AUSTIN, Texas — Meet Bullfrog, a high-tech anti-drone system built by Austin-based Allen Control Systems (ACS). Designed for modern defense, Bullfrog uses artificial intelligence, robotics, and computer vision to detect and destroy one of the fastest-growing threats in warfare: drones.
“Bullfrog basically does a full kill chain solution,” explained Steven Simoni, co-founder and president of ACS. “It detects threats, identifies what they are, tracks them with software, and engages them.”
Simoni says Bullfrog is part of a “layered defense” approach, integrating several systems to counter drones more effectively. And while drones have already transformed the battlefield, he believes their impact has only just begun.
“Drones have completely changed warfare, and we’re still underestimating the threat as a country,” Simoni said. “You’re seeing this play out in Ukraine, where I think about 80% of casualties are from drones.”
The war in Ukraine has become a proving ground for drone warfare: fast, inexpensive, and deadly. That’s where ACS technology steps in.
ALSO| Royalty tours Austin innovation
What makes Bullfrog stand out isn’t its weaponry; it’s the AI “brain” that controls it. The system integrates infrared and electro-optical cameras along with a laser rangefinder. Once a target appears, sensors instantly calculate its size, speed, and distance, predicting where it will be in space. This predictive analysis allows Bullfrog to map a projectile’s path with extreme precision and neutralize drones in motion.
“What we do differently is move toward a fully autonomous system,” said Michael Wior, CEO of ACS. “The operator can stay completely focused on the mission. identifying targets as they appear while the system handles the engagement.”
Wior adds that the threat extends far beyond war zones. “The drone threat is massive and everywhere,” he said. “We really need to start thinking in terms of critical infrastructure, power plants, oil refineries, airports, even stadiums.”
Bullfrog is designed for mobility and accuracy, maintaining a locked aim even while on the move. “It’s one of the few technologies that can operate on land or at sea,” said Wior. Soon, the system could even be airborne.
Whether mounted on a truck, ship, or aircraft, Bullfrog can defend against drone swarms virtually anywhere.
As drone warfare continues to evolve, ACS’s homegrown innovation in Austin is helping write the next chapter in how the world defends itself against threats from above.