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New milestone as BSI publishes updated SAPIENT standard

SAPIENT enables interoperability of artificial intelligence (AI) enabled sensors, combined with intelligent fusion and sensor management.

Image: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com

Sensing for Asset Protection with Integrated Electronic Networked Technology (SAPIENT) was developed by Dstl and first published as a British Standards Institute (BSI) standard in July 2023.

Significant new features have been incorporated in the second version of the SAPIENT standard, published by the BSIÌý²¹²õÌý on 31 March 2024.

This latest update (sponsored by UK Strategic Command and written by Dstl) is a significant milestone in its development and exploitation journey, which enables AI and autonomy in networked multi-sensor systems in security and defence.

The first version of this free-to-download standard defines the messages that can link sensor edge nodes, effector nodes and fusion nodes in an intelligent network. Version 2.0 now enables a hierarchical architecture of networked nodes, fitting military command and control structures, and extends to edge nodes and effectors on movable platforms. Version 2.0 also allows for run-time defined taxonomies. This means AI-enabled sensor edge nodes from any domain, from CBRN to underwater to space, can transmit information via the SAPIENT standard and have it fused by a fusion node.

While SAPIENT is a generic standard, it has seen strong adoption in the counter uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) area. In this, and many other domains, standardisation of the messaging structure has important benefits for defence:

  • enables autonomy
  • reduces system integration time
  • lowers user cognitive burden
  • strongly encourages component modularity, creating a competitive supplier ecosystem for the components (which lowers cost for the Ministry of Defence (MOD))

Find out more about SAPIENT and download .

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Published 23 April 2024