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Using AI for Object Detection and Tracking

A startup company is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to secure the homeland.

With limited security, soft targets are easily accessible and vulnerable to attacks. Analytical AI could mitigate these high-risk threats to the public. Shutterstock photo by Victor Moussa.

On June 15, the Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) announced an award of $199,500 for Analytical AI, a Birmingham, Alabama-based startup company that builds AI algorithms to secure soft targets by identifying and tracking objects. The funds will help the company continue to “build artificial intelligence algorithms that link objects, such as unattended baggage to people, and track them from the time they enter a perimeter to when they exit,” according to a press release.

“Mass transit, on average, carries nearly 10 times as many passengers per day as the nation’s busiest airports,” said S&T Soft Target Security Program manager Ali Fadel. “With limited checkpoints for screening passengers and their belongings, our program is pursuing innovative technologies to enhance physical security and situational awareness at venues.”

On March 16, 2022, DHS S&T announced a solicitation to help prevent attacks in crowded places with innovative technologies.

Melissa Oh, S&T’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) managing director, said the solicitation expanded capabilities to maintain public safety in large and crowded areas such as sports and concert venues, shopping malls, schools and transportation systems.

At the time, SVIP asked applicants to focus on at least one of three technical topic areas: broad, flexible, anomaly detection; challenges from occlusion, lighting and distance; and real-time performance.

The program also “sought solutions that automatically detect anomalous events via video camera feeds; reduce error to optimize human performance; and minimize delay to enhance responsiveness in threat situations that could serve a shared mission among schools, sports venues, transportation systems, shopping venues, places of worship and amidst the general public,” the release stated.

Analytical AI's strength lies in its analysis of data sets, which detects changes in object location and ownership, in addition to real-time capability to look back and forward to track the handlers of unattended baggage.

“Analytical AI’s innovative technology monitors movement and the exchange of objects, as well as unattended objects leading to the prevention of attacks in public areas,” Oh stated.

Fadel added that the use of advanced algorithms to detect and alert security personnel to left-behind items almost immediately will allow quick response to dangerous events. “The intent is to integrate security solutions within a broader layered architecture to better protect commuters, riders and families using public transportation systems or attending a mass gathering—all without impacting the speed of the traveling public.”

DHS S&T SVIP continues to seek and invest in cutting-edge technologies to support national security.