[This article has been updated. Original publish date: October 10, 2024]
As the leader of uncrewed and autonomous systems, L3Harris is transforming future missions with a wide array of autonomous vehicle capabilities across domains, redefining operational capability by enabling higher-risk missions and expanding reach.
Driving Autonomous Progress with Advanced EO/IR
L3Harris’ WESCAM MX-Series EO/IR multi-spectral imaging systems have allowed autonomous systems to provide critical situational awareness and threat detection during high-risk missions.
Intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting acquisition missions demand state-of-the-art image processing, stabilization and accuracy. These capabilities ensure teams can identify and verify their targets at high altitudes and far standoff ranges.
Designed and engineered to meet the strictest standards, the WESCAM MX-Series has proven to be the next-generation mission solution for new autonomous vehicles. These modular sensor systems provide critical capabilities such as accurate identification and designation complete with high-definition resolution, magnification and stabilization. They are often integrated into a larger network of intelligence-gathering systems, providing operators with enhanced situational awareness across all domains.
AI/ML-driven software helps convert the sensor data to higher-level information, such as detections, and then to sense-making products that provide more meaningful representations of the data.
Increasing Standoff Range with Advanced Stabilization
L3Harris continues to engineer solutions that result in uncompromised line-of-sight stabilization. Each system features a proven stabilization architecture that significantly reduces line-of-sight jitter by employing a combination of passive damping and active motion cancellation on a vibration-isolated payload for on-the-move engagements. For autonomous vehicles conducting reconnaissance or target acquisition, or those engaged in combat, this is a critical mission need. Even at extended standoff ranges, targets remain in sight throughout an engagement. This advanced stabilization applies to the entire payload so that every internal device and function benefits from the same level of jitter suppression. As a result, operators are provided a smooth and stable high-definition image, maximizing target identification ranges and reducing their cognitive load.
Advanced Software Design
The WESCAM MX-Series also features auto-tracking technology that uses motion-based algorithms tailored for real-time autonomous vehicle applications. These advanced algorithms simplify the target acquisition process by automatically annotating multiple targets closest to the center of the line-of-sight-based target movement. An operator can also cycle through each target to focus attention on the most critical objects. Coupled with image processing of degraded visual environments, operators can effectively track targets in extremely challenging terrain environments.
Tested for Extreme Environments
WESCAM MX-Series technology is MIL-STD environmentally qualified for use across all domains, delivering the ultimate reliability. Dry or hot environments are countered with an active external cooling system to maintain high-performance, while larger cooling systems are employed to handle humid conditions. All systems undergo strict testing, ensuring they can withstand and overcome rigorous environmental challenges and have been proven in the field.
Ultimately, L3Harris’ designating systems enable teams to dominate the battlefield 24/7, with greater precision, reliability and ease of use than ever before.
