Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd [TSXV: SCAN], has received a contract from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) with a total value of $3.86 Million to upgrade the screening technology in the full body scanners at US airports.
Liberty is a leading technology provider of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based next generation detection solutions for protecting secure locations against prohibited weapons and other threats.
The company is also concurrently working with the TSA on a technology that is increasingly being tested at airports for employee screening called HEXWAVE.
Toronto Pearson, Canada’s largest airport, has already purchased the HEXWAVE system, and several other trials are underway with Denver International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, the Port of Oakland, and a New Hampshire-based Regional Airport
The Role of HEXWAVE
Beyond its established expertise, Liberty Defense Holdings is concurrently collaborating with the TSA on a groundbreaking technology known as HEXWAVE.
This revolutionary technology employs the potent combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and millimeter-wave technology to identify dangerous or prohibited items.
What sets HEXWAVE apart is its unique ability to detect not just metallic objects but also concealed non-metal items, including plastic 3D-printed guns, powders, and liquids. This innovation represents a significant leap forward in airport security technology.
Unveiling the TSA Contract
The TSA contract awarded to Liberty Defense Holdings is valued at $1.25 million, with additional options that can bring the total value to an impressive $3.86 million.
The core purpose of this Research and Development contract is to equip the TSA with Open Architecture (OA) software, comprehensive engineering development, and the advancement of the High-Definition Advanced Imaging Technology (HD-AIT) Wideband Upgrade Kit.
This kit is poised to offer enhanced detection capabilities and an improved passenger experience, enhancing the overall airport security landscape.
The Significance of Open Architecture
To understand the full impact of this contract, it’s essential to grasp the concept of Open Architecture (OA).
Open Architecture is a technology-design approach that relies on widely accepted standards to ensure interoperability across various tools and platforms.
This approach facilitates seamless communication and collaboration, irrespective of the technology’s designer, manufacturer, or supplier.
By adopting Open Architecture, the TSA aims to bolster its On-Person Screening program, with the goal of detecting an expanding range of threats while minimizing false alarms and reducing physical contact.
Statement from Liberty’s Leadership
Michael Lanzaro, President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Liberty Defense Holdings, expressed the company’s gratitude for receiving the TSA award.
He emphasized that this achievement underscores Liberty’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the TSA’s capability to detect emerging and evolving threats concealed on individuals.
Moreover, it aims to achieve this while optimizing screening resources at airport checkpoints.
Lanzaro highlighted Liberty’s primary focus on delivering superior threat detection performance, encompassing the identification of both metallic and non-metallic threats.
This will be accomplished through an open-standards people screening solution, driven by next-generation AI and millimeter-wave imaging.
The HD-AIT Upgrade Kit, which is part of the contract, will provide advanced threat detection capabilities and enable the TSA to collaborate with third-party providers to introduce additional operational capabilities at airport checkpoints.
The Future of Airport Security
Lanzaro expressed excitement about the TSA’s vision for the future of airport security. He affirmed Liberty’s commitment to breaking away from the conventional approach of offering proprietary security screening solutions to the aviation and commercial markets.
This strategic shift towards open-standards solutions is poised to redefine the landscape of airport security technology.
It’s worth noting that Liberty Defense Holdings previously licensed millimeter wave-based High-Definition Advanced Imaging Technology (HD-AIT) body scanner and shoe screener technologies in March 2021.
These technologies were initially developed by researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) on behalf of the Transportation Security Administration.
Liberty is now taking these technologies in-house, utilizing its experienced team of engineers to further advance and innovate in this critical field.
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