3 - AtlasRAY | Devpost

Inspiration

AtlasRay was born from a simple but powerful idea: no one should risk their life to uncover what technology can reveal from above. After witnessing the devastating effects of landmines, pollution, and hidden hazards on people and the environment, we wanted to build a tool that turns aerial data into action, awareness, and recovery. Our inspiration came from the belief that drones and AI can do more than observe they can restore, rebuild, and make every mission smarter and safer.

What it does

AtlasRay is an AI-powered, cloud-based platform that fuses drone and satellite imagery to detect landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and contaminated zones. It identifies potential threats through spectral and thermal anomaly analysis, generating georeferenced risk maps to guide demining teams safely and efficiently.

How we built it

AtlasRay is an AI-powered, cloud-based platform that fuses drone and satellite imagery to detect landmines, UXOs, contamination zones, and hidden hazards. It generates real-time risk maps that help soldiers, engineers, and humanitarian teams navigate safely through complex terrain. By combining spectral, thermal, and geospatial analysis, AtlasRay turns aerial data into actionable intelligence for mobility and recovery operations.

Challenges we ran into

We faced several challenges from limited access to labeled training data for UXO detection to managing data fusion between drone and satellite imagery in real time. Integrating our solution with existing UAV systems already used by soldiers required adapting to various drone platforms and communication protocols. A key challenge was to keep the system affordable and lightweight, developing modular hardware add-ons such as compact multispectral cameras and processing units that can be easily attached to off-the-shelf drones.

We also needed to design efficient flight logic for automated data collection, optimizing coverage while minimizing power use and operational complexity. Balancing performance, cost, and field reliability pushed us to innovate on both the hardware and software sides ensuring AtlasRay can scale across missions without requiring specialized equipment or heavy logistics support.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

During the hackathon, we developed the first working prototype of AtlasRay an AI-powered system that combines drone and satellite data to identify hazardous areas and support safe mobility. We successfully demonstrated early-stage hazard mapping and visualization, showing how aerial data can guide movement and clearance planning.

We also validated the technical concept with defense mentors and field experts, refining our roadmap to meet real operational needs. Our team managed to design a scalable architecture and workflow adaptable to existing UAV systems proving that high-impact innovation can be achieved with practical, cost-efficient solutions. Most importantly, we transformed an ambitious idea into a functioning platform that has the potential to save lives and accelerate land recovery.

What we learned

We learned that innovation in defense and safety is about more than technology - it’s about trust, usability, and timing. Combining data from multiple sensors demands precision and simplicity so decisions can be made instantly. Working with mentors taught us that even small insights from the field can transform the way AI-driven tools operate in real missions.

What's next for AtlasRAY

We learned that innovation in defense and safety is about more than technology — it’s about trust, usability, and timing. Combining data from multiple sensors demands precision and simplicity so decisions can be made instantly. Working with mentors taught us that even small insights from the field can transform the way AI-driven tools operate in real missions.