The UK Government-sponsored Technology Demonstrator 2 (TD2) project focuses on finding new technologies, systems and ideas to enhance aviation security and passenger experiences and potentially help to increase airport revenues.
Human Recognition Systems was selected by an independent review panel after the live trials and TD2 Showcase event results were assessed.
For its fantastic efforts, the company now receives a winning prize fund of GB pound 30,000 which will be ploughed into the continual development of cutting-edge products.
Bringing innovation to light
“One of the aims we set out for the TD2 project was to bring to light innovation and concepts from small enterprises and academia that would not normally be seen until they’re much more mature,” said Sam Keayes, managing director of Thales.
As a result of very strong competition from hundreds of entrants, the selection panel had a difficult job when it came to choosing the winning company.
“Human Recognition Systems worked in partnership with SRI International on trialling the ‘Biometrics In Motion’ iris recognition solution at a UK airport, and then demonstrated the idea at the TD2 showcase,” continued Keayes, “where it attracted significant interest from the aviation industry and Government agencies alike.”
“We congratulate Human Recognition Systems on winning this prize,” added Keayes, “and we hope that the relationships they have forged during the TD2 process will lead to this technology being deployed in the airports of the future.”
Delighted at the recognition
Understandably, Neil Norman – the CEO at Human Recognition Systems – is thrilled with the triumph.
“This is a prestigious competition. In conjunction with our partner SRI International, we’re delighted to be recognised for our pioneering work and its many benefits to aviation security and customer experience.”
Norman added: “I can’t take all the glory. We’re lucky enough to have a team of great experts here and we all love what we do. We’re also very pleased about being able to invest our prize funds into bringing ideas to life and making them viable and beneficial to the commercial world.”
Over 40 technologies were selected to be at the TD2 Showcase event (which was held at Thales’ Crawley site last December). Around 20 of the selected companies also carried out live trials at some of the UK’s busiest airports to show how their technologies could potentially be integrated within the airports of the future.
Human Recognition Systems’ solution provides face and iris recognition while on the move and from distance. The technology enables passengers to have a more streamlined airport experience, while at the same time enhancing aviation security through the use of biometrics.
Once enrolled on the system, passengers would walk through a series of archways during the transition from land side to air side, enabling security officials to monitor they’re movements.
Meeting with key decision-makers
The UK Home Office INSTINCT Programme aims to identify – and trial – innovative technologies, solutions or ideas from any sized business or academic institution that could enhance security in the future.
The December showcase is one of many which allows selected demonstrators to meet face-to-face with key decision-makers and purchasers from across the security sector’s various areas of interest.
Support to develop technologies, solutions or ideas into real products that can be quickly implemented within the aviation security environment is a key deliverable for the INSTINCT-TD2 project, as is the awareness of these ‘products’ and their capabilities by the airport, airline and security authorities and companies worldwide.
Human Recognition Systems’ solution provides face and iris recognition while on the move and from distance. The technology enables passengers to have a more streamlined airport experience, while at the same time enhancing aviation security through the use of biometrics.
Once enrolled on the system, passengers would walk through a series of archways during the transition from land side to air side, enabling security officials to monitor they’re movements.
Helping customers with identity management
Human Recognition Systems is one of the UK’s market leaders in biometrics and human behaviour analytics technology, developing and delivering innovative products to resolve clients’ challenges with identity management.
The company operates in a number of industries outside of aviation helping clients to manage the operational challenges of access control, people flow, identity verification, monitoring behaviours and policy enforcement.
Thales, of course, is a highly-respected global technology leader for the defence, security, aerospace and transport markets. Its 68,000 employees operate in 50 countries, with the 8,500 UK staff based across 40 sites.
With its 22,500 engineers and researchers, Thales enjoys the capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements.
It’s also fair to say that Thales has an exceptional international footprint. Operations around the world work in tandem with customers as local partners.
For further information on Human Recognition Systems, Thales UK and the TD2 initiative access the web links on the right hand panel of this page
