Bae Systems Invests In Biometric Technology

[james.wilson]

Farnborough, UK - BAE Systems’ investment in helping highly innovative small and medium sized businesses accelerate their own technologies is delivering significant advances in face and iris recognition that could benefit national security.

An important example is the development of a technology demonstrator that integrates biometrics or face and iris recognition into one prototype platform that can recognise subjects when they are on the move. The demonstrator is on display in BAE Systems’ exhibition at this year’s Farnborough International, 19 - 26 July 2010.

The project combines the biometric capabilities of OmniPerception Ltd and Smart Sensors Ltd, the integration skills of Human Recognition Systems Ltd and the financial support, expertise and experience of BAE Systems. It has delivered a system that can identify and verify a subject from digital video and raise an alert to security operators to indicate the presence of that subject.

The system integrates face and iris recognition to provide a dual layer of security – particularly useful in verifying individuals in highly populated environments where security is vital. Future applications could include mass transit systems and schemes that require high volume enrolment or verification such as airports, exhibitions, sporting and entertainment fixtures. The system uses information derived from key points around the face and eyes to identify a subject. Identification can be made using cameras at a variety of angles, so a direct face-on picture is not required – particularly useful in crowded and busy environments.

BAE Systems’ Investment in Innovation programme was launched in 2008 and is a multi-million pound annual investment fund for small and medium sized organisations to develop technologies for the company’s defence and security customers. It also provides non-financial support, drawing upon BAE System’s engineering, project management and technology resources including test and evaluation facilities.

David Mullin, Manager, Investment in Innovation, BAE Systems, said that the approach being taken to bring these capabilities together was an innovation in itself, as it allowed a fair and transparent partnership with mutual benefits for all concerned. “Investment in Innovation helps small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) develop their products quicker and gives BAE Systems the opportunity to integrate those products with our own capabilities to meet emerging customer needs,” he said.

Stewart Hefferman, CEO OmniPerception Ltd, added: “The product development support we have received has enabled OmniPerception to bring our product to market many times quicker than we would have achieved on our own. The contractual flexibility and agility with which BAE Systems responds to our needs is fundamental in enabling us to deliver new high-technology products. Through BAE Systems introduction to other companies, Smart Sensors and Human Recognition Systems we have been able to integrate our products into a new capability and broaden our customer base considerably.”

Neil Norman, CEO Human Recognition Systems Ltd, comments: “Innovation is always a challenge for an SME; we often have great ideas but struggle with the capital and time to bring these ideas to life. BAE System’s Investment in Innovation (I3) programme is a refreshing change for our business, they give us difficult problems to solve based on their 3-5 year vision and importantly the freedom to think about how to go about it. By engaging HRS, OmniPerception and Smart Sensors early with a long term vision we have been able to develop new technology capability with clear market potential.”