Drone-Based Intelligence Collection for Defense & Disaster Recovery

By Mike Ball / 05 Sep 2021
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ARTEMIS drone intelligence gathering system

Hexagon US Federal has partnered with senseFly and Tough Stump Technologies to develop ARTEMIS (Aerial Reconnaissance Tactical Edge Mapping Imagery System), a turnkey solution designed to rapidly collect and analyze high-resolution imagery for situational awareness and intelligence collection. ARTEMIS is based around the senseFly eBee TAC fixed-wing mapping drone, and also includes fully configured laptops containing the Google Earth Enterprise Platform (GEEP) with preloaded globes for particular Areas of Interest (AOI) and other mission data from Hexagon US Federal.

The system features a 17.2-mile range (one way) and a flight time of up to 90 minutes. GEEP provides an intuitive interface for visualization and planning, integration with mobile situational awareness tools such as ATAK, and enables ARTEMIS to operate in disconnected environments. The solution is ideal for tactical military operations, disaster response, public safety, and humanitarian assistance missions.

Weighing just 1.6 kg (3.5 lbs), the fully NDAA-compliant eBee TAC drone features a unique digital camouflage skin for increased stealth during missions. The platform can be rapidly deployed from assembly to hand-launch in just three minutes and operated by one person in the field for added agility.

Tammer Olibah, CEO and President of Hexagon US Federal, commented: “We are very proud of our partnership with senseFly and Tough Stump Technologies in building and deploying the ARTEMIS solution. It’s inspiring to see what a difference ARTEMIS makes in providing organizations with the ability to develop reliable, detailed situational awareness at the tactical edge.”

Gilles Labossière, CEO of senseFly, stated: “We’re excited to be working with Hexagon US Federal and Tough Stump Technologies. Together we have developed a forward-thinking solution that is unlike anything else on the market today. Harnessing the advanced capabilities of the senseFly eBee TAC, ARTEMIS allows users to cover large expanses of terrain quickly and efficiently – even in remote areas that are difficult to access.”

Jarrett Heavenston, co-founder/CEO at Tough Stump Technologies, said: “There’s been a gap in situational awareness knowledge in the defense and disaster relief sectors for many years now. Other UAVs, like small planes or satellites, cannot capture as many details as a drone, which puts operators at a disadvantage in the field. Now, with ARTEMIS, there is access to a sophisticated, end-to-end offering for the first time that will be a game changer for these industries which need a higher-grade of aerial intelligence.”

Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact