Vehicle Inspection for Early Warning 

(VIEW) – Phase 3

VEHICLE INSPECTION 

Border-crossings, checkpoints and access to secure facilities 

present a significant challenge to protecting the nation’s critical 

infrastructure and key resources (CIKR). CIKR resiliency is a 

shared responsibility among public and private asset owners 

and operators. Modified vehicles used for explosives and other 

contraband pose a threat at the borders, infrastructure, special 

events and locations of national significance.

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and 

Technology Directorate (S&T) is partnering with Customs and 

Border Protection (CBP) and the Federal Protective Service 

(FPS) to provide Phase 3 cooperative agreement funding with 

industry to design, develop and test solutions that are easily 

deployed at vulnerable locations to provide early warning of 

contraband smuggling (e.g., drugs, weapons, explosives, 

money, human trafficking, etc.). The solutions are designed to 

be low-cost, automated, fast and resilient with both permanent 

and mobile deployments.

GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY INNOVATION

In 2018, DHS S&T awarded cooperative agreement grant funding to 

three performers for Phase 1 to deliver a functional “Alpha” 

prototype that demonstrated a distinct approach to satisfying

project requirements for under-vehicle inspection. In 2019, 

Phase 2 was awarded to two of the three performers to deliver 

“Beta” prototypes that could satisfy field-testing requirements. 

In 2020, Phase 3 was awarded to a single performer for the 

final phase of the agreement. In Phase 3, configurations are 

made of durable materials suitable for automotive applications 

that include heavy vehicles under load. The VIEW system runs 

on a standard laptop or workstation with color imaging 

exceeding 4K pixel resolution and able to display a barcode on 

a spinning axle at speeds up to 25 mph. Phase 3 will deliver a 

market-ready, commercially viable capability for transition to 

DHS components such as CBP or the FPS and private CIKR 

industry owners/operators. 

ENHANCEMENT, EVALUATION AND 

COMMERCIALIZATION 

Further advancements to the unique technological approach of 

an under-vehicle scanner will include a variety of capabilities, 

many of which will improve how inspections are performed for 

under-vehicle scanning. The modular design of the scanner 

will allow in-field adjustable lane widths and have smooth and 

symmetrical curved ramp profile with matting and ground 

anchor installation options for mobile and fixed deployments. 

The Phase 3 VIEW under-vehicle scanners are expected to 

provide operational performance capabilities to include:

1) High definition 2D & 3D scanning visualization for

‘behind-the-scenes’ detection and ‘fly-through’

not previously available for vehicle inspections.

2) Artificial Intelligence and deep learning

techniques to detect changes in repeat vehicles.

3) Integrated Automated License Plate Reader

(ALPR) and mobile application software that can

be installed on cell phones and in-dash cameras

for law enforcement evaluation.

4) Deliver a low-cost, dual-use capability to

transition to components and enter into

commercially viable market to provide added

levels of security.

SYNTHETIK APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES

www.synthetik-technologies.com

A breakthrough research firm aimed at creating high-impact

technologies, Synthetik looks to bridge the gap between purely 

theoretical research and real-world applications. For VIEW, 

Synthetik is applying artificial intelligence, deep learning, and

pattern recognition to the problem of automating vehicle 

undercarriage inspection. 

Contact Us: SandT.Innovation@hq.dhs.gov scitech.dhs.gov dhsscitech

10-2020