A South Australian project combining advanced sensors, satellite technology and artificial intelligence to improve threat detection and response has successfully demonstrated a new capability with applications across Defence and national security.
Led by Fleet Space Technologies, the SENTRI (Sensor-based Environmental Sense-making Network for Threat Response and Information) project brought together industry, research and Defence partners to strengthen Australia's ability to detect and respond to emerging threats.
Project partners included Safety From Space, Adelaide University, Australasian Space Innovation Institute (ASII), Insight Via Artificial Intelligence (IVAI), Swordfish Computing and Defence Science and Technology Group.
Supported by $1.6 million through the Defence Innovation Partnership's Activator Fund, SENTRI combines small, distributed sensors, Australian satellite technology and intelligent data processing to identify significant events in remote areas, providing real-time information within seconds, without relying on existing communications networks.
Fleet Space Technologies Co-founder and Chief Exploration Officer Matt Pearson said the project brought together proven technologies from industry, research and Defence partners, creating a flexible capability with potential applications across Defence, border protection and emergency response.
“We've shown that small, low-cost sensors can report straight to an Australian satellite and put a live picture in front of a decision-maker within seconds. That opens up sensing in remote and disconnected environments, at scale, supporting timely decisions,” Pearson said.
The platform's reusable architecture also means it can be adapted for other uses, including drone monitoring, perimeter security and biosecurity, without the need to build a new system from scratch.
“Our aim now is to take SENTRI into the field with Defence and test it where it would actually be used. We're also exploring civil applications, such as emergency response, because the problem is the same: lots of sensors, spread wide, with time-critical decisions," Pearson said.
“SENTRI runs over the same Australian satellites that support our commercial operations, a clear example of dual-use space infrastructure in action.”
Defence Innovation Partnership Director Sumen Rai said the SENTRI project demonstrates what can be achieved when South Australia's researchers, industry and the federal Department of Defence work together to solve complex national Defence challenges.
“SENTRI demonstrates how South Australian innovation can be translated into practical capability for Defence and other national security users through strong collaboration between industry, research organisations and Defence," Rai said.
“We want South Australian ideas and expertise to move faster from research into capability, creating opportunities for local businesses to grow and participate in national and international defence supply chains.”
Since 2018, the Defence Innovation Partnership has contributed $8.82 million in South Australian Government funding to collaborative research and development (R&D) projects, leveraging a further $41.5 million from Defence, industry and universities.
The Defence Innovation Partnership is a partnership between Defence SA, Defence Science and Technology Group, Adelaide University and Flinders University, connecting South Australia's industrial and research capabilities with the needs of the Australian Department of Defence, allies and partner nations.
Applications are now open for the latest Activator Fund round, with up to $1.6 million available for projects focused on Counter-Uncrewed Aerial System Technologies.