April 26, 2010

MSIS to present two briefings at Systems and Software Technology Conference (SSTC) in Salt Lake City, UT.

Autonomous Inspection System

The objective of this project is to build an autonomous inspection system using 3D imaging and laser scanning systems to detect changes to the surface features of vehicles (e.g. spacecraft, aircraft), structures, and other mission critical systems to identify recent changes and potential damage. Phase I of our innovation is to automate the recognition of physical attribute changes of an object from a live acquisition scan against a baseline 3D model of the same object. This system consists of imaging and scanning equipment, processors, and communications equipment to capture surroundings in 3D. Phase II is to integrate this system with an autonomous robotic platform, using appropriate current and planned future technologies as a function of the operation environment (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles with hover capability and/or Unmanned Ground Vehicles for terrestrial applications, an autonomous untethered spacecraft for orbital/deep space applications).

Objectives:

1. Detect changes to spacecraft, aircraft, buildings, bridges, roads, etc. to determine current condition.
2. Decrease the physical inspection processing time by systematically calculating and reporting attribute changes of an object.
3. Generate 3D representations of interior and exterior spaces for military and security applications.
4. Search buildings / vehicles for bombs (compare current image with baseline).
5. Scan roads ahead of vehicles for Improvised Explosive Devices.

Data Mining in Widespread Video and Other Sensors

With the proliferation of internet-based video (public web cams as well as private networks) and other sensors, there is a growing need for methods of reducing data volume, integrating data of disparate types, and monitoring the data traffic for events of interest. In the case of public safety, cameras providing real-time traffic information assist commuters, but insurance companies are taking an interest in using imagery to prove fault in traffic accidents. Public web cams provide a view of current ski conditions or patrons at a favorite pub, but is a hostile “big brother” extracting information about businesses to aid future robberies, or monitoring the whereabouts of a philandering spouse? If temperature, acoustic, motion, and other sensors are also accessible, what applications are enabled, both altruistic and hostile? We will explore the relevant technologies and potential security options and threats.

Objectives:

1. Summarize applicable technologies in data mining, pattern recognition, feature extraction, artificial intelligence, change detection, and data compression, correlation and fusion.
2. Review statistics regarding number, type, and annual growth rate of real-time sensors on the internet.
3. Review firewall vulnerabilities regarding sensors on private networks.
4. Explore applications enabled by access to data from a variety of sensors.