Brisbane, Australia, April 24, 2026 ―  Emesent, a global leader in autonomous mapping technology, has been selected as a winner of The Army FUZE xTech Program’s xTech|Live competition, held at eMerge Americas 2026 Conference and Expo in Miami, Florida over April 23–24, 2026. 

Emesent presented its Hovermap system, a mobile LiDAR 3D mapping solution that gives warfighters situational awareness when GPS, communications, or human access may be limited, providing sub-inch accuracy based on millions of data points per second, in unlit, dusty and smoke impacted environments. 

“Hovermap addresses a critical gap in GPS-denied navigation and mapping for dismounted operations. Our SLAM technology enables real-time 3D situational awareness in contested environments where traditional systems fail, directly supporting the Army's multi-domain operations doctrine,” said Dr. Stefan Hrabar, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder of Emesent. 

Powered by Emesent SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping technology), Hovermap’s superior versatility supports rapid deployment via drone, vehicle or handheld/backpack. While widely used in mining and construction, Hovermap is increasingly being applied in defense scenarios, including mapping tunnels, buildings, terrain, and supporting mission planning, tactical operations, CBRNe response and emergency response. 

"We’re excited to see Emesent Hovermap expand into defense applications,” said Dr. Stefan Hrabar, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder of Emesent.

“Standing out in such a competitive field, especially during the 60 second pitch, was a great opportunity to demonstrate the impact of our technology. We’re proud to support soldiers with tools that improve safety and awareness in challenging conditions.” 

Hosted in partnership with the Joint Innovation Outpost (JIOP) and the 101st Airborne Division, the competition started with 76 registered companies, of which only 32 were selected to give a 60-second elevator pitch. Leading entries moved on to a five-minute presentation before a panel of Army operators, technical specialists, and acquisition stakeholders, where six were selected to receive $100,000 (USD) awards each for developing technologies aligned with Army operational needs. 

In addition to the award, Emesent has been invited to demonstrate Hovermap to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, during Week of the Eagles event in May 2026. Acquisition leadership from both the 101st Airborne and Department of War will evaluate Emesent’s technology. 

Key capabilities of Emesent Hovermap include:

• Fast time to insight – A LiDAR sensing range of up to 900 feet and triple returns capable of more than one million points per second allow you to capture detailed, accurate data over a greater area in less time – reducing time in the field and enabling faster decisions.
• Versatility in the field – Map anywhere with one system – providing GPS-denied autonomy and mapping, and supporting deployment via UAS, UGV, vehicle, or carried by hand or backpack.
• Real-time data streaming – Access real-time 3D maps for enhanced situational awareness and decision support.
• Survey-grade accuracy – Capture sub-inch level 3D data indoors and outdoors, with accurate results even in the most challenging environments. For engineering projects, accuracy can be further enhanced using ground control points or RTK GPS when available.

To learn more about Emesent Hovermap’s Defense applications, please visit https://www.emesent.com/industry/defense/. 

Or request a demo.