News
Is it possible to use computer vision in military technology? Can artificial intelligence be applied to weapons and artifacts used in military operations? Yes, find out how from this article! Technological innovations – from the watch to the internet – have not only changed the way armies fight their battles, but have also changed the way these armies think about war. From the rise of the scientific worldview in the 17th and 18th centuries to the present day, an increasingly intimate symbiosis between science and war has established itself along with growing confidence in the development and integration of technology within security departments. Computer vision, in turn, has been shaping conflicts in several ways, mainly in terms of kinetic force, spatial distribution, intelligence, communication, and identity. Since its conceptualization in 1956, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has earned its place in many sectors, including military technology. In the special defense sector, AI, and in particular computer vision, has brought undeniable added value to armed forces around the world. Computer vision allows armed forces to optimize their missions, improve soldier safety, and protect citizens. The artificial intelligence market in the military is expected to grow at an annual rate of 14.75% from 2017 to 2022, reaching $8.70 billion in 2022. Thus, computer vision contributes to military technology by allowing systems to interpret visual data (photos or videos) to extract information. With the help of deep learning, more specifically neural networks, they allow systems to analyze video footage to obtain high-value information. Once trained, these models can recognize objects, people, and even track their respective movements.
Speak with one of our specialists and discover how Pix Force can transform your business
Military technology with autonomous vehicles, drones, and weapons
Computer vision is proving to be an essential technology for the development of autonomous vehicles used in military technology. In fact, the autonomous vehicle replaces the driver's eye, allowing the vehicle to detect pedestrians or other objects and avoid potential obstacles. Autonomous vehicles seem even more relevant in the defense sector than in civilian applications. They provide the necessary access to dangerous locations and are subject to fewer restrictions, as they rarely operate in urban centers around pedestrians, for example. Computer vision is also used to control autonomous weapons of various types: combat drones that work with path planning and adaptation to the environment, robots that use lethal weapons, etc. Due to the high technology applied to these weapons, there is the possibility of automatic lethal actions occurring without the need for human intervention. Furthermore, these technologies also offer greater precision for the recognition of areas and objects of interest. Algorithms can combine GPS data with field data to refine the target as much as possible and thus avoid greater collateral damage. In other words, military technology gains new functionalities with the evolution of artificial intelligence.
Surveillance and risk detection
Computer vision is also very useful outside the battlefield, especially to prepare for risky situations. Defense Department intelligence services need to process large amounts of information collected by drones or surveillance cameras. Automation appears as a faster and more effective solution in the face of the high volume of captured data. In addition, computer vision algorithms can infer high-value information from images, such as: movement in certain locations, detection of people in a photo, etc. An example of this is the creation of Project Maven in 2017 in the United States. The US military uses a lot of equipment that utilizes computer vision and wanted to develop an AI capable of categorizing the huge amounts of surveillance camera images collected. The AI detects vehicles and people and tracks objects of interest. Facial recognition plays a key role in the fight against terrorism. It facilitates the identification of dangerous individuals. There are already facial recognition tools that can identify individuals in real time, even when part of the face is covered. Facial recognition tools can also be combined with machine learning for better risk detection. Through this association, algorithms are trained to recognize normal behavior and send an alert in the event of abnormal behavior. Lebanese scientists also used computer vision to develop landmine detection software. The algorithms were trained on thousands of images of two different types of anti-tank mines, showing them covered, partially covered, and upside down from various angles and in various lighting conditions. The tool has a 99.6% success rate for unconcealed landmines.
Weapons production and inspection: military technology on another level
Computer vision is a technology widely used in Industry 4.0. It guarantees the production of high-quality parts because it automatically detects anomalies or imperfections. Excellence in quality control is even more essential in the production of military technology and weaponry, as defects in parts or components can be fatal to their users. Manual inspection can be highly inefficient and prone to errors, whereas computer vision offers high precision and prevents production slowdowns. Computer vision can also be used, in this product case, for predictive maintenance. Indeed, military equipment can be inspected so that algorithms detect damage or signs of wear and tear. The technology allows intervening before a breakdown occurs and, in this way, limiting not only costs but also risks. A technical failure in a hostile environment can put the lives of soldiers at risk and negatively compromise a battle. It is also possible to keep military helicopters and submarines in operational conditions using Big Data.
Riscos da visão computacional na indústria de defesa
Portanto, a visão computacional tem muitas aplicações potenciais no setor de defesa. No entanto, estas inovações no setor de defesa ainda são bastante jovens. Algoritmos de reconhecimento de imagem podem produzir um resultado completamente errado ou ser enganados por variações em apenas alguns pixels. No setor de defesa, tal erro pode ter consequências mortais. Além do risco de erro, a visão computacional pode ser tendenciosa: • involuntariamente, quando os dados de aprendizagem não são representativos (por exemplo, preconceito étnico em dados populacionais);
• intencionalmente, se um terceiro tiver modificado com sucesso os dados ou modelo de aprendizagem para produzir um resultado anormal.
Outro risco é o da dependência tecnológica. De fato, o ecossistema global de IA é dominado pelos principais players digitais americanos e chineses. O aprendizado profundo também requer capacidade de computação massiva para treinar redes neurais com grandes quantidades de dados. Isso envolve principalmente nuvens públicas ou privadas, que também são dominadas por empresas americanas. Todos esses riscos podem explicar a desconfiança que ainda há sobre estas tecnologias. Em um relatório de setembro de 2019 , o Ministério das Forças Armadas da França insistiu na importância de desenvolver uma IA confiável e ética que respeite as estruturas estabelecidas pelos humanos. A IA deve permanecer complementar à humanidade e fazer parte de um quadro de análise e apoio às decisões que coloquem os seres humanos no centro da reflexão.
Is a new kind of war upon us?
Today, AI technologies are not mature enough to radically change military technology and the very nature of war. However, this field will evolve rapidly, and several countries have launched an arms race that relies primarily on artificial intelligence. In November 2020, the British government announced a £16.5 billion budget increase for the country's armed forces, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence. Soon it will be possible to predict the courses of action defined by the opponent's AI or paralyze the opponent's command capabilities by neutralizing or hijacking their artificial intelligence technologies. More than ever, governments must implement solutions that ensure the confidentiality and control of information, thereby neutralizing possible hacker intrusions or the hijacking of sensitive data. By collaborating with technology companies, governments have the opportunity to leverage military technology and thus maintain their technological sovereignty. So, are you interested in how much computer vision can contribute to companies and industries in various sectors? Then get in touch with us, we can help you!
Fabio Caraça
Fábio Caraça is the Chief Growth Officer at Pix Force. He leads Pix Force's transformation into a scalable SaaS operation, combining strategic vision, culture, and high-impact execution.
