Safe Pro Group Inc. (Nasdaq: SPAI) (“Safe Pro” or the “Company”), a developer of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled defense, security, and situational awareness solutions, today announced that it has successfully completed all research milestones under the previously announced Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract awarded to the Company by AFWERX.
In July, the Company was awarded a Phase I SBIR focused on the development of a new AI dataset using images of Foreign Object Debris/Damage (FOD) that are commonly encountered on both U.S. Air Force (USAF) and civilian airfields to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). Under the SBIR, Safe Pro demonstrated its SpotlightAI™ AI-powered computer vision technology for small object detection, collected and analyzed high resolution imagery of FOD, and prepared technical project reports. Subject to review and determination by AFWERX, the Company intends to pursue additional SBIR-funded development contracts.
“We wish to thank AFWERX for their collaboration on this project as we work to further demonstrate the significant value and impact that our patented AI-powered computer vision software technology can have in both defense and civilian applications,” said Dan Erdberg, Chairman and CEO of Safe Pro Group Inc.
The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small businesses and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded.
AFWERX is the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The mission of AFWERX’s SBIR program is to fund emerging technologies to deliver Air Force and Space Force capabilities and broaden access to disruptive innovation.
The development of AI datasets for use in U.S. Air Force airfield operations could significantly expand the applicability of the Company’s proprietary computer vision technology designed to rapidly detect and identify small objects beyond use in battlefield and post-conflict zone land reclamation and rebuilding missions. This AFWERX SBIR award follows recent interest in this capability expressed by the U.S. Army which has invited the Company to provide operational support to soldiers during an upcoming airfield exercise.
Powered by Safe Pro’s patented SPAI Ground Truth software, the Company’s technology uses AI and machine learning algorithms trained on one of the world’s largest real-world drone-based imagery datasets to instantly detect small, hard-to-find threats such as landmines, cluster munitions, UXO, and ambush drones. The platform can identify explosive threats and objects of interest across large-scale, high-risk environments, creating a novel and scalable approach to situational awareness on the battlefield.
For information about Safe Pro Group, its subsidiaries, and technologies, please visit https://safeprogroup.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.
About Safe Pro Group Inc. Safe Pro Group Inc. (Nasdaq: SPAI) is a mission-driven technology company delivering AI-enabled security and defense solutions. Through cutting-edge platforms like SPAI Ground Truth, Safe Pro provides advanced situational awareness tools for defense, humanitarian, and homeland security applications globally. The Company is a leading provider of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions specializing in drone imagery processing and mapping, leveraging commercially available off-the-shelf drones with its proprietary machine learning and computer vision technology to enable rapid identification of explosive threats, providing a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional human-based analysis methods. Built on a cloud-based ecosystem and powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Safe Pro Group’s scalable platform targets multiple markets, including commercial, government, law enforcement, and humanitarian sectors where its Safe Pro AI software, Safe-Pro USA protective gear, and Airborne Response drone-based services can work in synergy to deliver safety and operational efficiency. For more information on Safe Pro Group Inc., please visit https://safeprogroup.com.
