US Military Invests in Nighttime Facial Recognition Technology
The US Army is investing over $4.5 million to develop facial recognition technology capable of identifying people in complete darkness by analyzing the heat emitted from their faces. According to contracts listed in the federal spending database, this technology is designed to work at distances of up to 500 meters, even in low-visibility conditions.
How the Technology Works
While facial recognition is already used by the military to identify individuals on the battlefield, current systems typically rely on images from standard surveillance cameras. The new development aims to analyze infrared images, allowing for identification even when there is no visible light.
“Sensors must deliver reliable results even in challenging conditions—such as when a face is seen through a windshield or when the target is obscured by poor weather, like fog,” stated the US Department of Defense.
Key Requirements and Features
- The technology must be integrated into a compact, portable device that can be carried by a person.
- It should operate effectively at distances ranging from 10 to 500 meters.
- The system must be able to match faces against a database for identification purposes.
Development and Oversight
The project is overseen by the Defense Forensics and Biometrics Agency, a division of the US Department of Defense. Two companies, Cyan Systems, Inc. and Polaris Sensor Technologies, are leading the development. Both firms specialize in technologies related to infrared image processing.