Short-Range Detection of Radio Transceivers for Physical Security

The ubiquitous nature of personal, wireless communications devices represents a daunting threat to the protection of secure facilities. The ever present push for smaller devices complicates the efforts of physical security organizations to determine if personnel entering a facility have one or more devices in their possession with a cursory physical inspection. Miniaturization of wireless devices also results in a decreasing content of metallic components and thus a decrease in the ability of metal detectors to detect them. However, while wireless devices will continue to grow in number and shrink in size, a single commonality exists among these devices, they are designed to receive and transmit RF energy. Vadum has developed an active detection technique that takes advantage of the design of wireless devices to extract a unique signature from the devices that reduces false alarms and has been shown to be effective for all types of devices investigated. Since the technique utilizes inherent properties of the electronic circuitry in the target devices, detection of devices can occur regardless of the power state (on/off) or whether the devices are actively transmitting or receiving intended signals. Vadum proposes advancing the state of a current product for detecting a class of personal communications devices to achieve the detection performance stated in the solicitation for this SBIR topic. Vadum will utilize its extensive experience with the active detection technology and target device construction and characteristics to maximize the potential for successful execution of the proposed program.