TerraSense Analytics, a young Canadian tech company, is rapidly rising to the forefront in global Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) technology with its MIST product.
TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT: Computer Vision for ISR
BY MARC MONTGOMERY
Kelowna-based TerraSense Analytics has developed artificial intelligence software with deep learning and computer vision that is considered by many to be ahead of the curve among global ISR technologies. “No one else is doing this,” says Jozsef Hamari, TerraSense’s President and Chief Technology Officer. Worth noting: TerraSense was listed as one of Canada’s Top 100 Defence Companies in 2024, by Canadian Defence Review.
TerraSense MIST
In 2018, the company began focusing on creating intelligent surveillance and monitoring solutions, which led them to develop two AI-based solutions: CRWN and MIST. Hamari explained that the company’s Multimodal Input Surveillance & Tracking (MIST) software product works in conjunction with low size, weight and power (SWaP) hardware, such as those used in drones, enabling the software to be able to handle large amounts of data, and be able to process and parse that data in real time.
It involves computer vision AI algorithms and real deep learning to detect, recognize, geolocate, and track targets of interest across challenging domains and weather, and/or in conditions of low bandwidth and connectivity. This includes multi-target tracking, track fusion, and course and speed over ground estimates with the algorithms instantly interpreting data to simplify and speed up decision-making for the operator.
“MIST software connects to existing military and/or COTS sensor hardware and systems such as electro optical and infrared (EO/IR) cameras and radars,” Hamari told CDR. “By adding our advanced technology it not only detects a target but recognizes and identifies it as a particular type of tank, APC, truck, civilian vehicle, dismounted soldiers, or ships/boats, and locates them on a map while tracking them in real time at the edge.”
The sensor agnostic technology is specifically designed with NATO standards interoperability, including both inputs and outputs, for ready compatibility with any STANAG 4609 EO/IR system and STANAG 4607 ground moving target indicator/synthetic aperture radar (GMTI/SAR) equipment operated by Five Eyes and NATO partners.
With the increasing number of surveillance platforms comes an increasingly complex array of sensors and screens. Hamari notes, “You have operators and analysts that have to stare at EO and IR cameras and radars for hours on end trying to spot those relevant targets in a sea of sensor data which can be overwhelming. This process and subsequent radio communications slows things down and creates room for error.”
According to Hamari, the MIST software instantly deciphers data and reduces ‘noise’ so the operator can focus on decision-making and important higher order tasks.
Since MIST is NATO standards compliant, there are minimal training requirements and allows for easy integration of the software into operator workflow.
With the coupling of ever improving EO/IR sensors and radars, MIST can now detect, recognize and identify targets at greater distances and also separate targets to highlight any target previously indicated to be of interest.
ORIGINS
MIST was originally designed for the resource industry to quickly and accurately identify tree species and geolocate them on a map using an aerial platform usually over rugged terrain and conditions that were not ideal.
When Hamari learned of DRDC’s Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program, a program that is designed to improve DND’s access to the creative potential of Canadian innovators, he quickly saw the great potential for military applications. With subsequent IDEaS grants TerraSense Analytics switched directions to focus on defence.
CDR also had the opportunity to speak with Cornell Pich, Vice President of Business Development at TerraSense. He told CDR that the company has been working closely with the Canadian Army Land Warfare Centre (CALWC) and the Director Land Command Systems Program Management (DLCSPM) to begin integrating MIST into early adopter service with the Canadian Armed Forces.
He says TerraSense is also collaborating with Primes, Systems Integrators and UAS Manufacturers who are adopting this Canadian tech as part of their software package. Firms like General Dynamics Mission Systems, Thales, BAE Systems, Canadian UAVs and Raytheon have all aided in the development process and testing of MIST.
TerraSense has also been demonstrating the potential of MIST to Allied forces, where it was said to be highly praised. Because NATO interoperability has been a priority, Allied equipment is almost instantly compatible with MIST resulting in rapid deployment with minimal tweaking.
CANADIAN TECH: ITAR FREE
In the context of a trade dispute and the US “International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), questions have been asked about Canada’s coming F-35 program and whether the US has the ability to shut down the highly computerised jets, or perhaps not transmit upgrades.
Pich says it’s important that Canada continues to grow domestic AI capability noting that MIST is all-Canadian and 100% ITAR-free adding, “because of that we can focus on selling the product to our allies in Five Eyes and NATO, and there’s very strong interest in ITAR-free tech.” He continued, “deploying MIST technology abroad shows the depth of Canadian technological innovation and a bit of waving the Canadian flag internationally.”
Given the current trade situation, DND is even more interested in working with Canadian suppliers especially with such advanced technology.
CANSEC 2025
During extensive lab and field/flight testing performed in early March with partners Textron Systems and Canadian UAVs with the Aerosonde UAS, MIST successfully detected and tracked targets of interest and shared that situational awareness data in real time over a low bandwidth tactical data link.
MIST is expected to be officially launched at CANSEC in May. While the Canadian land forces are to be early adopters, it is expected that the RCN will be another customer, with its own Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance UAS (ISTAR) program.
TerraSense Analytics fully expects that given domestic and international reaction to date, sales will grow very rapidly along with Canada’s reputation for AI and technological innovation.
TerraSense: PLANNING FOR NEXT GEN WARFARE
Both Hamari and Pich agree that the early adopter program and getting the technology into the hands of the warfighter quickly is enormously important in order get feedback. This allows the company to tailor the technology to specific usage, adding that a version for unique Arctic conditions is well-underway.
That said, they told CDR they’re already collaborating with industry partners on solutions critical to the next generation of warfare unfolding right now, such as bringing autonomous target and threat recognition to GPS denied environments and using AI perception to enable autonomous vehicles and loitering munitions even when radio links are jammed.
In the meantime, TerraSense is developing methods for easily deployable upgrades to the AI models and neural networks within operationally relevant time frames so that when operators are deploying ISR assets in brand new domains, somewhere they’ve never been before, TerraSense “can be right there to support them.”
Marc Montgomery is a Regular CDR Contributor
