Kitware, the company behind such visualization classics as VTK, ITK, and ParaView, have just received $11 Million from DARPA to take their ‘VIRAT’ project to Phase 2. In Phase 1 (completed), Kitware developed several algorithms and systems to take the aerial surveillance data from Predators and other drones and track small low-moving objects over time, and capture various events and information for analyst feedback. It was a huge undertaking, and now Kitware will get the chance to actually build and deploy an end-user system.
In Phase II, the Kitware team will deploy a VIRAT prototype at an end-user facility, and train analysts in its operation. Their evaluation and feedback will provide researchers with critical data to incorporate into upgrades and enhancements.
The team will also continue to develop and apply cutting-edge research into the hard problems in descriptors, indexing, iterative query refinement, and descriptor fusion. One of the many research thrusts in Phase II will be to incorporate more computed and supplied scene knowledge directly into the descriptors, and to more effectively leverage available metadata such as view point and sun angle. Augmenting system capabilities to allow for additional video sources, both from UAV’s and ground cameras, will also be a top priority.
Of course, some of this is a bit beyond Kitware’s reach. To hit some of the hardware and systems integrations objectives, they’ve partners up with some big boys in the Military industry: Honeywel, Raytheon, Mayachitra, BAE, Lockheed Martin,, and General Dynamics. There are university partners as well, consisting of a veritable who’s who of visualization science.
The phase-2 project is expected to take 18 months, led by Kitware’s Drs. Anthony Hoogs and Amitha Perera.
via DARPA Awards Kitware $11 Million for Phase II of VIRAT Program.
