Red Cat Holdings has partnered with Palantir Technologies to integrate visual navigation software and a new operating system into Red Cat’s Black Widow drones.
Palantir’s advanced AI-powered software references up-to-date onboard satellite imagery to provide accurate navigation that is entirely independent of GPS or radio control signals, enhancing the Black Widow’s autonomous operations on the battlefield.
The integration of Palantir’s VNav software and Warp Speed OS advances Red Cat’s mission to define the future of aerial intelligence and provide warfighters with critical, real-time situational awareness. Following Black Widow’s selection for the U.S. Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance Program, this partnership accelerates the ability to deploy electronic-warfare (EW) resistant sUAS without GPS. Palantir’s VNav software solves the persistent problem of long-range inertial drift by comparing the drone’s position against onboard up-to-date satellite imagery.
Key benefits of Palantir’s VNav technology for Black Widow drones include:
Satellite Imagery Integration: Palantir’s ability to task partner satellites to acquire up-to-date imagery and deliver it to the edge provides drones with the necessary situational awareness, facilitating highly accurate navigation without long-range drift.
A-PNT Navigation: VNav technology empowers drones with an Alternate PNT source by using sophisticated computer vision techniques for visual inertial odometry and reference matching against satellite imagery in multiple visual bands without reliance on GPS, ensuring operational efficacy in EW environments.
Edge Runtime: VNav’s visual navigation algorithms are deployed directly onboard the drone and run fully offline using Palantir’s Edge Runtime.
Jeff Thompson, CEO of Red Cat, commented: “Equipped with Palantir’s visual navigation and artificial intelligence, the Black Widow will be among the most capable drones ever fielded by the Department of Defense, compact enough to fit in a rucksack. This innovation will enhance the warfighter’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance capability while improving lethality. This begins in our multiple factories, where Palantir’s Warp Speed will optimize production, streamline our supply chain, change management, and quality assurance, ultimately reducing costs and improving margins.”
Aki Jain, Palantir’s CTO & President, US Government, noted: “For more than two decades, we have been providing warfighters with mission-critical software and production AI capabilities – including Project Maven. Arming Red Cat drones with Palantir’s Visual Navigation along with integrations into Maven Smart System, while also powering their production via Warp Speed, will provide unprecedented capability for the battlefield and secure the ongoing competitive advantage of the West.”
