Quantum Systems implements acoustic artillery direction finding on drones

The German company Quantum Systems is working on integrating acoustic sensors into its drones to track artillery by the sound of gunfire.

German media Hartpunkt, whose journalists interviewed company representatives, reported on this.

The German unmanned systems developer is working to integrate sound measurement into Twister, Vector, and Reliant reconnaissance drones to increase their ability to detect enemy artillery and mortar positions.

Developed by Weles Acoustics, the sensor weighs only a few grams and is the size of an index finger, allowing it to be installed in any drone.

The company explained that the technology is currently at the prototype stage and is expected to be fully ready for mass production by the summer of 2025 and will be installed in drones.

According to the developers, the sensor should be able to detect artillery and mortar shots at a distance of up to 15 km. The detection accuracy will be within 5 degrees at a distance of 5 km, which is enough for approximate positioning, after which optical sensors will further investigate the target.

At the initial stage of acoustic sensor integration, the UAV operator will perform a visual target search. However, in the future, these actions should be automated so that the camera turns in the direction of the shot.

In addition, artificial intelligence will enable the system to recognize and classify the acoustic signature of a shot in the future. The drone will then be able to determine not only the direction of the shot but also the type of source – an artillery unit or a mortar.

Integrating the new system should qualitatively transform unmanned reconnaissance and the principles of counter-battery warfare. Presumably, after full integration, the Ukrainian military, which widely uses Quantum Systems drones on the battlefield, will immediately use it.

Militarnyi previously reported that Ukrainian operators began using Vector reconnaissance drones with artificial intelligence sensors.

The AI Receptor optical module with machine vision technology integrated into the drones has improved all-weather optical navigation, automatic detection and identification of objects.

In August, representatives of Quantum Systems told Militarnyi about the launch of production facilities for Vector unmanned systems in Ukraine.