// UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND NEXT-GEN WARFARE TERM
Wide Area Motion Imagery
Wide Area Motion Imagery is a type of aerial surveillance that uses a powerful camera system on an aircraft or drone to continuously monitor and record all activity across a very large area, like an entire city. This allows analysts to track multiple targets simultaneously or rewind footage to see how an event unfolded.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Wide Area Motion Imagery (WAMI) is an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) technology employing airborne electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems to conduct persistent surveillance and capture high-resolution, full-motion video over a city-scale geographic area, enabling real-time multi-target tracking and forensic pattern-of-life analysis.
BACKGROUND
Wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) is an approach to surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence-gathering that employs specialized software and a powerful camera system—usually airborne, and for extended periods of time—to detect and track hundreds of people and vehicles moving out in the open, over a city-sized area, kilometers in diameter. For this reason, WAMI is sometimes referred to as wide-area persistent surveillance (WAPS) or wide-area airborne surveillance (WAAS).
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- WAMI
- persistent surveillance
- wide-area persistent surveillance
- Gorgon Stare
- Constant Hawk
- airborne persistent surveillance
- city-scale ISR
USAGE NOTE
Unlike the narrow 'soda straw' view of traditional aerial video, WAMI's key value is its ability to record everything in a vast area, allowing for forensic analysis after an event has occurred.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Wide Area Motion Imagery.
A defense technology company specializing in wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) and persistent surveillance systems. They are known for developing lightweight WAMI sensors like Kestrel and Redkite for various platforms including aircraft, aerostats, and UAVs.
A major defense contractor that develops and manufactures advanced electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems, including WAMI payloads. Their systems provide real-time, high-resolution video surveillance over large areas for military and intelligence applications.
A multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate that produces a wide range of sensors and intelligence systems. They develop and integrate WAMI technology into larger Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) solutions for airborne platforms.
The primary scientific research and development center for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. AFRL's Sensors Directorate has been a key driver in the research and development of foundational WAMI technologies, often partnering with industry to create operational systems.
A leading manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) like the Predator and Reaper series. GA-ASI also develops sensor payloads for its platforms, including advanced WAMI systems like the Autonomous Real-time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance-Imaging System (ARGUS-IS).
A global defense, aerospace, and security company that develops advanced ISR capabilities. Their work in WAMI includes the development of sensor systems and the software for processing, exploiting, and disseminating the vast amounts of data collected.
A leading global security company that provides autonomous systems, C4ISR, and other defense solutions. They develop and integrate WAMI sensors and the associated data processing systems for high-altitude, long-endurance platforms like the Global Hawk.
A science and technology company that provides services and solutions to the defense, intelligence, and civil markets. Leidos specializes in the processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED) of ISR data, including developing software and AI/ML algorithms to analyze WAMI feeds.