Trellis Data is an Australian deep-tech company specializing in Sovereign AI for the defence, intelligence, and law enforcement sectors. Unlike consumer AI tools that rely on public clouds (sending data to overseas servers), Trellis Data builds systems designed to operate in “Disconnected” (Air-Gapped) environments—meaning they can run entirely offline on a ruggedized laptop in a field tent or a secure server in a bunker.
Their value proposition is “Intelligence at the Edge”: bringing advanced transcription, translation, and computer vision to the battlefield or emergency frontlines without compromising data sovereignty or requiring an internet connection.
Core Technology: The “Secure AI” Suite
- Echo (Universal Translator): A secure speech-to-text and translation engine. It integrates directly with legacy hardware (like tactical radios and headsets) to provide real-time transcription and translation of over 100 languages, even in noisy combat or disaster environments.
- Lucid (Knowledge Mastery): A secure “ChatGPT-style” assistant that runs on the client’s own infrastructure. It ingests classified or sensitive documents (RAG) to answer questions and generate reports without the data ever leaving the facility.
- Vivid (Computer Vision): Connects to CCTV, drones, or body-worn cameras to detect objects (e.g., weapons, vehicles) or behaviors in real-time.
- DISP Assessor: A specialized AI tool that automates the complex gap analysis required for companies to achieve Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) accreditation.
Company Profile
- Founders: Michael Gately (CEO) and Rachel Gately.
- Headquarters: Canberra, Australia (with offices in Adelaide and Arlington, USA).
- Funding: Backed by Main Sequence Ventures (founded by CSIRO) and Ultratech Capital Partners (specialist US defence investor).
- Key Partners: Australian Defence Force, Codan Communications.
Key Use Cases
| Use Case | Description |
|---|---|
| Tactical Comms | Integrating Echo into military radios to instantly translate foreign language transmissions or transcribe orders in real-time for commanders. |
| Disaster Response | Used by emergency services to transcribe radio traffic during bushfires or floods, identifying keywords (e.g., “trapped,” “fire”) to map incidents automatically. |
| Secure Intelligence | Intelligence analysts use Lucid to search through terabytes of seized hard drives or classified cables to find connections between targets without uploading evidence to the cloud. |
Why It Matters
As modern warfare and espionage become increasingly digital, “Sovereign AI” is becoming a national security priority. Nations (like Australia, via the AUKUS pact) are realizing they cannot rely on AI models hosted by foreign tech giants for their most sensitive operations. Trellis Data fills this gap by providing “silicon-to-software” sovereignty, ensuring that the AI serving the soldier is as secure as the weapon system they carry.