow for the rapid exploration of the neuromorphic sensor capabilities.
Sydney Nano combined the scientific skills of the University’s physicists with design excellence from the School of Architecture, Design and Planning to develop the prototype in just three months.
Air Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts, Head of Air Force Capability, said: “There are many things that excite me about MANTIS. The level of detail that it provides and its ability to track high-speed events is very impressive.
“It's a promising sensor fusion that has really strong potential across Defence.”
Professor Eggleton leads the Jericho Lab team that saw delivery of the prototype. The four-kilogram small-form design will allow the camera to be easily used on aircraft, ships and vehicles to detect challenging targets.
“The neuromorphic sensor has exquisite sensing capabilities and can see what can't be seen with traditional cameras,” he said. “It invokes the idea of the eye in animals but has leading-edge technology smarts built into it.”
Whereas a traditional camera is constrained by frame rates, each pixel in a neuromorphic camera functions independently and is always ‘on’. This means the imaging system is triggered by events. If it’s monitoring a static scene, the sensor sees nothing and no data is generated.
“When there is an event, the sensor has incredible sensitivity, dynamic range and speed,” Professor Eggleton said. “The data generated is elegantly interfaced with an IT platform allowing us to extract features using machine-learning artificial intelligence.”
He said: “We look forward to developing this device further and collaborating with other experts in this area, including Western Sydney University’s International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems, which are the leaders in neuromorphic research in Australia.
MANTIS is the result of the partnership between the University of Sydney Nano Institute and Air Force’s Jericho Disruptive Innovation. The fast delivery of the prototype demonstrates the agility of their collaboration.
“A rapid prototype of this type and scale happening in three months, during COVID, is remarkable,” said Wing Commander Paul Hay, head of advanced sensing at RAAF Jericho Disruptive Innovation.
The Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) was also involved in the collaboration, providing early guidance and input.
MANTIS stands for: Mutual-Axis Neuromorphic Twin Imaging System
Neuromorphic refers to: Any large-scale system of integrated circuits that mimic neurobiological architectures present in the nervous system.
Declaration
Founded in 2019, the Jericho Smart Sensing Lab is a science design initiative embedded in the Sydney Nanoscience Hub at the University of Sydney and funded by the Royal Australian Air Force.
The NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN), an initiative of the NSW Government Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer, is a consortium of eight leading universities across NSW and the ACT that brings together academia, industry and government to develop smart sensing solutions for complex challenges.
Working with the NSSN simplifies the process of engaging with universities by creating a single point-of-contact for the leading research suppliers in NSW.
Partner with us here.