Computer vision and artificial intelligence software provider Sentient Vision Systems has signed an exclusive global distribution agreement with unmanned aircraft system (UAS) provider Insitu for the ViDAR visual and detection ranging software for unmanned systems within the tactical weight class. Insitu will incorporate the ViDAR payload into its fleet of unmanned systems, beginning with the ScanEagle aircraft. The software is built into the ScanEagle payload by Hood Technologies. ViDAR is a wide-area autonomous detection system for electro-optic imagery in the maritime domain enabling coverage over 80 times the ocean’s surface compared with existing electro-optic sensors. ViDAR transforms the utility of tactical UAS’s by giving them a find function. Operators typically must rely on larger, more expensive aircraft to detect objects in the ocean. ViDAR provides the capability in a smaller, more cost-effective payload. “Adding ViDAR’s capability to ScanEagle demonstrates our focus on continuing to deliver mission-critical technology for our global customer’s maritime ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] needs,” said Don Williamson, vice president of Insitu’s ScanEagle product line. Sentient develops and deploys computer vision solutions for defense and civil applications. Insitu is a designer, developer, producer and operator of high-performance, cost-effective UAS.