Skyborne successfully completes first US DoD contract for Cerberus

Skyborne Technologies has successfully completed its first US Department of Defense contract for the US Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL). The six-month contract was completed on time and demonstrated in Australia to MCWL’s Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Branch.

The project  developed the “Slew-to-Cue” feature, a semi-autonomous targeting assistance using aided target recognition (AiTR), for Skyborne’s Cerberus, a man-portable armed Unmanned Aircraft System delivering organic strike capability at the tactical level. This capability significantly enhances accuracy and reduces operator input to effectively hit targets with a stand off distance. Skyborne’s partner company, Athena AI, delivered the AI target recognition software to provide target and tracking information onboard the Cerberus UAS edge processor.

Skyborne Technologies Chief Executive Officer Dr. Michael Creagh commented, “I think we surprised ourselves at the level of improvement the AiTR gives the Cerberus strike system. What started as a ‘nice-to-have' concept has essentially become the core of the entire targeting process. Everyone was speechless when the first shot in the demonstration hit dead centre of the target. We’ve been incredibly impressed with the USMC and MCWL throughout the project. They are forward leaning to get their warfighters the best competitive advantage that they can.”

“The project has demonstrated the Cerberus is not only a new class of small armed UAS, but an AI-enabled platform capable of delivering precision fires from a greater stand-off distance and therefore out of visual and acoustic detection. The project has demonstrated the step change capability from other concepts like dropping grenades from small UAS and loitering munitions,” said Mr Adrian Dudok, Skyborne Technologies Chief Business Officer.

“MCWL’s experimentation with state-of-the-art autonomous systems exemplifies our commitment to harnessing innovative technologies that enhance our tactical capabilities, ensuring our Marines are better equipped, more agile, and always a step ahead on the battlefield,” said Major Steven Atkinson, MCWL Robotics and AI Branch Head.