For use on the fly, on the edge, removing humans from any type of risk
Special and conventional military forces are looking for more ever-capable biometric solutions. In one instance, Nicola Dickinson, Vice President for the Americas, at Brimtek (a Digital Barriers company) pointed out her customers are looking for more exacting and precise facial recognition tools, “for use on the fly, on the edge, removing humans from any type of risk when they are used to watch someone, and using analytics on the edge.”
Facial recognition provides extra, added information and confirmation of a target-of-interest for security purposes. At one level, this biometric application can support routine processes – the on- and off-flows of host-nation nationals employed at a military site. And beyond that, “It also can be used for targeting purposes, to ascertain and confirm ‘Who is it?’ so you don’t make mistakes – facial recognition provides that added benefi, of correct targeting, but also the ‘pattern of life’ and even the analytics behind it,” Ms Dickinson emphasized.
Analytics is used quite often in the biometric sector – so, what’s the significance of this capability to Brimtek? As the company brings its “deep learning” to bear, it can use object recognition, for example. “You can start adding things like, ‘Please wake up my camera, or ping me if a person or even certain type of boat is there.’ That is the analytics we get – group capabilities – object recognition and others,” Ms Dickinson explained.
And from that point, a produced video may be sent for complete analysis and other activities, at a headquarters or other venue.
Ms Dickinson was asked to differentiate Brimtek’s facial recognition capabilities from others in the sector. At the top of her list was her company’s combination of EdgeVis and facial recognition – which overcomes the persistent challenges of bandwidth, thus allowing the operator to transmit quality video in a timely manner. “We have a capability which permits us to stream data at 9 kilobits/second. If you want to go back and look, for example, at a license plate, we can pull up a full resolution download, even under really constrained bandwidth, which gives you enough pixels to make the full identification.”
One facial recognition capability on display was the company’s SMARTVIS FACE MOBILE smartphone app which enables users with a handheld IOS/Android device to match subjects against a watchlist of known individuals.
Brimtek has a supplier agnostic business model for its cameras and communications materiel.
The company was unable to disclose details on its defence customers for its facial recognition products.
Enhancements on the horizon for Brimtek facial recognition products include increased accuracy and assignment of unique identifiers to people. “We really want to push the limits, outside of who are the ‘bad people’, and making certain we don’t miss them,” the sector expert concluded.
Marty Kauchak
