Nefarious actors wield increasingly sophisticated UAS that move quickly, fly low and blend into complex backgrounds and infrastructure.

SiLC Technologies seeks to push back the perimeter with its newly released Eyeonic Vista, a high-resolution, 4D+, 8-channel vision detection and tracking system that can yield precision, robustness and intelligent target analysis.

“In simple terms, this is an imaging system that’s capable of seeing things as small as a drone at distances of a kilometer or more, and it gives velocity and distance with every pixel,” said Arlon Martin, SiLC’s vice president, market development. “We can accurately provide that distance location even at a kilometer within 10 or so centimeters.” 

Martin positioned a differentiator for Eyeonic. “Radar does a very good job, but it’ll lose track of a drone if it hovers or goes into a stealth mode operation, or if it goes down below the horizon so there’s a lot of background behind it.

“We can distinguish it because we know the velocity and distance.”

Eyeonic Vista is being produced in Monrovia, California. Silicon photonics form its core, updating its use from data communications and telecommunications. “We’re really focusing on the sensors.” Ease of “repeatability” will allow scale at high volume, Martin said. “We also can miniaturize, which is very important for SWaP.” 

Vista would typically mount on a pan tilt stage, which can accommodate addition protection with, yes, radar, a camera and LiDAR as merited. Dual polarization sensing enhances material classification.

Martin noted dual use for Eyeonic’s clarity at range, from defense to stadia protection and robotics to maritime monitoring—and transportation. “You know, 300 meters is too short for a train to stop. If you see something at 300 meters, you lose a couple of people a year.”