Sentient Vision Systems
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{{COI|date=September 2024}}
{{Buzzword|date=September 2024}}
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{{Infobox company
| name =Sentient Vision Systems
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| type =Private
| key_people =
| industry = Computer Vision Software
| products = Automated Object Detection in Full Motion Video
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| num_employees = <50
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| location = Melbourne, Australia
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| homepage = [http://www.sentientvision.com/ SentientVision.com]
}}
Sentient Vision Systems is an Australian company headquartered in Port Melbourne, that produces automated object detection services for video from aircraft and surface sensors used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), search and rescue, and law enforcement . Sentient's products use computer vision software to detect and track objects of interest, both electro-optic (EO) and infrared (IR) for land and maritime environments. Sentient Vision Systems was acquired by Shield AI in April 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shield-ai-to-acquire-australia-based-sentient-vision-systems-and-establish-shield-ai-australia-302107868.html|title=Shield AI to Acquire Australia-Based Sentient Vision Systems and Establish Shield AI Australia|date=4 April 2024|work= Shield AI press release}}
History
Sentient Vision Systems was founded by Dr. Paul Boxer in 2004 to develop computer vision products with a focus on moving target indication (MTI){{Buzzword inline|date=September 2024}} in video. In 2006, Australia's Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) awarded Sentient a Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD{{Cite web|url=http://www.dst.defence.gov.au/ctd-success-story/kestral-aerial-surveillance-system|title=Kestral aerial surveillance system|website=www.dst.defence.gov.au|access-date=2016-11-12|date=2014-06-27}}{{Citation|author=DST Group|title=Sentient and the CTD Program|date=2014-03-22|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeqLoPInSJQ|access-date=2017-08-14}}) program which supported development and demonstration of Kestrel Land MTI.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dst.defence.gov.au/sites/default/files/basic_pages/documents/Australian-Defence-Magazine-article_0.pdf|title=So what has the CTD program ever done for us|last=Ferguson|first=Gregor|date=January 2012|work=Australian Defence Magazine}} A CTD extension and then support from Commercialisation Australia enabled further development and commercialisation, including Kestrel Maritime, an object detection product for maritime environments. Kestrel has been integrated on a range of manned and unmanned aircraft including the Wasp{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}, Raven{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}} and Puma UAS's,{{Cite web|url=http://investor.avinc.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=648269|title=AeroVironment Secures Global Distribution Rights for Sentient's Target Detection Software for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (NASDAQ:AVAV)|website=investor.avinc.com|access-date=2016-11-12}} US Navy Firescout,{{Cite web|url=http://breakingdefense.com/2015/03/teaching-drones-how-to-see-fire-scout-kestrel/|title=Teaching Drones How To See: Fire Scout & Kestrel|last=Freedberg jr.|first=Sydney J.|date=13 March 2015|website=BreakingDefence}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/sentient-delivers-first-kestrel-for-us-navy-fire-scout|title=Sentient delivers first Kestrel for US Navy Fire Scout|access-date=2016-11-12}} P3 Orion{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}, NPAS EC135{{Cite web|url=http://www.cartenav.com/images/images/Case_studies/CarteNav_Case_Study_NPAS_RW.pdf|title=AIMS-ISR® at the Heart of New UK NPAS Mission System}} and RAAF Heron.{{Cite web|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2010/11/local-firm-supports-raaf-heron-flight/|title=Local firm supports RAAF Heron flight|date=10 November 2010|website=australianaviation.com.au}}
Sentient's most recent product, ViDAR (Visual Detection and Ranging){{Buzzword inline|date=September 2024}}, was launched in 2015. ViDAR provides visual wide area search capability acting as an optical radar. ViDAR has been deployed with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on a ScanEagle UAS{{Cite web|url=http://news.navy.gov.au/en/Oct2016/Fleet/3246#.WCUWTS197IX|title=ScanEagle soars in Christmas Island trials|last=McGuire|first=Patrick|date=3 October 2016|website=Navy News AU}} and is in service with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) for search and rescue.{{Cite web|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/12/vidar-for-amsa-challenger-604s/|title=ViDAR for AMSA Challenger 604s|date=2 December 2015}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.aviationwa.org.au/2016/08/07/first-challenger-604-arrives-at-perth-to-replace-dornier-328-on-amsa-search-and-rescue-operations/|title=First Challenger 604 arrives at Perth to replace Dornier 328 on AMSA search and rescue operations|last=Eyre|first=David|date=2016-08-07|website=AviationWA|access-date=2017-08-14}}
In 2016, Australia's Defence Minister, Christopher Pyne MP, congratulated Sentient for deployment of over 1,000 Kestrel systems worldwide.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pyneonline.com.au/media-centre/media-releases/government-congratulates-sentient-vision-systems|title=Government Congratulates Sentient Vision Systems|date=7 September 2015}} Sentient was also referenced in the Australian Governments 2016 Defence Industry Policy Statement{{Cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/whitepaper/Docs/2016-Defence-Industry-Policy-Statement.pdf|title=Australian Governments 2016 Defence Industry Policy Statement|date=2016|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia}}
In June 2017, The Australian government announced a $100m contract to supply the Army with Wasp AE small UAV's including Sentient's Kestrel.{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/army-buys-100-million-fleet-of-small-drones-to-protect-soldiers-on-battlefield-20170531-gwhhbv.html|title=Army buys $100 million fleet of small drones to protect soldiers on battlefield|last=Wroe|first=David|date=2017-06-01|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2017-08-14|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/sentient-kestrel-part-of-the-deal-for-army-suas|title=Sentient Kestrel part of the deal for Army SUAS|access-date=2017-08-14|language=en}}