Special Report: The agreement will see Strategic Elements...

Special Report: The agreement will see Strategic Elements subsidiary Stealth Technologies develop a drone launching/landing capability for its Autonomous Security Vehicle.

Stealth Technologies, a fully owned subsidiary of innovation research company Strategic Elements (ASX:SOR), has built strong momentum in recent months with its patented ground based Autonomous Vehicle technology.

And today the company announced a new partnership with US-based autonomous drone technology company, Planck AeroSystems.

The collaboration “will focus on enabling our ground based Autonomous Security Vehicles to launch and land drones”, the company said.

Combining the two technologies will leverage the relative strengths of each company, where the 24/7 surveillance capacity of the ASV will be combined with a high-speed drone capability.

“Drones could be launched from the AVS at any point whilst on patrol, effectively doubling the ASV’s surveillance coverage capabilities,” Strategic Elements said.

Global traction

For Stealth, which recently completed user acceptance testing of of an Autonomous Security Vehicle for a correctional facility in WA, the deal is further evidence of the traction the company is building with global tech manufacturers.

Along with Planck AeroSystems, the company also has a collaboration with NYSE-listed engineering giant Honeywell.

Planck’s Autonomous Engine Control (ACE) system is an embedded software solution that assists unmanned aircraft across launch, recovery and navigation functions.

The technology is deployed at five US federal agencies including the Department of Defence and the Department of Homeland Security.

“The precision landing system uses computer vision, artificial intelligence and other onboard sensors, but does not require GPS or active communications,” Strategic Elements said.

As part of Planck’s collaboration with Stealth, the two companies will assess the potential of integrating mobile tethered drones to the ASV.

“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,” the company said.

AS part of the deal, Planck will grant Stealth exclusive access to its software for the duration of the collaboration term, along with its ACE technology platform.

While working on the development, both companies will work tougher to explore commercial opportunities across key industries, including the global defence sector.