PMR: Through a wall, clearly

Seeing through walls is a capability military units, homeland security forces, and law enforcement organizations would dearly like to have. If the military, homeland security, and law enforcement need a certain technology, it is more likely than not that you will find the San Diego, California-based Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology (CCAT) involved in funding the research and development of that technology, and seeing-through-walls technology is no exception. CCAT is supported by the Department of Defense (DoD), and it aims to provide funding and business services for government labs, academic researchers, and small businesses.

Vista, California-based Pacific Microwave Research (PMR) is offering a wall-penetrating vision system, utilizing Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (COFDM) technology. COFDM is especially suitable for use in urban and other high-noise environments, that is, environments where noise is created by signal transmissions (or signal “reflections”) bouncing off buildings, walls, and other obstacles. In fact, Chris Durso and Dave Dirdo, PMR’s founders, designed a COFDM system, called Tactical Video System, which works best in areas where there is plenty of signal reflection.

PMR was formed in 1999, and in April 2003 received support from CCAT, which gave PMR $75,000 to develop the prototype of a small transmitter which could be worn on the body (now called the DT-200 Series), offering hands-free operation. In 2005 PMR turned to CCAT again to finance the next piece of Tactical Video System, which was the prototype development of a corresponding video receiver. The plan called for the ruggedized receivers to be used in emergency vehicles, robotic applications, portable tactical command centers, and observation posts. CCAT awarded PMR another $75,000 to develop the receiver.

PMR’s equipment is now being used by defense contractors such as General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman for payloads on unmanned ground and aerial vehicles engineered to perform digital video surveillance in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas. PMR has also signed contracts with federal law enforcement agencies (Chris Durso notes that “some of these applications are so secret, that these agencies aren’t willing to give up their surveillance information, even as evidence during court trials”).

Durso sees the market for the company’s products growing as a result of an increased need for criminal surveillance in dynamic situations where there is no infrastructure to support a continual, fixed video feed. PMR is also beginning to move beyond systems used for surveillance of urban settings to offer systems which enable border surveillance capabilities.

By providing expert consultation and lending equipment, Durso established himself as an authority in the field of digital video law enforcement surveillance. Clients have repeatedly turned to him for advice and equipment. “You never want to give them something that they’ll ultimately spend money on that doesn’t solve their problem