The Department of Homeland Security‘s science and technology directorate has distributed $6.8 million to four research-and-development projects that aim to update threat detection features in current baggage detection systems.
Integrated Defense and Security Solutions, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and TeleSecurity Sciences received the grants through a Broad Agency Announcement published in December 2016 as part of DHS’ Checked Baggage Program, the department said Monday.
IDSS aims to produce a retrofit kit designed to help Transportation Security Administration personnel to update computed tomography-based explosive detection systems under a $1.5 million contract.
The company also secured a separate $1.9 million contract to develop a machine learning-based algorithm that will work to detect hidden threats.
LLNL will explore multiple algorithms designed to update automated threat recognition technology in X-ray detection systems as well as CT data processing methods for baggage scanning through a $1.8 million contract.
TeleSecurity Sciences landed a $1.5 million contract to further develop a common automated threat recognition system in efforts to reduce EDS-generated false alarms.