Smiths Detection Introduces Low-Energy X-Ray Scanner for Cars
Smiths Detection last month launched its CIP-300 low-energy X-Ray scanner that can be used to scan cars and mini-buses for explosives, drugs, contraband and stowaways while drivers and passengers remain seated in their vehicles. The company says that the CIP-300’s compact footprint and simple configuration offers and affordable and adaptable system that can be applied to a wide range of operational areas, including border control points, airport entries, critical infrastructure, military facilities and ports. The system uses a 300 kV X-Ray source and where local regulations prohibit use of the system in drive-through mode, an optional conveying system allows the inspection of the unoccupied vehicle. Smiths says the CIP-3—features advanced image representation, including material discrimination. The CIP-300 joins systems offered by at least Science Applications International Corp. [SAI] and American Science and Engineering [ASEI] with systems to allow for drive-through passenger vehicle screening.
Northrop Grumman Delivers Biometric Matching System to Australian DoD for Pilot
Northrop Grumman [NOC] says it has delivered an automated biometric matching system (ABIS) to the Australian Defence Department for a pilot test as part of the department’s effort to develop a multimodal biometric database for the country’s armed forces. The delivery “marks the start of a six-month trial during which biometric data will be collected, stored, matched and processed in accordance with existing legislative frameworks,” Samuel Abbate, vice president of defense enterprise solutions for Northrop Grumman’s Information Systems sector, said in a statement. “ABIS will be an important element in Australian Defence Forces capability to ensure identity dominance and assurance in the theater.” The system delivered to Australia’s defense forces is modeled after an ABIS system that Northrop Grumman developed and delivered for the U.S. Defense Department. U.S. forces use the biometric database and matching capabilities to identify suspected terrorists and militants. The U.S. ABIS has fingerprint, face, iris and palm modalities. The ABIS system for Australia was delivered under a one-year contract and will help their DoD test and develop techniques for producing biometrically enabled intelligence and to help determine requirements for a future biometrics information management solution. The testing in Australia will support single-mode and multi-mode matching for fingerprints, latents, face, palm and iris.
Lockheed Martin in Disaster Response Logistics Exercise
Lockheed Martin [LMT] and The Institute for Defense and Business (IDB) last month hosted a Disaster Response Integrative Logistics Exercise to explore post-disaster logistics challenges for humanitarian operations at Lockheed Martin’s Center for Innovation facility in Suffolk, Va. The exercise included disaster relief-focused organizations from the private sector, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and the military to design, develop and deliver a joint humanitarian relief exercise in logistics. “Given the nature, frequency, location and severity of disasters, and exemplified by the concurrent response to Hurricane Sandy, international organizational collaboration in logistics is becoming increasingly critical to the efficiency and effectiveness of disaster response,” says David Litt, executive director for the Center for Stabilization and Economic Reconstruction. Lockheed Martin and IDB say that one of the unique features of the recent exercise, as compared to similar humanitarian relief exercises organized by the U.S. military or even the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is that it focused heavily on the private and voluntary sectors’ logistical problems and challenges in disaster response, and what ways all responders can help to mitigate or resolve them. Exercise outcomes included new ways of improving communication and cooperation among responding organizations, identifying supporting tools and technologies to enhance collaboration, guiding policy changes needed to improve disaster response, and preparing the participating organizations for their next response to disaster.
West Virginia Police Using MorphoTrak ID Devices Against FBI Database
West Virginia state police are using MorphoTrak’s MorphoIDent mobile ID devices to make real-time identifications against both the agency’s and FBI’s Repository for Individuals of Special Concern (RISC) fingerprint databases, the company says. The smartphone-size identification devices help the state police quickly determine if a person detained during a routine traffic stop has outstanding wants or warrants. The device captures two of the person’s fingerprints and immediately searches them against the state’s criminal fingerprint database and the FBI’s RISC database, providing search results within minutes. The RISK includes about 2 million records of wanted persons, sex offender registry subjects, and known or suspected terrorists. MorphoTrak is part of the Safran Group.
SpectraFluidics Demonstrates Ability to Detect DNT
SpectraFluidics says its Chemical Vapor Detection Cartridges have demonstrated repeatable performance it their ability to detect DNT, an important chemical marker associated with TNT explosives. “This breakthrough capability for detecting vapors from explosives opens up tremendous commercial applications fro the unattended and automated detection of trace levels of suspect chemicals, which can range from airport screening and port security to anti-bioterrorism and food supply safety,” says Philip Strong, CEO of SpectraFluidics. The tests, which were done with scientists at the Univ. of California Santa Barbara, were published in the American Chemical Society’s journal Analytical Chemistry and show the system’s sensitivity and specificity. The tests show that the sensors enable a user to identify the chemical signature of a substance within two minutes. The detection system combines surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy with free-surface microfluidics.
Northrop Grumman Launches Innovation Network
Northrop Grumman [NOC] has launched a Web-based Innovation Network aimed at fostering development of next-generation defense and homeland security technology solutions. The Northrop Grumman Innovation Network will allow interested parties to review challenges and submit ideas that will aide in solving critical problems for the aerospace and defense industry and the most promising concepts will be considered for funding from the company to enable further development and refinement of specific solutions. “As a designer of innovative products and systems ranging from undersea to outer space and into cyberspace, Northrop Grumman is integrally involved in the development of next-generation technologies to tackle emerging global security challenges,” says Chuck Brinkman, chief technology officer of Northrop Grumman’s Electronic Systems sector. “However, faced with the current U.S. defense budgetary constraints, it has become even more imperative that we creatively solve these challenging problems.” The Northrop Grumman Innovation Network website currently lists two “Call for Innovation” challenges, one focused on colleges and universities and the other targeted at small businesses. Academicians are being encouraged to submit novel concepts that have the potential to dramatically improve or replace defense radars in 10 to 20 years. In addition, small businesses are being asked to provide their innovative ideas for a low-cost means to detect small arms fire and its direction with respect to a vehicle for installation on ground vehicles. (http://www.northropgrumman.com/innovation/.)
KEYW Acquires Rsignia, Giving It Key Technology For Commercial Cyber Product Launch
KEYW Corp. [KEYW] has acquired the small cyber security technology firm Rsignia, Inc., a deal that completes the company’s effort to bring in house the key technologies that make up its cyber security platform for commercial customers that will be launched next year. Terms of the deal were not disclosed although a KEYW spokesman says it is immaterial in terms of sales and earnings. Maryland-based Rsignia provides KEYW with deep packet inspection technology. Previously Rsignia had been supplying KEYW with the technology. Now KEYW has more control over technology development and end pricing with the deep packet inspection technology, the spokesman says. In 2013 KEYW plans to bring to the market its Project G Cyber Awareness and Response platform, an affordable and scalable solution for applications including monitoring and mitigating malicious internet packet activity, network monitoring and analysis, and forensics capabilities. Project G will be an unclassified solution based on KEYW’s knowledge of how the intelligence community defends its networks. Earlier this fall KEYW acquired Sensage, which gave it security incident and event management software that the company is also using in Project G. Rsignia’s founder Darrell Covell and the company’s senior technology officers will remain with the company. Rsignia has about 10 employees. The company has government and industry customers.
Precise Biometrics Launches Mobile Product Add-on for iPhone, iPad
Precise Biometrics has introduced a smart casing for iPhones and iPads that provides these devices with mobile security features through an embedded fingerprint and smart card reader. Combined with different applications, the Tactivo product enables government agencies and companies to maintain a high level of security when employees use the mobile devices to access sensitive information, Precise Biometrics says. “Tactivo represents a unique milestone in our company history,” says Thomas Marschall, president and CEO of Precise Biometrics. “We have repeatedly, through extensive innovation, worked to identify additional commercial opportunities where our core technology and skills could be successfully applied outside our traditional customer base. Early indications from customers, even outside government agencies, suggests that we are on the right track and may have found a significant new growth opportunity.”