Award Data

This Phase I proposal describes the development of an Automatic Threat Recognition (ATR) algorithm for volumetric CT data. Our ATR algorithm consists of four stages: (1) preprocessing of CT data, (2) object segmentation of preprocessed CT data, (3) post-processing of segmentation results, and (4) explosive detection from the segmented objects. The ATR algorithm will be made computationally efficie ...

Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) are tasked with exploiting x-ray inspection systems to detect potential threats. To ensure the safety and security of the traveling public and to ensure efficient operation, TSOs must maintain a 100% probability of detection (Pd) rate while minimizing screening time and cost. Achieving these objectives requires that x-ray inspection systems operate predictab ...

This Phase I proposal describes (1) an automated image quality assessment (IQA) software to objectively quantify image quality of airport security X-ray imaging systems for both checked and carry-on baggage and (2) a design for a novel test phantom specialized for security CT scanners. For fixed images, automated algorithms will measure the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) and Contrast-to-Noise ...

First responders operate in emergency situations that require ruggedized gear that can survive temperature, impact, and moisture. Utilizing the communication devices that first responders already carry on them has many benefits including: always on-scene, reduced cost of distributing equipment, elimination of training requirements, and many others. Ruggedizing commercial hand held computing and ...

Ruggedized electronics can be costly; utilizing commercial-grade hand-held computing/communication device and combining with well-designed case can provide ruggedization (impact, temperature, moisture) and extend capabilities such as integrated inclusion of smartcard/CAC readers, biometrics, and advanced barcode scanners. This program will determine the requirements for ruggedizing a device and us ...

When responding to an incident, first responders often do not know what environments they will encounter at the incident scene. Although the garments that they are wearing may provide protection in their normal working environment, it may not be suited for unexpected conditions they encounter when they reach the scene of the incident, or as the incident progresses. Through this SBIR, Wizbe Innova ...

Luna Innovations is addressing the Department of Homeland Security need to develop novel textiles for uniforms that provide multi-threat protection for first responders. Since first responders enter situations with unknown threats, their uniforms must be able to protect from multiple different hazards. Novel multifunctional textile technologies are required to protect from fire, chemical warfare ...

Kappler proposes to develop a novel fabric composite that when constructed into Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) garments, provides protection to the wearer from multiple threats. The proposed research set forth by Kappler, Inc. is innovative in that it augments current Kappler base fabrics that protect from chemical, biologic, and flame hazards, but will now include protection from ballistic ...

The Discriminatory Analysis Display Assessment toolkit (DADA) will provide a methodology and embedded data analysis protocol to assess display technology image quality. DADA will identify the image/display characteristics that significantly impact human visual perception, specifically the ability to perceive and resolve key characteristics of screen objects. Further, DADA will incorporate percep ...

To address the DHS need for intelligent symbology technologies, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to continue the development of Web-based Intelligent Symbology Extraction based on Context (WISEC), a unique enterprise symbology system that integrates state-of-the-art natural language processing (NLP) tools with our syntactic event attribute extraction and contextual event coreference algo ...