SBIR-STTR Award

Technical : The proposed COTS solution adaptation - ZeroEyes AI-enabled Drones for Active Shooter Deterrence (DASD) will be adapted from the commercially proven core ZeroEyes weapons detection technology. The ZeroEyes commercial AI Gun Detection and Video Analytics detection and alert solution is installed on existing surveillance platforms, security cameras and drones to which and our proprietary algorithm discerns and identifies firearms. The drone that is integrated with the ZeroEyes technology will utilize our AI technology to find and continually track the active shooter. The integrated drone will be equipped with visual and audio COTS solutions to impede the detected active shooter. Overview: The guiding priority in the proposed phase of work is to adapt the ZeroEyes Platform for Air Force, delivering the ability to automatically detect and classify weapons, detect active shooters, and utilize the drone to impede the active shooter with the integrated visual and audio technologies. Air Force PEO Digital has provided a signed Letter of Support (LoS) for ZeroEyes to provide the proposed Phase I solution. Technical Merit: DASD will utilize the core platform developed by ZeroEyes that is commercially the best-in-class for weapons detection, currently trusted and already deployed across government, commercial properties and public school systems across the United States. This technology will find and track the active shooter, and will enable the impeding drone to continue to track down the active shooter.

ZeroEyes’ AI-enabled Drones/Robots for Active Shooter Deterrence (DRASD) is a layered solution to the active shooter and intrusion problem set on DoD installations. Existing sensing infrastructure is analog, user intensive, and reactive, taking vital response time away from the individual Defender. DRASD utilizes COTS drone/robot technology to impede intruders and active shooters, enabling Defenders to detect, delay, track, and impede from a standoff location. DRASD will be adapted from the commercially proven core ZeroEyes weapons detection technology. The integrated drone will be equipped with visual and audio COTS solutions to impede the detected active shooter. Stemming from our work under the AFWERX SBIR Phase I, DRASD has gained empowered and committed DoD end-users including the Air Combat Command 325th SFS, Air Force Material Command (AMC) 412th TW, AMC Aloha Spark Cell, AMC Bedrock Spark Cell, AFLCMC IBDSS Modernization, and the Army Futures Command. This technology will enable DoD Security Forces to automatically detect weapons and intruders through existing security cameras, track the shooter/intruder using security camera geofencing and the UAS/UGV solution to maintain enhanced surveillance on the subject, and impede the subject using strobes and high pitch audio. Air Force PEO Digital has a charter to modernize its Integrated Base Defense Security System (IBDSS) program; the capability to automatically detect and classify weapons and threats across the spectrum of base security cameras will substantially increase force protection effectiveness, increase base security, and decrease required manpower to monitor and action multiple security camera feeds. Incorporating advanced analytics with automated drone and robotic response enables Defenders to detect, deter, and delay active shooters while Defenders are enroute to subdue the perpetrator. The proposed COTS solution adaptation - ZeroEyes AI-enabled Drones/Robots for Active Shooter Deterrence (DRASD) enables defenders to proactively identify threats, vector Security Forces and other first responders to the location in real-time, and maintain persistent situational awareness over the target using auto tracking and continuous inference on the threat. Combined with a layered force protection network of fixed site cameras, tactical sensor integrations, program of record systems such as G-BOSS, sUAS, and UGVs, DRASD provides an unmatched capability to reduce response times and enhance situational awareness. These detections and alerts are automated and can be integrated into any existing Common Operating Picture (COP), networked mobile device such as the Tactical Assault Kit/Team Awareness Kit (TAK), SMS, or API-driven notification applications. DRASD reduces cognitive burden on security operators, optimizes autonomous alerting, and assists in deterring the active shooter threat.