TSA Certifies XRC System for Air Cargo
X-Ray Center (XRC), which is based in Turkey, says the U.S. Transportation Security Administration has accepted the company’s large-tunnel 180-180DV 200 kV cargo inspection system onto the qualified section of the agency’s Air Cargo Security Technology List. XRC already had four X-Ray systems on the list, including the large-tunnel 320 kV system. XRC is the only X-Ray security screening system manufacturer in Turkey. The company was an exclusive provider of X-Ray security screening systems for the Tokyo Olympics last summer.
Pangiam, Google Cloud Team on Aviation Security
Pangiam said it collaborating with Google Cloud [GOOG] on a project to evaluate artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled technology at security checkpoints at three airports. Pangiam said that Project DARTMOUTH will integrate AI and machine learning computer vision tools trained to detect prohibited items in real-time as bags pass through airport X-Ray screening equipment. The technology will also be used to spot anomalies that could indicate a new or coordinated attempt to breach security and alert security staff for further examination. The technology will be trialed by AGS Airports Ltd. in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports in the United Kingdom.
ICE Agents to Trial Body Worn Cameras
Immigration and Customs Enforcement says its law enforcement officers in select cities will begin wearing cameras for pre-planned operations to improve transparency and accountability. The body worn camera, ancillary equipment and software are being procured from Axon Enterprise, Inc. “With its body worn camera pilot, ICE is making an important statement that transparency and accountability are essential components of our ability to fulfill our law enforcement mission and keep communities safe,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement. The deployment of the cameras will occur in phases beginning with Homeland Security Investigations special agents and later with Enforcement and Removal Officers. The HSI pilots will occur in Houston, New York City, and Newark, N.J.
SkySafe Raises $30M to Scale Airspace Security Tech for Commercial Drone Adoption
Drone airspace management company SkySafe says it has raised $30 million in a Series B investment to further accelerate the company’s growth through strategic hiring, research and development, and expanded production of its airspace security system for commercial adoption. The investment is led by Kingfisher Investment Advisors with participation from new investors Gaingels and MIT alumni investment fund Castor Ventures. Andreessen Horowitz, which led the seed and Series A investments, also is participating in the Series B round. Overall, SkySafe has raised $45 million in total financing. California-based SkySafe uses radio technology, reverse engineering and threat analysis to provide in-depth airspace awareness to weed out unauthorized drones from authorized aircraft. The company’s technology also supports the adoption of commercial drones for surveying, disaster relief, delivery, hobbyists and other consumer applications. “SkySafe has created an airspace awareness system for drones, to offer visibility, accountability, and ultimately, safety,” says Grant Jordan, the company’s CEO. “Without this infrastructure for drones, it’s difficult to build public trust and scale commercial use.”
Thales and MARSS Team on Counter-UAS
France’s Thales and Britain’s MARSS Group have teamed to provide counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) solutions to protect critical infrastructures. Under the teaming, the companies will integrate MARSS’ NiDAR command and control platform with Thales’ drone neutralization systems to offer scalable solutions for UAS situational awareness and drone mitigation. “The neutralization phase in C-UAS is a critical step,” says Rob Balloch, MARSS vice president of sales. “NiDAR finds and verifies the threat. We wanted an equally credible solution to help defeat this threat.” The companies said that deployment of operational systems will begin within the next few months.