AI-enabled Target Acquisition and Communication

Elbit Systems recently concluded a series of demonstrations of its HattoriX fire-support system in eight European nations, the company announced on 18 January.

Launched in late 2018, HattoriX is a passive/active target acquisition system that uses AI to enable forward observers and similarly-tasked tactical teams to close sensor-to-shooter loops with just three intuitive touches on a screen: one to acquire the target, one to issue precise target coordinates, and one to send all target information to the fire systems.

The capability demonstrations in Europe were conducted in urban locations and in open fields, by both day and night, simulating a variety of operational scenarios. During the demonstrations, users had the opportunity to experiment, first-hand, with the capability to passively and rapidly acquire Category 1 targets (with a target location error of just a few meters), facilitating effective engagement of time-sensitive targets.

Featuring a payload-agnostic mission computer that runs proprietary software, a photogrammetry algorithm and an AR overlay of real-time C2 data, HattoriX conducts automatic fusion of a geographical information system (GIS) database, pre-loaded target data, payload visual feed, and C2 information, thereby enabling the operator to intuitively issue CAT-1 targets without using any emitters, and seamlessly feed acquired targets and additional target information (image, video and/or description) into any battle management system. Interfacing with any electro-optical payload of choice, HattoriX consists of a goniometer, a mission computer, a touchscreen display unit and a lightweight tripod. It also has a remote-controlled configuration for extended force protection applications. Users include forward observers, forward air controllers (FAC), joint terminal attack controllers (JTAC), reconnaissance teams, field intelligence and special forces.