Cathay Pacific Using Biometric Platform from Vision-Box for Paperless Travel at Schiphol

Vision-Box says its facial recognition-based self-boarding solution is now being used by passengers of

Cathay Pacific airlines at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, part of the airport’s plan to offer a paperless experience. The trial is just the first phase of Seamless Flow, the name given to the program for paperless travel. Vision-Box says that after checking in, passengers are invited to participate in the trial. Participants are taken to a special registration kiosk where their passport and boarding pass are scanned and a face image is captured to generate the traveler’s single token. This registration process allows passengers to pass through a dedicated biometric-enabled eGate where they only have to look at a camera that scans their face without having to show any documents. The live photo is automatically compared with the photo taken at the registration process. Self-processing by each passenger only takes a few seconds. The next phase of the program will add passport control to the trial.

Vision Box’ Seamless Flow solution. Photo: Vision Box

Coast Guard MH-65E Completes LRIP, Begins IOT&E

The Coast Guard has completed low-rate initial production (LRIP) of its service life extension program and avionics upgrades of its MH-65 short-range recovery helicopters. Once the upgrades are complete, the helicopter is designated an MH-65E. The avionics upgrade include reliability and capability improvements for the Automatic Flight Control Systems, installation of a digital cockpit display system and an upgraded digital weather/surface search radar, integration of a robust C4ISR suite and modernization of the digital flight deck with the Common Avionics Architecture System, which is common with the Coast Guard H-60 medium-range recovery helicopter and similar Defense Department aircraft. Concurrently, the Coast Guard is completing SLEP activities to replace five major structural components that will extend the service life of the helicopters by 10,000 flight hours. The Coast Guard is currently in the initial operational test and evaluation phase on two of the three aircraft that have been converted to the MH-65E configuration. Once the IOT&E phase is completed, a full rate production decision is expected in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. All 98 of the service’s MH-65Es are expected to be converted by FY ’24. The MH-65s were built by Airbus Group.

MSA Security Opens New Training Facilities, More Planned

MSA Security last year opened four new offices and Alcohol Tobacco and Firearm licensed canine training facilities in Hong Kong, San Diego, Memphis, and Orangeburg, N.Y. This year the company expects to open three more regional training centers in Chicago, Cincinnati and Los Angeles to keep up with demand for its bomb detection dogs. “As our global client base grows, we will continue to meet their needs with the most advanced explosive threat detection, protective services, and security solutions in the industry,” say Glen Kucera, MSA’s CEO. “Our strategic growth plan calls for further expansion into key regional markets in the Asia Pacific region such as Singapore and Japan.” MSA is certified by the Transportation Security Administration as a Third Party Canine provider for cargo screening. The company is considering additional sites for 2020 and beyond.

FLIR to Acquire Endeavor Robotics, Provide Platforms for CBRNE Solutions

FLIR Systems [FLIR] has agreed to acquire Endeavor Robotics in a $385 million cash deal that gives it ground robotics platforms for various missions, including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) roles. FLIR is acquiring Endeavor, the former defense unit of iRobot [IRBT], from Arlington Capital Partners. The deal is expected to close within a few weeks. FLIR is known for its sensor and camera technology for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, and for CBRNE operations. Some of Endeavor’s products are used for CBRNE missions, including explosive ordnance disposal. In the fall of 2017, Endeavor won a potential $158 million Army contract for the Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II (MTRS II), a medium-weight, remotely operated UGV that will help warfighters detect and confirm threats such as CBRNE threats and hazards. Endeavor has already sold more than 7,000 of its various unmanned ground vehicles to customers in over 55 countries.