When AI Patrols the Line

For years, the challenge of border security hasn’t been the lack of sensors or surveillance systems but the flood of data they produce. At Elbit Systems’ ISTAR and EW division, a team led by Ronen, Vice President of the Long Observation and Homeland Security Business Unit, is tackling this challenge with the innovative Frontier™ system.

"Today’s operators face an avalanche of detections from radars, optical sensors, and cameras," Ronen explains. "This leads to countless false alarms – anything from a stray animal to a fluttering plastic bag – overwhelming operators and forcing them to overlook large areas of terrain." The result? Missed opportunities to spot real threats amidst the noise.
 

Turning "Noise" into Insight

Frontier™ introduces a groundbreaking approach by integrating AI into the detection process. At its core is a smart edge computer, directly connected to sensors, capable of autonomously analyzing and prioritizing detections. Unlike conventional solutions that rely on manual setup and predefined zones of interest, Frontier™ learns dynamically.

"Our AI-driven platform doesn’t rely on video feeds but on vector-based data," Ronen elaborates. "It builds a baseline of normal activity over time, identifying irregularities based on deviations from established patterns."
When anomalies are detected, the technology assigns them a priority score, enabling rapid investigation by multiple sensors. Frontier™ automatically activates other components to gather detailed data, determining whether the anomaly is a vehicle, person, animal, or irrelevant object. If deemed relevant, the system generates an event summary, complete with high-resolution snapshots, sensor insights, and the reasoning behind the detection.

If correctly flagged by Frontier™, the event summary is passed to personnel in the war room or operations center, who analyze the data and make informed decisions. If deemed irrelevant, operators can feed this information back into Frontier™, allowing it to learn from human analysis and further refine its anomaly detection capabilities.

Reducing False Alarms, Enhancing Intelligence

One of the system’s key advantages is its ability to filter out false positives. "By learning normal patterns, we’ve effectively created two gates before data reaches the operations center," Ronen explains. "The first filters out routine activity, and the second uses autonomous investigation to validate detections. This significantly reduces false alarms while enabling operators to monitor entire areas without predefined blind spots."
Beyond filtering, the system generates actionable intelligence by learning not only what is happening but what isn’t. "If a regular activity, like vehicles leaving a facility at 2 PM, suddenly doesn’t occur, the system flags this as unusual activity," Ronen notes. This capability unlocks opportunities for predictive insights and strategic responses.

Powered by AI-based edge computing, the solution operates independently of centralized networks, enabling seamless deployment across remote borders and maritime zones. It integrates effortlessly with existing sensors, enhancing their value without requiring extensive reconfiguration.

Global Interest

Over the past two years, Frontier has proven its potential in advanced trials with global customers, earning praise for its adaptability without requiring extensive pre-programming. "Unlike traditional systems, we don’t ask customers to provide proprietary data or predefined parameters," Ronen explains. "This flexibility ensures privacy and reduces deployment time, enabling systems to become operational within days."
Frontier stands out in a crowded market of sensor-based and AI-enhanced solutions by offering a complete package: anomaly detection, autonomous investigation, and seamless integration. "While other systems focus on improving individual sensors, Frontier unifies all the elements with a self-learning edge computer that not only identifies what’s there but understands the context of the environment," Ronen explains.

FRONTIER LR Sensor

As part of the Frontier system Elbit Systems’ ISTAR and EW division developed the FRONTIER LR - long-range, high-definition day/night, multi-spectral electro-optical sensor enables clear observation for detection, recognition and identification (DRI) of targets at very long distances, in all weather and atmospheric conditions.

The FRONTIER LR features unique high resolution multi-spectral imaging on four channels in parallel allowing the ability to investigate treats in multiple spectrums at once and increase the number of treats that can be investigated at the same time.    

FRONTIER LR presents a unique wide field of view (FOV) both day/night channels allowing continuous observation of a wide area and threat investigation at the same time.
"FRONTIER LR was developed not only to be the top of the line optic sensor but also to be a sensor that can truly work as an autonomous sensor with advanced AI capabilities". Ronen explains.

With its unparalleled ability to reduce false alarms, generate actionable intelligence, and operate independently in challenging environments, Frontier™ is redefining how borders are monitored and secured. For operators overwhelmed by data, Frontier delivers clarity, efficiency, and a future where real threats can no longer hide in the noise.