GBL Successfully Demonstrates AI Fire Defense™ at ANTX CT-26
CAMARILLO, Calif., Oct. 06, 2026 - GBL Systems Corporation completed a live demonstration of its AI Fire Defense™ technology on Sept. 14 at the Ventura County Fire Training Center. Conducted as part of ANTX Coastal Trident 2026, Event UNIFORM, the demonstration used two mobile prototypes across five planned test sequences focused on fire detection, autonomous response and system-to-system coordination.
AI Fire Defense integrates local sensors, edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) computing, suppression equipment and a cloud-based coordination capability called Fire Bridge. During the demonstration, the prototypes detected live fires, activated and deactivated suppression equipment, issued notifications and shared verified threat information with a nearby system to enable proactive protection.
The event was designed to demonstrate Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6), in which an integrated prototype is exercised in a relevant environment. The demonstration moved the evaluation beyond individual component tests by showing that the sensors, local AI, communications and fire suppression systems could operate together under realistic conditions. All planned demonstration objectives and test cases were completed and demonstrated successfully, confirming that the selected capabilities can work together in a live sequence.
"The team successfully showed that sensing, local AI decisions, suppression equipment and coordination between systems can work together to address a fire threat. We gathered the feedback we need to build the next, more operationally representative prototype and are grateful to Ventura County Fire Training Center for the opportunity to utilize their state-of-the-art facility for this demonstration. This is how disciplined rapid prototyping should work: prove what works, identify what still needs improvement, and continue the product development cycle," said Jim Buscemi, Chief Executive Officer of GBL Systems.
The demonstration advanced work under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between GBL Systems and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD). Effective July 10, 2026, the four-year CRADA provides a framework for collaborative research and evaluation of commercially developed AI and autonomy technologies for potential shipboard and naval applications, including research related to collaborative agentic systems, with an emphasis on autonomy and infrastructure resilience.
Through the CRADA and ANTX Coastal Trident framework, GBL and NSWC PHD can exchange technical expertise, conduct demonstrations and evaluate the technology's relevance, limitations and potential integration needs.
Potential areas for further evaluation include seasonal protection of remote or mission-critical infrastructure against wildfires, support for training range availability during periods of elevated fire risk, temporary protection during hot work or maintenance, and mobile or shipboard backup fire protection.
GBL plans to use the demonstration results and stakeholder feedback to develop its next demonstration or a potential pilot test. The next phase of development is expected to address production-representative hardware, environmental and reliability testing, resilient communications, human factors, maintainability, and integration with existing customer infrastructure and systems.
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About GBL Systems
GBL Systems Corporation develops and integrates AI, autonomy and digital engineering capabilities for defense and commercial applications. Drawing on more than 30-years of rapid prototyping experience, GBL works with government and industry partners to evaluate emerging technologies against operational needs and move promising capabilities toward field use.
Media Contact
Jerry Meyer
Vice President, Sales and Marketing
GBL Systems Corporation
757.581.3426
jmeyer@gblsys.com
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