In an exciting update, SOR subsidiary Stealth highlighted key developments and commercial applications across its advanced technology product suite. Image: Getty
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In an exciting update, SOR subsidiary Stealth highlighted key developments and commercial applications across its advanced technology product suite.
Through the course of 2021, Strategic Elements (ASX:SOR) demonstrated consistent execution on delivery of advanced technology breakthroughs being developed by its fully-owned subsidiary, Stealth Technologies.
This morning, the company provided another exciting update – confirming that Stealth has made major headway across its technology suite comprised of the Autonomous Security Vehicle (ASV), Autonomous CBRN Agent Detection and Autonomous Mining applications.
The updates showed Stealth continues to execute on a number of commercial opportunities through the development of its patented technologies.
And investors took notice, as shares in SOR ripped higher by more than 20% at the opening bell following today’s announcement.
A centrepiece among Stealth’s projects, the ASV is the product of a multi-year period of development, from design and implementation to real-world integration.
Earlier this year, Stealth confirmed a key update with the successful deployment for live perimeter security operations – a world first for ASVs – at WA’s Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison correctional facility.
This morning, SOR advised that the ASV has now successfully completed thousands of operational tests for its advanced Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems at the facility.
The outcomes included:
The ASV has also demonstrated operational capacity across thousands of tests for its perimeter photo-electric beam detectors, advanced microwave motion sensors and buried electromagnetic cable detectors.
The successful tests confirm the ASV’s functionality as a practical Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems (PIDS) solution.
“This is a critically important but mundane task for human guards which may produce inconsistent test results, cause physical damage to PIDS, and reduce testing frequency due to high labour costs,” SOR said.
Just as importantly, “PIDS testing engages highly skilled staff for a repetitive, labour-intensive process that can be re-deployed more productively elsewhere in the facility”.
For those reasons, an ASV solution which can meet rigorous testing metrics is a technology with a material commercial application, in both Australian and global markets.
On that front, SOR has a major potential distribution advantage through its relationship with global engineering giant Honeywell, which manages and operates security for prison complexes.
“Stealth intends to run the ASV at a Western Australian prison until the end of 2021 and then conduct a full review and assessment of ASV missions made to date,” SOR said.
“Discussions on a commercial agreement between Stealth Technologies and Honeywell are continuing.”
As part of an additional use-case for the ASV technology, SOR has also applied for $750,000 in federal grant funding as part of the Cooperative Research Centres Project.
The funds will be used in connection with a pilot project to operate ASV deployments for mobile surveillance and perimeter security at other critical infrastructure sites across Australia.
Honeywell and The University of Western Australia will also collaborate in the project. The Honeywell Enterprise Buildings Integrator (EBI) software is deployed at sites worldwide including managing security at critical infrastructure sites in Australia.
In a separate intiaive, Stealth is also collaborating with a division of the Australian Department of Defence and the University of WA to build a world-first autonomous drone with detection and sensor capabilities to asses chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) agents.
Since the project was first announced, the partners have carried out extensive research and design work on software and hardware, with a final design of the end product – the AxV Gen 2 – expected to be released in February 2022.
The drone technology is designed to be operated in groups by designated mission controllers, with multiple ASVs and autonomous drones operating simultaneously.
“Benefits of multiple ASVs and drones working together include a) greater area covered b) same area covered faster and c) enhanced sensing ability as each drone can carry a different sensor payload,” SOR said.
The project means Stealth is viewed as a key player in the development of technologies used in the protection of Australia’s strategic interests.
“Live drone testing of the mission control algorithms for multi-drone CBRN search has commenced and will complete in Q1, 2022,” the company said.
Rounding out SOR’s company update this morning, Stealth advised that it has also agreed to commence a Phase 1 pilot study for its Stealth Sensor Unit with a tier-one global mining company.
A division of Stealth’s Autonomous AxV platform, the sensor unit will combing sensor fusion and computer vision technology to effectively capture and map data for a portion of a mine’s underground environment.
The pilot has been commissioned to assess the potential suitability of Stealth’s solution, and upon successful completion of Phase 1 it the two sides will discuss the specification for Phase 2 and open commercial negotiations.
Stealth is very appreciative of the opportunity to supply and install its technology into an operational Tier-1 underground mine and looks forward to demonstrating its potential to solve existing real world problems,” the company said.
Phase 1 of the project is scheduled for completion in the March quarter of 2022.
This article was developed in collaboration with Strategic Elements, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
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