Owl Autonomous Imaging Selected for DUTCH Initiative

Owl Autonomous Imaging, a U.S.-based fabless semiconductor company, has been selected for an award supporting the Delivering Unmatched Thermal Capability, Hastened (DUTCH) initiative, led by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) C5ISR Center.

Under the award, Owl Autonomous Imaging will apply its expertise in uncooled long-wave infrared (LWIR) semiconductor and imaging technology to the development and demonstration of next-generation thermal capabilities. The company's KnightOwl HD™ platform is designed to deliver high-quality uncooled LWIR imaging with low-power architecture, compact form factor, and scalable manufacturing, aligning with the requirements of emerging autonomous and defense systems.

Chuck Gershman, CEO and co-founder of Owl Autonomous Imaging, expressed excitement about the DUTCH initiative. "We are thrilled to support the DUTCH initiative and the effort to accelerate the next generation of uncooled thermal technology," Gershman said. "We developed KnightOwl HD around the needs of a new generation of systems that require higher-quality thermal imaging, lower power, smaller form factors, and a path to much broader deployment. We believe scalable thermal imaging can become an important enabling technology for drones, robotics, and critical defense programs like Drone Dominance."

Owl Autonomous Imaging's fabless model uses semiconductor and MEMS manufacturing partners in the United States and Canada, supporting Department of War priorities for secure, resilient, and scalable supply chains for mission-critical technologies. The company's work with the U.S. defense community through the DUTCH award further expands its involvement in advancing thermal imaging technology for autonomous systems.

"Owl Autonomous Imaging's technology is at the forefront of innovation in thermal imaging and perception," said Gershman. "By combining semiconductor innovation, LWIR imaging, and AI-enabled thermal perception, we are enabling intelligent systems to operate effectively in various challenging environments, including darkness, degraded visual conditions, and other scenarios where conventional vision systems are limited."

The DUTCH award is part of a broader effort to advance uncooled LWIR technology, which is crucial for various defense applications, including drones, robotics, and autonomous systems. By leveraging its expertise, Owl Autonomous Imaging aims to contribute to the development of more advanced and scalable thermal imaging solutions, supporting the needs of the U.S. military and defense industry.

Gershman added, "This award is a testament to our commitment to advancing cutting-edge thermal imaging technology and our dedication to meeting the evolving demands of the defense and autonomous systems markets. We look forward to continuing our work with the U.S. defense community to ensure that our nation's security remains robust and resilient."