Northrop Grumman [NOC] yesterday introduced a ruggedized, handheld, multimodal biometrics collection device it plans to offer for the defense, homeland security, and law enforcement markets, joining several smaller firms that are already competing with similar products.
Northrop Grumman’s BioTRAC system is an open hardware platform that accommodates Windows or Linux-based commercial and government off-the-shelf biometric collection matching software. The device features fingerprint and dual iris image capture, as well as one and two-dimensional barcode reading.
BioTRAC also features a smart card reader, GPS, a proximity card reader, and wireless communications. The system can be mounted on a vehicle for mobile units.
The device can do complete identity enrollment in less than two minutes, Northrop Grumman said.
Currently, L-1 Identity Solutions [ID] is the market leader in handheld, multimodal biometric devices having sold thousands to the U.S. military. Cogent Systems [COGT] and Cross Match Technologies also sell similar systems.
Northrop Grumman said that BioTRAC will be manufactured by Black Diamond Advanced Technology, which designed the system based on its SwitchBack MT computer.