Elbit Systems’ Treasures – a Network of Unattended Ground Sensors

Elbit Systems’ “Treasures” networked UGS system displayed at the Singapore Airshow 2014. Photo: Noam Eshel, Defense-Update

Elbit Systems introduced a new system of unattended ground sensors (UGS) dubbed ‘Treasures’. The system is designed for intelligence gathering, force protection and augmenting border surveillance, by enhancing situational awareness, localising suspected activity and providing early warning for security forces. The system was displayed last week at the DEFEXPO exhibition in New Delhi, India and this week at the Singapore Airshow.

The Treasures system automatically detects, classifies and tracks human and vehicular targets, in real time, on any terrain and in all weather conditions. The system combines a range of small, persistent sensors designed with extremely low power consumption, ensuing the sensors can be emplaced in the area under surveillance and operate unattended for long periods.
While the system is built around sensors provided by Elbit Systems, it is also providing easy integration with third-party sensors, subsystems and C4I systems. The systems’ sensors comprise a wide range of sensing technologies, coupled via a proprietary communications protocol into into a network of sensors employing multi-hop, ad-hoc, self forming and self healing network. Sensor input and alerts are delivered via handheld radio, designed to use the Treasures’ proprietary protocol, enabling operators to access multiple nodes in the system, set and program additional sensors, effectors, relays and hubs.

‘Pearls of Wisdom’ are a network of miniature, unattended ground sensors that can be inconspicuously deployed by a mounted or dismounted unit, to detect human activity. The system was recently tested by the US Army. The Pearls were part of Elbit Systems’ new ‘Treasures’ UGS system. Photo: Noam Eshel, Defense-Update

The sensors comprise the operational proven Smart All-terrain Networked Detectors (SAND) seismic sensors, designed for real time, Beyond-Line-Of-Sight (BLOS) human and vehicular targets detection, for years of continuous operation.
A new sensor unveiled by the company is the OCEAN, seismic-acoustic multi-detector designed to detect and classify human and vehicular activity. Each unit is designed as a sensor array, enabling direction finding (DF) and wind interference reduction, alongside seismic-acoustic fused algorithm which reduces false alarm rate (FAR) and improves target classification and tracking.
The system also comprises a Miniature Imaging Device (MID) using a day/night imager with built-in processing unit providing video motion detection (VMD) and visual recognition. The MID sensor transmits automatically day and thermal images correlated to target track, through the UHF narrowband network. The network can also comprises the Chameleon 2 from Seraphim, a covert, day/night imaging sensor mounted on a panning platform, enabling wide area surveillance and high resolution imaging with no external moving parts. To further secure the communications link the system uses wide band communications for video transmission.
Two radar variants are also supported, providing human and vehicular tracking. The Miniature Tactical Radar (MTR), employing a patented, ultra low-power system relying solely on solar power. The MTR employs a single emitting unit covering both horizontal and vertical sectors considerably larger, compared to the coverage generally provided by UGS. A larger unattended ground radar, the Talos, also operates on solar energy and uses multiple emitting elements to deliver omni-directional coverage, tracking targets at distances of ‘hundreds of meters’.

Another variant of the Treasures system was displayed at DEFEXPO India.