Ukrainian-German Quantum Systems is working on a new acoustic module for Vector and Vector AI drones, which should not only record the sound of firing, but also help determine the type of artillery system from the shot itself.
Ukrainian-German Quantum Systems is working on a new acoustic module for Vector and Vector AI drones, which should not only record the sound of firing, but also help determine the type of artillery system from the shot itself.
As reported by Militarny, the development was reported by the managing director of Quantum Systems in Ukraine, Oleksandr Berezhny. According to him, the acoustic sensor has not yet been launched into mass use, as the company continues to collect data, test the system in field conditions and train the module. Currently, there is only a point application involving a group of Vector operators.
The main idea of the development is that the drone should be able not only to see the target, but also to «hear» it. The sensor should detect the source of the sound, after which the AI-based system will filter out unnecessary noise and highlight only those signals that are important to the operator. The company has already reached the basic level of detection, but now the key problem is that the module captures too many extraneous sounds and needs more precise tuning.
In the future, the developers want to bring the system to a level where it can not only signal the operation of artillery, but also detail the target to the point of identifying a specific system based on the sound profile of the shot. At the same time, the company recognizes that the accuracy of such analysis is affected by various factors, including the characteristics of the charge during firing.
Berezhny also noted that such a module will probably not become standard equipment for all aircraft in the line. The reason is simple: the more systems installed on board, the more it affects the duration of the flight. Therefore, most likely, this is a specialized configuration of the drone for individual combat missions.
Vector and Vector AI are reconnaissance UAVs already in use in Ukraine for surveillance, correction, and data collection. The addition of an acoustic module is an attempt to expand the role of such platforms from an aerial «camera» to a sensor node that can help detect enemy artillery even when it is not visible in the frame.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how Quantum Systems is preparing the first Ukrainian-made Twister drones for the Defense Forces. This is a compact reconnaissance drone that has not yet been tested on the front, but should soon enter combat use.
