October 14, 2026 — Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has developed a new tool that uses neuromorphic cameras to detect unmanned aerial system (UAS) drones. SwRI’s Hierax system pairs event-based cameras, dynamic sensing technology that mimics the power of human eyesight, with custom software to detect fast-moving drones in complex aerial scenarios.
“Our approach potentially transforms any UAS into an autonomous precision interceptor designed to detect, track, pursue and neutralize rogue or hostile drones without manual piloting,” said Kase Saylor, an SwRI research manager. “By leveraging neuromorphic sensing, we provide a hardware-agnostic intercept kit that bridges the gap between detection and neutralization.”
The evolution of drone warfare in Ukraine has demonstrated a critical need for counter-UAS technologies to support the United States military and its allies. Drones are commonly detected using radar, radio frequency signals, acoustics, thermal imaging or optical cameras. Event-based, or neuromorphic, cameras offer advantages because they do not emit signals that can be jammed by adversaries while offering reduced size, weight, power and costs.
Neuromorphic cameras capture even slight changes in brightness at the pixel level, much like biological eyesight, unlike optical cameras that only capture individual frames of light in red, green and blue wavelengths.
Although event-based cameras have been a topic of interest in laboratory research for decades, they have only recently been adapted to operate in complex environments. The SwRI solution requires less computing power than standard optical sensing systems that rely on complex machine learning.
“By keeping up with the latest research and applying it to real-world applications, we are committed to helping our clients leverage the latest advancements in technology, such as neuromorphic cameras,” said David Anthony, an SwRI engineer who led the research.
SwRI used a modular open systems approach to develop the Hierax imaging package to meet U.S. Department of Defense requirements for battlefield interoperability across combined joint task forces. To see a demonstration of the system, visit SwRI at Booth No. 3849 at the Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting and Exposition, Oct. 12-14, in Washington, DC.
“By adhering to existing standards, we eliminate vendor lock-in and ensure our intercept kit remains compatible with future platform refreshes,” Saylor said.
As leaders in machine vision and optical sensing, engineers in SwRI’s Intelligent Systems Division developed Hierax through internal funding, building on years of research in neuromorphic computing, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Watch a video demonstration of the Hierax counter-UAS system: https://youtu.be/KWhe_P3jKeY.
For more information, visit Unmanned Aerial Systems or contact Robert Crowe, +1 210 522 4630, Communications Department, Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238-5166.