DHS S&T Tests Innovative Air Domain Awareness Technology
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is evaluating cutting-edge air domain awareness technologies to support DHS’s mission to protect the airspace along our northern border with Canada. Working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Defense, and the Federal Aviation Administration to develop requirements and testing criteria, S&T’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory led a test team that also included the Montana National Guard, Northern Plains UAS Test Site, and MITRE.
Iris ID Looks at Growing Federal Government Use of Iris Biometrics
Learn how the federal government is using iris biometrics for the collection of personal identity and authentication data by joining Iris ID, at Connect: ID 2021, Oct. 5-6 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C. Agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are vetting iris-based technology for uses such as identifying people crossing U.S. borders and processing passengers at airport security checkpoints.
DHS Awards $750K to Texas Small Business for Urban Detection and Identification of small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program awarded $750,000 to Texas-based small business Cobalt Solutions Inc. to develop a detection and tracking sensor system that can identify nefarious small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in an urban environment. The DHS SBIR Program selected Cobalt Solutions Inc. for a Phase II award after they successfully demonstrated the feasibility of their 5G Passive Radar UAS Tracking and Targeting (5G-PRT) sensor system.
Safely Handling Drones – S&T Has an App for That!
Keeping Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel safe on the job is a crucial part of the Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) mission. Nearly every day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents come across drones that may have been used to facilitate the movement of illicit drugs or people across the southern border.
DHS S&T Launches Series 3 of Virtual Whole-of-Government R&D Showcase
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) launched the third installment of the Virtual Whole-of-Government R&D Showcase. This unique four-part series highlights how S&T and its partners across government are mobilizing research and development (R&D) teams to reduce risks from natural and human-induced disasters; accelerating breakthrough discoveries; and helping the nation prepare against future threats and unknowns.
DHS S&T Brings Next-Generation Incident Command System
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is joining forces with the non-profit Beacon NGO to advance open source software capabilities for public safety. Under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), Beacon NGO will analyze open source code for S&T’s Next-Generation Incident Command System (NICS) and deliver it to a larger emergency response community.
DHS S&T Calls for Submissions to Biometric Tech Rally
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) invites biometric technology developers to apply to participate in the 2021 Biometric Technology Rally. Started in 2018, the Biometric Technology Rally challenges industry to deliver fast, accurate, and easy-to-use biometric recognition capabilities to improve security and user facilitation at checkpoint processing.
NEC Tops Competition in Identifying Subjects Wearing Face Masks at DHS 2020 Biometric Technology Rally
An algorithm submitted by NEC Corporation of America (NEC) outpaced all competition in correctly matching images of subjects wearing face masks at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) 2020 Biometric Technology Rally. The algorithm submitted by NEC, code-named ‘Alan’ for the anonymized test, achieved the highest True Identification Rate (TIR) at 98.7%.
PureTech Systems Delivering on Orders of its PureActiv Software providing Rapidly Deployable Advanced Surveillance Technology to U.S. Border Patrol
PureTech Systems has announced receiving orders for its PureActiv software for over 135 Mobile Video Surveillance Systems (MVSS) vehicles being delivered to the Department of Homeland Security for use along the U.S. border. Delivery on the award began in 2020 and will conclude in the spring of 2021. The MVSS platform utilizes PureTech Systems’ PureActiv software as its central command and control, providing AI enhanced video detection and classification, user interface display, and sensor collaboration logic.
Percepto Autonomous Drone Solution Assessed in U.S. Operational Experimentation Program
Percepto revealed that it has participated in an operational experimentation program with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Science and Technology Directorate in collaboration with the U.S. Army. Percepto was invited to participate in the program to evaluate the ability of autonomous drones to perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations and to confirm the presence of adversary assets.
SightLogix Smart Thermal Cameras Protect Water And Wastewater Facilities
SightLogix smart thermal cameras are being used to secure water utilities globally against unauthorized intrusions and potential sabotage. These sites select the SightLogix system for its ability to detect intruders over large outdoor areas with great accuracy and low costs, enabling the rapid, reliable, early-detection system that water utilities require. According to the US Department of Homeland Security, more than 75% of the US population receives drinking water or has sanitary sewerage treated by the wastewater system.
Echodyne Approved for Final Round of Silicon Valley Innovation Program
Echodyne announced that it has been selected to advance to the final phase of the prestigious Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T). The company’s work in the program focuses on border surveillance. Echodyne provides advanced MESA™ radars for securing critical infrastructure, borders, public spaces, and smart cities.
Delta Anti-Terrorist Vehicle Access Control Systems Receive SAFETY Act Certification
Delta Scientific announced that the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has provided certification according to the Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technology Act (SAFETY Act) of 2002. This certification minimizes insurance risks for organizations that deploy authorized Delta vehicle access control products to protect against terrorists and errant drivers. All products certified are covered retroactively back to 1984 and are now authorized to carry the SAFETY Act Designated mark.
Trust Automation To Provide Cybersecurity Solutions For Legacy Industrial Control Systems
Trust Automation has announced it will offer a novel new cybersecurity solution for industrial control systems (ICS). Working through the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, Trust has obtained an exclusive license to the Autonomic Intelligent Cyber Sensor (AICS) technology developed by Idaho National Laboratories. AICS brings autonomous, real-time cybersecurity measures to the legacy ICS networks that still control much of the United States’ critical energy, water and transportation infrastructure.
Drone Takedown Authority Would Be Granted Under Senate Proposal
Security and law enforcement agencies would be given new authority to monitor and take down threatening drones under bipartisan legislation proposed by a group of U.S. Senators. A bill introduced by top members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee would also direct the Department of Homeland Security to study drone technology and the emerging threats it creates. While technology exists to monitor most small commercial drones and to disable or redirect their flight paths, law often prohibits the use of these techniques. The bill, known as the Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018, would give DHS and the Justice Department the authority to monitor and track drones without consent of the operator.
AIS Demonstrates Core And Mobile Core Integrative Communications Technologies
Agile Interoperable Solutions(AIS) announced it will be attending several major industry-specific events in 2018 to demonstrate its CORE and Mobile CORE integrative technologies. AIS will be exhibiting at the Governors Hurricane Conference in West Palm Beach May13-18, the Department of Homeland Security Show in Houston July 5-9 and APCO in Las Vegas August 5-8. With crowds at its booth at the International Wireless Communications Expo in March, AIS sets its sites on several industry gatherings to demonstrate its leading integrative communications technologies.
Northrop Grumman Wins $95 Million Contract From DHS
Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a $95 million contract by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) to develop increments one and two of the Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology (HART) system. Northrop Grumman will serve as systems developer and integrator for this 42-month effort. HART is the organization’s next-generation recognition program, replacing the Automated Biometric Identity System (IDENT) built in the 1990s.
Jake Parker -SIA Director of Government Relations- Testifies Before Congress
Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications held the hearing, titled “How Effective Is the Science and Technology Directorate: Stakeholder Perspectives,” to hear the Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate’s stakeholders from academia, industry, and the first responder community about their perspectives on the benefits and challenges of working with the directorate at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
NYC Bill Would Force NYPD To Tell Details Of Surveillance Tools
Legislation debated Wednesday before the New York City Council would force the NYPD to disclose some details about surveillance technology such as cellphone-tower replicators, X-ray vans, and license-plate readers. The NYPD also would need to adopt what lawmakers say are privacy disclosures similar to those of the Department of Homeland Security and other municipalities. Under the POST Act —short for Public Oversight of Police Technology— the NYPD would need to publicly disclose each item’s current and future “impact and use policies,” seek public feedback, and explain whether court permission is needed for deployment.
General Dynamics Obtains CBP FOC Status For Remote Video Surveillance Platform
General Dynamics’ Remote Video Surveillance System (RVSS) upgrade has achieved a ‘Full Operating Capability’ (FOC) designation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This key milestone was achieved after two years of successful deployment and field testing along the southern border and underscores the operational impact this solution provides to the U.S. Border Patrol. The RVSS capability is currently operational in Nogales, Douglas, Naco, Yuma, and Ajo, Arizona, with relocatable deployments planned in McAllen and Laredo, Texas in 2017.