Sensor Systems

Overview’s Sensor Systems integrate one or more COTS sensors, a video codec or data processing module and a multi-axis direct drive motion system packaged within a weather proof housing. Whilst not exclusively, most Sensor Systems will include a visual imager for human confirmation and may also include a variety of additional sensors such as RF, Radar, Thermal, Laser Range Finder and others. Sensor Systems vary in size, shape and function depending on both the sensors required and the target environment

The primary purpose of a Sensor System is to provide a user with data (or better, information) to close the OODA loop. In a video centric device, such as Hydra, getting the data out of the sensor quickly maximises the time for the human operator to establish situational awareness, process image content and make decisions.

Latency is even more crucial in autonomous Sensor Systems powered by edge AI/ML, such as PodView. Here latency directly impacts the system’s ability to generate real-time information. Low latency ensures that data is processed and analysed quickly, allowing the system to respond almost instantaneously to changes or anomalies, closing the OODA loop at machine speeds. This is vital for applications where real-time responses are critical, such as in Force Protection or Counter UAS.

Data refers to the raw, unprocessed output of sensors, such as visual/thermal pictures, temperature readings or RADAR returns. Information, on the other hand, is the result of processing and analysing this data to provide meaningful insights to directly inform decision making, such as detecting objects, trends or anomalies. For example, raw visual and thermal data can be analysed to identify both that a vehicle is in the scene, and that it has been recently operated, enabling the user to make informed decisions in real-time.

Observe, Orient, Decide, Act (OODA): The OODA loop was originally conceived and developed by U.S.A.F Colonel John Boyd. Originally developed to train solders to make critical decisions quickly, where the available time to gather information was limited – particularly in air combat. Col. Boyd’s strategy was to optimise and execute the OODA loop more quickly than the opposition in order to disrupt the enemy’s decision cycle. Today in defence circles the OODA loop is often referred to as the “Kill Chain” or the “Detect, Decide, Effect” chain which combines the original Observe and Orient steps from OODA into a single Detect stage.

No. Many Sensor Systems include a visual sensor/camera for human confirmation however this is not always the case. Some Sensor Systems are purely electronic (for example RADAR) whilst others may also include a variety of additional sensors such as RF/Radar, Thermal, Laser Range Finders and others.

Overview’s Sensor Systems are all sensor agnostic, and whilst we provide a suggested sensor payload, these can all be modified should your application require a particular sensor or sensing modality.

The “Advanced Intelligent Sensor Environment” was developed by Overview to support our real-time Sensor Systems and is the operating system for PodView. AdvISE provides the video pipeline and processing, low level API, and PodView’s web based user interface for local or remote management and control. In addition, AdvISE is the interface between the data ingested by PodView and the ML/AI models running onboard, providing consistent interfaces and communicating the resulting information back to the user.

AdvISE allows a PodView system to be controlled via the WebUI, AdvISE API, ONVIF™ and SAPIENT™ protocols and can also output information via Cursor-On-Target messages into the Tactical Awareness Kit (TAK) environment.