DARPA envisages smarter sensors with FENCE Phase 2 awards
An event-based camera produces a smaller amount of data than a standard imager. (Photo: WSU)
Raytheon and Northrop Grumman are working on a DARPA programme to create neuromorphic IR camera technologies.
DARPA has selected two companies to continue work on a programme to produce new event-based IR camera technologies that would transmit only essential data in cluttered visual environments.
Raytheon and Northrop Grumman each received contracts for Phase 2 of the Fast Event-based Neuromorphic Camera and Electronics (FENCE) programme, with $16.27 million and $8.71 million awards respectively.
DARPA expects each company to complete the work by June 2024.
In July 2021, DARPA selected Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems to lead teams on Phase 1 of FENCE.
The US defence R&D agency hopes the end result will be an event-based IR focal plane array plus a new class of digital signal processing and learning algorithms to handle dynamic scenes.
Because the solution would only transmit images when pixels change, it would produce significantly less data and operate with much less latency and power consumption than existing imaging systems in use with the US military.
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![New US developer LightRidge to take on air and space sensor markets]()
New US developer LightRidge to take on air and space sensor markets
The private-equity backed firm combines the businesses of space payloads specialist GEOST and airborne sensor manufacturer Ophir.
-
![Northrop Grumman to commence work on MESA sensors for US Air Force E-7 AEW fleet]()
Northrop Grumman to commence work on MESA sensors for US Air Force E-7 AEW fleet
The USAF will become the fifth operator of the E-7/MESA combination following Australia, Turkey, South Korea and the UK.
-
![Northrop Grumman details bid for US Navy TACAMO aircraft replacement]()
Northrop Grumman details bid for US Navy TACAMO aircraft replacement
The company believes its role as prime contractor on the E-2 Hawkeye puts it in a strong position for the programme to replace the USN's Boeing E-6 Mercury fleet.
-
![Northrop Grumman hones US Space Force satellite design in virtual environment]()
Northrop Grumman hones US Space Force satellite design in virtual environment
The company has applied its Highly Immersive Virtual Environment technology to the design process of polar overwatch satellites ordered by the US Space Force.
-
![Northrop Grumman joins USAF effort to build digital network backbone]()
Northrop Grumman joins USAF effort to build digital network backbone
The company will join Phase 1 of the Common Tactical Edge Network effort to enable Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2).
