The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded Lockheed Martin [LMT] a one-year Phase 3 contract for the Predictive Analysis for Naval Deployment Activities (PANDA), which essentially is a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) technology that detects vessel deviations from normal at sea and near ports. PANDA uses pattern-based learning technologies, historical data, and track monitoring to learn a ship’s “normal” behavior, Lockheed Martin says. From there PANDA can detect deviations and then alert operators. In Phases 1 and 2, Lockheed Martin demonstrated the feasibility of using motion-based pattern learning and context filtering to detect and assess unusual vessel behavior. In Phase 3 PANDA will be expanded to monitor thousands of vessels, refine detection capabilities, and enhance operator usability by filtering information and creating a simplified user interface.