Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAI) announced it has been selected by AFWERX for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to develop a new artificial intelligence dataset using images of foreign object debris and damage (FOD) commonly found on U.S. Air Force and civilian airfields. The project is intended to support Department of the Air Force initiatives while expanding the company’s AI-powered computer vision technology into defense and commercial airfield operations.
The award broadens the potential applications of Safe Pro’s patented SPOTD (Safe Pro Object Threat Detection) platform beyond battlefield and post-conflict landmine detection. The contract follows recent interest from the U.S. Army, which has invited Safe Pro to provide operational support during an upcoming airfield exercise. The technology, which leverages commercially available off-the-shelf drones and proprietary machine learning and computer vision algorithms, is designed to autonomously identify landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and other potential hazards, enhancing situational awareness and improving safety across defense and critical infrastructure operations.
This development is significant because it marks a strategic pivot for Safe Pro Group, applying its proven AI capabilities to a new domain: airfield safety. Foreign object debris on runways poses a serious risk to aircraft, causing damage and potential accidents. By creating a specialized dataset for FOD detection, Safe Pro’s technology could automate runway inspections, reducing human error and increasing efficiency. For the U.S. Air Force and civilian airports, this could lead to faster, more reliable hazard identification, ultimately enhancing operational readiness and passenger safety.
The implications extend beyond immediate military use. As air travel continues to grow, commercial airports are under pressure to maintain high safety standards while managing costs. An AI-driven solution that can continuously monitor runways could offer a cost-effective alternative to manual inspections. Moreover, the technology’s cloud-based ecosystem, powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), ensures scalability and real-time data processing, making it accessible for widespread adoption.
Safe Pro Group Inc. is a mission-driven technology company delivering AI-enabled security and defense solutions. Through platforms like SPOTD, Safe Pro provides advanced situational awareness tools for defense, humanitarian, and homeland security applications globally. The company’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 work in synergy to deliver safety and operational efficiency.
For more information on Safe Pro Group Inc., please visit https://safeprogroup.com. The latest news and updates relating to SPAI are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/SPAI.
