As threats evolve and become increasingly dispersed, the ability to operate independently - without relying on permanent infrastructure or continuous human control - is no longer a luxury. As ongoing war in Ukraine shows, it is an absolute imperative. Whether for Arctic domain awareness, counter-drone protection, or off-grid surveillance in remote or challenging environments, modern security space demand resilient, modular, autonomous systems that can be deployed quickly, reconfigured as needed, and relied upon when everything else fails.
At Ascent Systems Technologies, we’ve built just that.
Our Autonomous Environment Monitoring and Surveillance (AEMS) module is a terrestrial spacecraft, which can be delivered to any place on Earth, deployed automatically and operate autonomously. Originally developed through the Department of National Defence IDEaS Sub-Zero Challenge, it has matured into a multi-role, mission-adaptable asset. Built on a rugged, self-deploying platform, fitting within the standard 20 ft shipping container, it can be transported by any means including airlift. With its automatic deployment, integrated power generation and built-in energy storage, AEMS is capable to autonomously support a wide variety of operational payloads, making it highly relevant to defence, security, and emergency applications.
Tested and Trusted
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The AMES prototype, on which the AEMS was subsequently built upon, went through all phases of the Canadian DND Pop-Up City contest under the IDEaS program and was successfully demonstrated in the final phase of the contest in Suffield, Alberta.
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Accepted for testing by the Government of Canada, the AEMS is currently deployed and operating at the Transport Canada remote location, providing valuable environment data and video surveillance day and night, shine or rain. It is equipped with the integrated weather sensor and communication antennae on two telescopic masts and HD/IR cameras, UAV hosting with charging, launching and retrieval capabilities.
On the photo below, what looks like vehicle's headlights here, are in fact the module's thermal cameras' illuminators for night vision, invisible to a human eye, captured by the external infrared camera.
Importantly, AEMS inherent modular architecture means it is not a narrowly specialized solution—it is a universal platform, capable of serving multiple mission profiles across agencies, departments, and operational theatres. Its real value lying in what it can be equipped to do:
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C-UAS operations: AEMS can be outfitted with anti-drone payloads, both kinetic and directed energy, offering a deployable layer of defence for forward operating locations, base perimeters, or critical infrastructure.
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Minefield breaching: Ground-surface robotic payloads for route clearance or mine detection can be housed and autonomously deployed from the module - ideal for contested access scenarios or supporting dismounted units.
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Pan-domain surveillance: Integrated HD/IR cameras, environmental sensors, and hosted UAVs offer autonomous, persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) across land, air, and maritime approaches.
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Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) connectivity: AEMS’s built-in communications suite—including satellite and line-of-sight radios—enables persistent command-and-control, data relay, and integration in mesh networks when conventional means of communication are denied or unavailable.
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Tactical logistics or electronic warfare payloads: The modular bay can be adapted for supply caching, decoying, SIGINT, or future power-beaming receivers for long-range energy support.
One Platform. Many Missions.
For defence and security operators who need a deployable, modular, autonomous platform that can host a range of payloads—AEMS is ready.
Whether it's extending surveillance into the grey zone, providing pop-up counter-UAS capability, supporting NATO logistics in disconnected terrain, or augmenting ISR and EW efforts—Ascent’s AEMS delivers capability without compromise.
Built for Today and Tomorrow
From defending border regions in the Arctic, to supporting allied bases in high-risk regions, to augmenting disaster response in austere conditions, AEMS offers a rare combination of capabilities:
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Autonomous deployment and retraction
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Self-generated power (solar PV + thermal battery storage)
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Sensor-driven operations using on-board AI and environmental inputs
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Secure remote operation via GUI and digital twin interface
And as adversaries develop more advanced tools to disrupt infrastructure and communications, AEMS offers a physically present, fully autonomous capability that remains connected, aware, and operational—even when nothing else is.
Learn more at ascentsystems.ca
