Nova Systems using AI to process sonar imagery from AUVs

An AI tool developed by Adelaide-based Nova Systems has made its first public appearance at a Test and Evaluation (T&E) Advanced Practitioners Course delivered in conjunction with the Australian Maritime College in Launceston, Tasmania.

The AI tool processes and examines sonar imagery collected from Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and notifies the operator if an unknown object or threat is detected.

Nova Systems’ CEO Dean Rosenfield said the Advanced Course and AI technology development aligns with the Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities (SDIP) outlined in the Defence Industry Development Strategy (DIDS), as well as addressing AUKUS Pillar 2 (Underwater Autonomy) priorities.

“Nova Systems has been the leading provider of T&E for 25 years and no one knows the Australian T&E environment better than us,” Rosenfield said. “As an industry leader, we have a responsibility to remain at the forefront of T&E innovation and best practice.

“We have been investing in cutting edge technologies and digital toolsets, such as AI, synthetics, modelling and simulation aimed at delivering new innovative capability and bringing speed to capability development.”

The DIDS identified T&E, Certification and Systems Assurance as one of the seven SDIPs. It also acknowledged a shortfall of over 400 T&E practitioners in 2024, growing to more than 1,000 by 2030.

For some time, Nova has recognised the need for increased training in T&E and the release of DIDS has shown it is crucial to the nation’s Defence capability, the company says.

Nova says its investment in T&E includes synthetics and digital mission engineering, as well as importantly developing training to equip T&E practitioners in Defence and industry with the skills and knowledge to deliver world-leading capability.

The Advanced T&E Course continues in May with an intensive focus on testing uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), the use of T&E to validate modelling and simulation, and assurance methods for AI-enabled systems featuring tutorials designed specifically for this course by Australian academia.