Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MiRTLE (Next generation, high performance, long range, standoff, concealed threat detection system to protect European citizens and critical infrastructure)

Teaser

Acts of terrorism aim to instill fear into Europe\'s citizens. Since 2000, approximately 163,000 people have died from global terrorism. Attacks on citizens and urban targets have increased as terrorists use autonomous cells and lone individuals to concerts, markets, shopping...

Summary

Acts of terrorism aim to instill fear into Europe\'s citizens. Since 2000, approximately 163,000 people have died from global terrorism. Attacks on citizens and urban targets have increased as terrorists use autonomous cells and lone individuals to concerts, markets, shopping malls, airports, transport hubs, sports stadia, cinemas, bars, night clubs and tourist resorts.

It is impossible to deploy security personnel in enough numbers to protect every location. When present security personnel lack the technology to detect, at a safe range, concealed threats such as person borne improvised explosive devices (PBIEDs), guns and knives. There is an urgent need for a cost effective, high performance, long range, concealed threat detection system.

Radio Physics Solutions Ltd has developed MiRTLE (Millimetre-wave Radar Threat Level Evaluation), the world’s first, high performance, long range (up to 50m), low cost, standoff “concealed threat” detection system for the protection of citizens and critical infrastructure. MiRTLE is capable of screening large groups of people automatically and autonomously, without operator intervention, in real-time. Our highly innovative system detects PBIEDs, guns (including 3D printed) and knives up to a range of 50m in real-time, with targets in motion, all without privacy concerns.

The overall objective of this project is to successfully refine, scale-up and demonstrate our superior technology to our customer base. We aim to capture an 8% market share of the improvised explosive devices (IED) and weapon detection market, which will generate cumulative revenues of €161m, cumulative EBITDA of €43m by 2025 and create 302 high skilled jobs in Europe.

Work performed

Period 1

• Initial project engagement and scoping: understanding the requirement; briefing new staff members; and re-engage formally with the beneficiary, CBN.

• Project management responsibilities and processes defined and fully activated

• Project plan reviewed and revised

• Initial engagements with the personnel at Warsaw Airport, both Security Officers and Border Guards.

• Workshops facilitated with airport personnel to derive the User-needs Document and System Requirements Specification.

• User-needs Document and System Requirements Specification created and released.

• The Standards File has been created and released.

• A Product Technology Roadmap has been developed that is consistent with both market requirements and the intent of this project.

• Video Imaging Subsystem Architecture developed.

• Auto tracking development work with an early tracking algorithm under test.

• ONVIF compatibility investigated and partnerships developed.

• Combined transmitter/receiver system development work and engagement with White Horse Radar to support the technology road map.

• Initial bench testing to develop environmental testing requirements.

• Ethernet interface developed.

• AI threat classification system facilities designed and implemented.

• GUI development initiated.

• Initial release of manufacturing process and test documents for prototype and low-rate manufacture.

• Identification and initial engagements with test houses for EMI testing and CE marking.

• Digital collaborative work environment created and initiated.

• Project website created.

• Independent Ethics Advisor identified and engaged. Ethics Board created

• Data Management Plan created and released.

Period 2

• Demonstrator for the video image processing, with auto-tracking created. Shown to a number of potential customers and investors

• Test data gathered from the new minaturisable homodyne transceiver from various test subjects and weapon types. This data will be used for the AI tuning processes

• Linearised and temperature compensation design created and tested. In use now with the new transceiver

• Ethernet connectivity designed and in use. The MiRTLE sensor is now networkable, along with the corresponding camera

• Combined transmitter/receiver system development work with White Horse Radar to support has delivered a tested successful prototype functioning at ranges up to 50m

• Transmitter/receiver temperature and component variation compensator built and tested

• Product test and Functional test plans have now developed

• Design for Manufacture and Failure Mode Effects Analysis processes have been followed

• No objections received to our FCC petition for waiver, and active within ETSI working groups for harmonised standards development for concealed threat detection technologies

• Sales documents: Concept of Operations and Planning Considerations documents have been produced to enable potential customers to better understand the effects the system will have and what needs to be considered to effectively integrate it

• RPS Hub: RPS has created a platform to enable better communication with channel partners. The hub acts as a single source for sales documents and media, monthly reporting from channel partners and as a convenient forum for discussions

• Development videos: short videos about product development were created to keep potential investors and channel partners informed

• RPS have worked with an animator to produce a storyboard for a promotional video

• Demos: Conducted a demo in Gdansk to 25 people from a variety of organisations including Gdansk port, Gdansk airport and customs and a demo in Warsaw to security representatives

• RPS have made contact with a security consultancy that are well placed to help collect data on system performance for a case study

• RPS has booked a stand at the International Security Expo in Decembe

Final results

It is too early in the product development activities to define any progress beyond the state of the art. The Team are focused on hardware and software developments that will further the capabiities of the MiRTLE system and the level of market interest seen already, suggests that this is a leading technology. The work on the next generation developments anticipated in Period 2 of the project will be starting to push the state of the art.

The technical developments seen during period 2 are starting to give the Consortium confidence that this is a technology that is approaching the state of the art. As the developments are embedded and trials progress we will be better able to determine this.

Engagements with potential customers and end-users are starting to show that there is considerable interest in the tachnology to mprove the safety of the individual and therefore to make a significant social impact.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.mirtle2020.com.