AiMTI

AiMTI is an AI-enabled Moving Target Indicator (MTI) that provides moving target indication similar to a radar target indicator. AiMTI is the AI-enabled version of Kestrel, Sentient’s first moving target indicator, which automatically detects moving objects within electro-optical (EO) or infrared (IR) full-motion video from  a range of unmanned and manned aircraft.

Origins of the Moving Target Indicator

MTI is typically referencing a mode of operation in radars to contrast a moving target such as aircraft from the unmoving clutter by comparing the doppler frequency shift of the moving object’s received signal from the radar antenna. The Doppler effect measures the phase shift of reflected radio wave pulse in moving objects (the frequency of the reflected pulse changes, while filtering out stationary target with no change). MTI stores a single pulse of the received signal for the time between broadcasts (pulse repetition frequency). Modern radar systems including synthetic aperture radar have moving target indication that allow the measurement of radial velocity via the Doppler shift from a single signal.

The probability of detection is dependent on antenna size and the amount of power it radiates. Location accuracy is also dependent on the position of the radar.

Advantages and disadvantages of MTI radar

As MTI radar is one type of pulse radar, its advantages include using very low pulse repetition frequency to avoid range ambiguities and determine target velocity to differentiate moving from still targets. Supposedly easier to use than pulse doppler radar, it is more economical and have a high antenna bandwidth.

MTI radar’s disadvantages include the lack of detection with blind speed. Blind speed is the magnitude of target’s radial velocity when moving target appear as a stationary target. A typical MTI radar uses high-pass filter to remove energy at low Doppler frequencies. Periodic frequency response of a high-pass filter means some energy is removed at higher Doppler frequencies and results in the lack of detection with corresponding targets. Other disadvantages include doppler ambiguities, requires active transmissions while in use, requires extensive radar training and interpretation, requires cross-cueing to motion video system for target confirmation.

The larger the radar the more accurate. The larger radar form factor is not always suitable for a smaller moving platform such as tactical drones. Short antennas affect the target location accuracy when there are multiple target vehicles moving into an area with many roads. There is a minimum detectable velocity (MDV) for Ground Moving Target Indicator. Because there is no sufficient Doppler shift in its target echo to separate it from the clutter return, any target with a velocity less than the MDV cannot be detected.

Moving Target Indicator applications

MTI radar is one of the sensor payloads found on larger UAVs (Uncrewed aerial vehicles) and manned aircraft.  The algorithm for signal processing compares radar signal collected from the radar antenna to differentiate the moving targets. The doppler radar also provides precise location of target and tracks movement in real time. As the location of the moving target changes, the distance in relation to the passing mti radar is overlaid on an optical map as detection. This allows the radar system to produce tracks to highlight the path of the target detection.

MTI’s defense and military applications include ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance as well as search and rescue.  Modern radars have systems that can detect and track ground vehicles with Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI). MTI radar often cross-cues to electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors in full motion video gimbal systems. An example of MTI radar is Lynx radar from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

Full motion video gimbal systems

Full motion video (FMV) gimbal systems have EO/IR sensors that have a narrower focus, referred to as the “soda-straw effect”. This is the restricted view of land or sea as though one is looking through a soda straw while needing high-resolution imagery. A wider angle is ideal to enhance and speed up target detection for better situational awareness.

What is AiMTI?

AiMTI is Sentient’s AI-enabled Moving Target Indicator solution. Based on Kestrel, a product with the technology readiness level (TRL) of 9, AiMTI autonomously detects moving targets by augmenting full motion video systems to detect targets in areas that are 20 times larger, eliminating the “soda-straw effect”. The targets can be persistently tracked by adding “breadcrumbs’ to follow moving targets without losing sight of the big picture. The addition of the AI analytic for MTI processing enhances detection of moving targets as well as the accuracy of the detection. While it is not a pulse doppler radar, does not utilise the transmitted pulse of the doppler spectrum,  AiMTI provides real-time situational awareness like moving target indicator radar for a wider range of aircraft that are not always suitable for radar.

As radial speed is not a factor, AiMTI detects both fast and slow moving targets including people and vehicles over challenging terrain especially those with tall structures. AiMTI significantly reduces parallax detection from tall structures such as trees, towers and stadium lights, which are common issues with all moving platforms. AiMTI requires FMV gimbals to have minimum processing modules required for industrial-grade Edge AI. Sentient can also provide the processing capability in a separate add on server. Enquire with Sentient here.

Capabilities of AiMTI

Enhances mission outcomes for operators tracking multiple targets at once without missing movement in the periphery.

• Increases surveillance areas by 20 times, eliminating the “soda-straw” effect.
• Enhances reliability with increase in number of target detection by up to 4 times.

Improves accuracy of detection by reducing false alarms by up to 4 times.

• Minimizes parallax caused by moving platform over tall structures to near zero
• Minimizes ‘ghost’ detection of fast moving targets and shadows to near zero

Detects slow or fast moving objects regardless of speed

Improves tracking persistence of more targets detected

Passive and does not actively transmission during use.

Accurate yet small form factor addition to full motion video systems, suitable for a wider range of aircraft

More economical than MTI radar

Typical uses for AiMTI

AiMTI combined with full motion video gimbal systems enhances mission outcomes of
Law enforcement
Counter drug trafficking operations
Counter Illegal fishing operations / marine life protection
Counter people smuggling operations
Counter piracy / maritime hijacking operations
Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance
Search and Rescue
Download AiMTI (AI-enabled Moving Target Indicator) brochure

Kestrel moving target indicator

As Sentient’s first moving target indication solution, Kestrel automatically detects objects in  electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) motion video over land and maritime environments. Kestrel is operationally proven (TRL9) and can integrate with many aircraft sensors, mission systems and is complementary to ground control stations and remote video terminals.

Kestrel is the result of more than 20 years of AI / computer vision research and deployment, and detects moving people and vehicles over challenging terrain in real-time or for forensic operations. Raw data can be quickly transformed into actionable intelligence.

Capabilities of Kestrel

Enhanced surveillance with small object detection down to a few pixels in size

Automatically detecting moving land objects (vehicles and people) or maritime objects (small boats and rubber rafts)

Provides dedicated modes optimized for search and rescue or maritime surveillance

Extractable data including size, speed and direction of moving target for real time or forensic (pattern of life) analyses

Moving target tracking with breadcrumb representing visible movement history and predicted trajectory

Geo-location data compliant with STANAG 4609 and MISB 0601 in MGRS and Lat/Long

Works with ISR systems, existing mission systems, sensors, ground control stations and RVTs

Integration options include Windows application, APIs for Windows, Linux and embedded processors

Testimonial from a Kestrel user

Kestrel autonomously detects moving targets and highlights them in a motion video, reducing operator fatigue . It enables a wider field of view than the human eye. “Kestrel detects any small movements in the field of view and alerts our operators to objects that are easily missed – camouflaged vehicles in tough terrains, dismounts or insurgents leaving houses. This gives our commanders a complete understanding of the situation on the ground.” WGCDR David Riddel, RAAF Deputy Director – Air Combat Capability