-
U.S. grounds 39 Lockheed P-3C surveillance planes
The U.S. Navy says that structural fatigue has caused the grounding of 39 out of the Navy’s 161 P-3C Orion surveillance planes; Orions used heavily in post-9/11 operations, including in Iraq and Afghanistan
-
-
Motorola invests in RFID maker
Santa Clara-based Intelleflex raises $15.5 million from Motorola, Arcapita Ventures; the move may signal a change of attitude by VCs, who have so far failed to warm up to the technology; another RFID maker, Colorado-based SkyeTek, raised $10 million in July
-
-
AT&T shows RFID solution for schools
RFID-GPS solution will allow school district to monitor schools buses, but also school equipment, students and teachers, and visitors; it will also help in disaster response
-
-
Enjoying the benefits of GPS technology without giving up on privacy
The proliferation of location-based services raises the specter of an Orwellian Big Brother society in which a citizen’s every move is monitored and tracked; two computer scientists offer a way to enjoy the benefits of location-based services, while avoiding the more sinister aspects of the technology
-
-
Maker of small UAV raises $25 million
Insitu makes small, light UAVs aiming to tip soldiers off to an impending ambush or track the car of a terrorism suspect; company raises $25 million in fourth round; UAV market will expand from the current $3.4 billion per year worldwide to $7.3 billion within ten years
-
-
Another milestone for SBSS
Boeing successfully tests the visible sensor, payload electronics, and high speed gimbal of the Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) system
-
-
Qinetiq selected for £5 million slice of Watchkeeper contract
U.K. contractor selected for £5 million contract to deliver a critical part of the £800 million Watchkeeper UAV project; Watchkeeper project is designed to provide U.K. armed forces with specialized surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities
-
-
Unmanned aircraft will challenge air traffic control
The rapid growth in the number of UAVs flying the skies for a variety of purposes leads to serious discussion of a UAV air-traffic control system to monitor their flight and prevent accidents
-
-
Unmanned aircraft takes off and lands on water on its own
Wolverine researchers develop a UAV which is the first seaplane that can initiate and perform its own takeoffs and landings on water; funded by DARPA, the vehicle will fit into DOD’s “persistent ocean surveillance” program
-
-
Companies join to create the RFID Consortium
The consortium will license patents that are essential to making products supporting the UHF RFID Standards announced by EPCglobal and ISO/IEC
-
-
FLIR Systems received $2 million contracts to boost airport security
Thermal imaging specialist finds its cameras in demand at U.S. airports; cameras are suitable for securing the long perimeters typically associated with major airports
-
-
Report sees double-digit growth for CCTV market
The world-wide CCTV market is expected to grow by 13 percent year-on-year until 2011; global demand for conventional CCTV systems is trending downward, while demand for IP-based CCTV surveillance grows
-
-
Cernium raises $10 million
Virginia-based video analytic specialist raises $10 million from Chicago investor
-
-
British Army orders additional Desert Hawk III
Lockheed Martin’s Desert Hawk III unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) is capable of operating in high-wind environments, such as those prevailing in deserts, and is less detectable by ground-based foes; the UK wants more of them
-
-
Inexpensive sensors could capture your every move
A system of cheap and small sensors is similar to, but much simpler than, bats’ ultrasonic echolocation, and together with the motion sensors provides a more accurate overall picture of body movement
-
The long view
How DHS Laid the Groundwork for More Intelligence Abuse
I&A, the lead intelligence unit of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) —long plagued by politicized targeting, permissive rules, and a toxic culture —has undergone a transformation over the last two years. Spencer Reynolds writes that this effort falls short. “Ultimately, Congress must rein in I&A,” he adds.