Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

2002

DEPARTME N T O F DEFE N SE

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY

Technology Applications 

Program

DEPARTME N T O F DEFE N SE

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY

“Our Nation has been put on notice: We are not immune from attack. We will

take defensive measures against terrorism to protect Americans. Today, dozens

of federal departments and agencies, as well as state and local governments, have

responsibilities affecting homeland security.... We will come together to improve

air safety, to dramatically expand the number of air marshals on domestic flights,

and take new measures to prevent hijacking. We will come together to promote

stability and keep our airlines flying, with direct assistance during this emergency. We will come together to give law enforcement the additional tools it

needs to track down terror here at home. We will come together to strengthen

our intelligence capabilities to know the plans of terrorists before they act, and

find them before they strike...”

President George W. Bush

Address to the Joint Session of Congress and the American People

United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
Table of Contents

Introduction

Chemical and Biological Countermeasures

Entrap Harmful Particles ..................................................................................................8

Provide a Solid-State Alternative to PMTs ........................................................................9

Pinpoint Substances from a Distance..............................................................................10

Identify Contaminants in Near Real Time......................................................................11

Identify Contaminants in the Ground ............................................................................12

Surveillance and Information Collection

Identify Faces in 3-D ......................................................................16

Obtain Enhanced Infrared Images..................................................17

Inspect Luggage for Nuclear Material ............................................18

Identify Unrecognized Contraband................................................19

Separate Extraneous Noise from Data ............................................20

Isolate the Voice of Interest ............................................................21

Precisely Position Surveillance Equipment ......................................22

Extend the Wavelength of Normal CCDs ........................................23

Although biological and chemical

agents have been used on civilians

before, the anthrax attacks brought the

issue into the forefront of the American

psyche. Developing reliable chemical

and biological agent identification and

detection systems has become a priority in security measures. These systems consist of various imaging and

sensing technologies, each with unique

capabilities.

The

a

nthrax attacks that followed September 11 brought a long-time fear crashing into reality.

Surveillance

is another point of interest

in the fight against terrorism.

Human intelligence, or HUMINT as

DOD calls it, is the intelligence discipline

that uses human beings as both collectors and

sources, and where the human being is the primary collection instrument. Airports across the

country are searching for innovative technologies

that will answer security concerns and achieve a

higher degree of safety. Reliable facial recognition technologies and voice extraction technologies can detect wanted terrorists

and uncover information that may

prevent further attacks.
handbooks, papers, and interrogations.

Neural networks offer innovative data mining and fusion capabilities that can highlight evidence of a link between terrorists or

trace money to its source. The information

collected from terrorist camps, houses, and

hideouts must be processed with cuttingedge software and coordinated between

government organizations.

Cyber Warfare

Trace Money Trails to Terrorists......................................................................................26

Identify Suspicious Travelers ..........................................................................................27

Coordinate Information Resources ................................................................................28

Extract Important Intelligence Information....................................................................29

Learn Information and Generate Solutions ....................................................................30

Capturing terrorists and preventing future attacks require meticulous combing through tips, video and audio tapes,

Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Introduction

Before September 11 there was Khobar

Towers, Oklahoma City, the USS Cole...

Before Osama Bin Laden there was

Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols, Ted

‘Unabomber’ Kaczynski...

Timothy McVeigh has been executed;

Terry Nichols and Ted Kaczynski are in

prison; and Osama Bin Laden is at least in

hiding if not dead. But after the capture or

death of Osama Bin Laden, and even the

destruction of Al Qaeda, terrorism will not

necessarily be a thing of the past. The

world is not a perfect place. History has

shown us there will always be anger and

injustice, and it takes only one person to

make a suicide bomber.

Newspapers and magazines are full of critics and analysts who wonder if technology

has made the United States vulnerable.

Technology makes the country too accessible, too much information is available

through the Internet, and people are too

dependent on technology for protection.

These are all valid criticisms of today’s

society. However, technology is not the

enemy, nor is it the solution. It is a tool to

be used in combination with human intelligence efforts, military action campaigns,

and homeland security strategies.

The following report contains technologies funded by the Missile Defense

Agency (formerly the Ballistic Missile

Defense Organization) that have

counter-terrorism applications. MDA’s

mission is to build a missile defense 

system. However, the construction of

this system has led to the development

of innovative technologies that can

advance different fields. This report covers technologies that can be applied

towards three areas of the counterterrorism effort: Chemical and Biological

Countermeasures, Surveillance and

Information Collection, and Cyber

Warfare. Some of the technologies are

available today and others need to

mature; none will be the solution that

solves all of our security problems. But

the use of these technologies in combination with the human effort may make

covert surveillance operations safer and

more effective; chemical and biological

detection faster and more efficient; and

data collection and mining a streamlined

and reliable process.

5

Introduction

The Missile Defense Agency

offers support and funding to

many scientists, engineers,

and innovators on the cuttingedge of technology. Many of

these technologies, such as

neural networks, lasers, and

ground-penetrating radar are

applicable in the war against

terrorism and protection of

the homeland.

“In the wake of a bioterrorist attack, medical professionals will have to act quickly to recognize the signs and

symptoms of exposure to a biological weapon.

Hospitals and public health laboratories will need to

identify the pathogens used in the attack. Public health

agencies must monitor the disease outbreak and mobilize the medical resources to contain it. The special skill

of federal health agencies must be ready to supplement

state and local efforts.”

Edward Kennedy, United States Senator, Joint

Announcement with Senator Bill Frist of Public Health

Threat and Emergencies Act 29 November 2000

Chemical and Biological 

Countermeasures
Entrap Harmful Particles

During September 16-23, 2001, the U.S.

Geological Survey with the help of the 

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the

Environmental Protection Agency,

and Analytical Imaging and

Geophysics, LLC, conducted a study

of the WTC area to determine the

makeup of the surrounding atmosphere (“Environmental Studies of the

World Trade Center area after the

September 11, 2001 attack,” U.S.

Geological Survey, OFR-01-0429). Their

results found that most particles were

construction materials such as gypsum and

cellulose with minor asbestiform minerals.

However, they did conclude that there

were localized concentrations of chrysotile

asbestos reaching volumes up to 20 percent, based on a coating sample from a

steel beam. Scientific studies have indicated that chrysotile asbestos is not as carcinogenic as amphibole asbestos, however

this is not a universally accepted finding.

And, it still makes breathing hard to do.

The Tool

IntraMicron, Inc. (Birmingham, AL), 

a spinoff of Auburn University, is currently

developing foldable, pocket-size gas masks

based on the school’s microfibrous materials technology (MMT). These masks provide protection against airborne threats,

including chemical and biological agents.

They are small, flexible, and lightweight,

allowing law enforcement personnel, first

responders, and civilians to carry hundreds of them for distribution to others if

necessary. MMT is an enabling technology

that allows sustained chemical reactions to

occur more efficiently than with other

commercial products. When combined

with a high-speed roll-to-roll

paper-making process, MMT

results in a carbon-metal composite that is a porous interlocking composite

network with high electrical conductivity

and a surface area of approximately 1,000

square meters per gram. High electrical

conductivity, when combined with the

large surface area, allows for effective

entrapment of harmful particles.

Its Status

The BMDO IS&T program originally

funded Auburn University to develop

smaller and lighter capacitors for

weapons systems. IntraMicron is currently developing the gas masks, which

should be available for use within a year.

It is also developing collective protection systems, which include regenerable

filter and sorbent canisters to stop and

mitigate chemical and biological threats.

Animal identification as well as chemical and biological agent collection tags

are being developed for use in the meat

production and processing industries.

Contact

John Stein

President

IntraMicron, Inc.

3595 Grandview Parkway, Suite 475

Birmingham, AL 35243

Telephone: 205.443.4670

Facsimile: 205.443.4676

E-mail: jstein@intramicron.com

IntraMicron manufactures

foldable, pocket-size gas

masks that provide 

protection against airborne

threats, including chemical

and biological agents.

THE FALL OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER BUILDINGS CREATED A

SMOG OF DUST, DEBRIS, AND SMOKE.

Carbon-Metal Composite

Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Chemical and Biological Countermeasures

8
Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Chemical and Biological Countermeasures

Provide a Solid-State Alternative to PMTs

Since then, scientists and engineers have

been developing advanced chemical and

biological agent detection and

warning systems that can be implemented all over America. Chemical

sensors have been installed in two

Washington, D.C., Metro subway

stations to begin preparing the U.S.

infrastructure for a new fight against

weapons of mass destruction, according to

a Washington Post article (“Metro Set to

Initiate Chemical Sensors,” December 25,

2001, Lyndsey Layton). But the shoeboxsize sensors identify only chemical agents.

Biological sensors currently being used by

the military are bulky, expensive, and

unreliable. For widespread monitoring,

future systems must be smaller, more reliable, and conducive to mass-production.

The Tool

Radiation Monitoring Devices (RMD;

Watertown, MA) has developed planar

avalanche photodiodes (APDs) and photodiode arrays for use in spectroscopic

chemical and biological sensors. These

highly sensitive photodiode arrays offer a

solid-state alternative to photomultiplier

tubes (PMTs). RMD’s compact and effective planar APDs have good noise immunity, require less power, and have fast

response times using standard semiconductor manufacturing processes that

result in higher yields and lower

costs. The company also can

manufacture APDs that have an

area of more than 13 cm2 with a gain of

more than 10,000 allowing for more

effective and reliable detection and identification of harmful agents.

Its Status

The BMDO SBIR program funded RMD to

develop methods to produce low-cost

APDs and APD arrays for lidar, optical

communications, and radiation monitoring. The company is currently selling its

APDs and is working with Tufts University

to develop a sensor array prototype.

Contact

Dr. Michael Squillante

Vice President of Research

Radiation Monitoring Devices

44 Hunt Street

Watertown, MA 02472

Telephone: 617.926.1167

Facsimile: 617.926.9980

E-mail: msquillante@rmdinc.com

Internet: http://www.rmdinc.com

THE POST-SEPTEMBER 11 ANTHRAX ATTACKS AWAKENED AMERICA’S

AWARENESS TO THE UNPREPAREDNESS OF THE U.S. INFRASTRUCTURE

FOR CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WARFARE.

Quick and quiet avalanche

photodiode arrays developed

by Radiation Monitoring

Devices are a solid-state

alternative to photomultiplier

tubes for manufacturing

spectroscopic chemical 

and biological sensors.

Avalanche Photodiodes

9
Pinpoint Substances from a Distance

All are nations with borders, flags, and

military. Al Qaeda has none of these

things. Its citizens are nomads who

move from country to country, and

its terrorist cells are scattered

throughout the world. Without stable financial backing and government resources, it is more likely that

Al Qaeda will acquire chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction than

working nuclear weapons. “The relative

low cost and simplicity of [chemical and

biological weapons] design and technology, in comparison to nuclear weapons,

make them the weapons of mass destruction choice for a variety of rogue states 

and terrorist, non-state organizations”

(Defense Threat Reduction Agency, 9 April

2001, “Chem-Bio Defense”). “Only by

centralizing and focusing DOD efforts in

chem-bio defense can the United States

confidently pursue proper preparation

and response in the event of a chemical or

biological weapons attack against U.S.

forces or territory, or those of our allies.”

Today, it is not always apparent where the

battle will take place or what kind of

weapons will be used against the U.S. 

military forces.

The Tool

Physical Sciences, Inc. (PSI; Andover,

MA), has developed a multispectral

imager that can detect chemical agents on

the battlefield. The basis of the multispectral imager is the adaptive infrared imaging spectroradiometer (AIRIS), which is an

electronically tunable spectral filter that

samples only the wavelengths known to

be associated with the suspicious

substance or signature. AIRIS collects only the essential information reducing the amount of time needed

for data analysis. The imager can detect

and monitor the spread of chemical

agents not only on the battlefield but also

for first responders answering a chemical

proliferation threat.

Its Status

The multispectral imager is currently in

limited production and is used by the

U.S. Army. BMDO originally funded PSI

with internal funding when the company designed the Fabry-Perot filter.

BMDO then awarded the company SBIR

funding to build a prototype. The product was the first significant effort to

demonstrate the concept of a tunable filter. The Army added follow-up funding

for further development and testing.

Contact

Dr. William J. Marinelli

Area Manager, Applied Photonics

Physical Sciences, Inc.

20 New England Business Center

Andover, MA 01810

Telephone: 978.689.0003

Facsimile: 978.689.3232

E-mail: marinelli@psicorp.com

Internet: http://www.psicorp.com

Physical Sciences’ multispectral imager can detect

chemical agents on the 

battlefield and at home.

ENGLAND, SPAIN, GERMANY, BULGARIA, AUSTRO-HUNGARY, TURKEY,

ITALY, JAPAN, SOVIET UNION, IRAQ—ALL HAVE GONE TO WAR

AGAINST THIS COUNTRY.

Spectroradiometer

Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Chemical and Biological Countermeasures

10
Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Chemical and Biological Countermeasures

Identify Contaminants in Near Real Time

The Tool

The ultraspectral imager, developed by

Kestrel Corporation (Albuquerque,

NM), generates spatially distributed

wavelength resolution data that

contains surface contaminant and

chemical cloud detection capabilities. The imager can identify most

solids, vapors, and aerosols by their

molecular absorption spectra over a very

wide range of the infrared spectrum. The

sensors will work as passive remote

observers or, with an active illumination

source, they can observe infrared molecular absorption or emission signatures with

their spatial distribution. The data can be

processed in near real time to create a nonintrusive monitoring system.

Its Status

The ultraspectral imager is currently being

validated in laboratory measurements and

will be ready for field demonstrations during late summer 2002. The BMDO SBIR

program funded Kestrel to develop an application that would

allow ballistic missile defense systems to identify a missile by the chemical

composition of its emissions. The system

is expected to specifically type the missile, know its full capabilities, and develop intercept procedures.

Contact

Dr. L. John Otten

Kestrel Corporation

3815 Osuna Road NE

Albuquerque, NM 87109

Telephone: 505.345.2327

Facsimile: 505.345.2649

E-mail: ljotten@kestrelcorp.com

Internet: http://www.kestrelcorp.com

IN THE EVENT OF A CHEMICAL WARFARE ATTACK, FIRST RESPONDERS

MAY HAVE AS LITTLE AS 15 MINUTES TO DETERMINE THE TYPE OF

CHEMICAL AND ADMINISTER MEDICAL CARE. AFTER THAT, TREATMENT

CAN BE FUTILE.

Kestrel Corporation’s 

ultraspectral imager is a

nonintrusive monitoring

system that can identify

most solids, vapors, and

aerosols in near real time.

Ultraspectral Imager

11
Identify Contaminants in the Ground

According to the U.S. Geological Survey,

approximately 79 billion gallons per day

(23 percent) of America’s water in

1990 came from the ground. Surface

water is the country’s major supplier

with 259 billion gallons per day.

However, roughly 64 percent of the

ground water supply is used for irrigation. Imagine if that water becomes contaminated by a chemical agent. It will affect

people whether or not it is used for drinking. Because of irrigation, it will threaten

the food people eat as well. Chemical

detectors are needed in places besides subways, airports, and office buildings—they

are needed to monitor the country’s natural

resources as well.

The Tool

Process Instruments, Inc. (Salt Lake City,

UT), developed a high-power frequency

stabilized diode laser that utilizes a compact and highly sensitive raman spectroscopy system to identify contaminants

in the ground. The system is compatible

with a multitude of diode lasers that allow

detection using excitation wavelengths

between 640 nanometers and 1 micron. It

is suitable for field use because it is simple,

rugged, and has low maintenance requirements. Plus, the system can simultaneously monitor multiple samples.

Its Status

The BMDO SBIR program funded Process Instruments to develop a raman spectroscopy system for

quality control and process monitoring

during the manufacture of key components for terrestrial and space-based ballistic missile defense systems. Process

Instruments is currently developing the

chemical detecting application of its

high-power frequency diode laser, which

should be available in 6 to 12 months.

The company is preparing a proposal for

the U.S. Army.

Contact

Dr. Lee Smith

Process Instruments, Inc.

825 North 300 West, Suite 225

Salt Lake City, UT 84103

Telephone: 801.322.1235

Facsimile: 801.322.5607

E-mail: lsmith@process-instrumentsinc.com

Internet: http://www.processinstruments-inc.com

Process Instruments’ 

high-power frequency 

diode laser uses raman

spectroscopy to identify 

contaminants in the ground.

CHEMICAL AGENTS THREATEN MORE THAN THE AIR PEOPLE

BREATHE; THEY THREATEN THE WATER PEOPLE DRINK AS WELL.

Diode Laser

Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Chemical and Biological Countermeasures

12


“This is an anomaly. This is a strange circumstance. The

main perpetrators obviously perished and it’s not in most

crimes—in previous terrorist attacks, those who perpetrated the attacks sought to escape, did escape, left a

trail, created evidence after the fact. In this situation, we

have a little tougher circumstance, but we’re beginning

to develop an understanding of who these people

were, who their associates were, how these attacks

were perpetrated. And beginning to develop links of

evidence that indicate the source of the attack against

the United States.”

John Ashcroft, Attorney General, Department of Justice.

Interview with Larry King, 18 September 2001

Surveillance and 

Information Collection
Identify Faces in 3-D

These terrorists may have criminal records

with agencies such as the FBI, CIA, or

Interpol. For example, one of the

September 11 hijackers had a criminal record on file at the FBI before

the events of that day. Facial recognition technology linked to a database of wanted criminals and suspected terrorists may have prevented at

least one of the September 11 terrorists

from getting on a plane.

The Tool

To answer the need for micron-level accurate 3-D facial recognition technology,

Genex Technologies, Inc. (Kensington,

MD), developed the 3D FaceIDTM system.

Based on Genex’s Rainbow 3D® Model

250 camera, 3D FaceID captures facial

images, in two and three dimensions

simultaneously in real time. The 3D

FaceID system is portable, weighing 12

pounds, and can be integrated with different computer software. The system

works on a structured-light process and

captures more than 440,000 data points

of information, which are then circulated

through a database of photographs, looking for a match. Initially, the company is

marketing the 3D FaceID system for airport security, but its long-term goal is to

equip visa and passport offices with the

technology as well.

Its Status

BMDO funded Genex Technologies

to design a high-speed 3-D camera and monitoring system suitable for

real-time 3-D image acquisitions and

visualizations. Genex’s 3D FaceID prototype is in testing and will be available for

use in 6 to 12 months.

Contact

Dr. Jason Geng

Genex Technologies, Inc.

10605 Concord Street, Suite 500

Kensington, MD 20895

Telephone: 301.962.6565

Facsimile: 301.962.6555

E-mail: geng@genextech.com

Internet: http://www.genextech.com

Genex Technologies’

portable 3D FaceID 

captures facial images in

two and three dimensions

simultaneously in real time.

TERRORIST CELLS ARE HARD TO IDENTIFY BECAUSE THE GROUPS

INTEGRATE INTO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND CULTURES.

3D FaceID System

Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Surveillance and Information Collection

16
Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Surveillance and Information Collection

Obtain Enhanced Infrared Images

However, surveillance professionals have

the aid of infrared imaging technology,

which allows the human eye to see

the heat radiating from human bodies and objects, even in the dark.

The Tool

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory

(JPL) has improved on infrared

camera technology by using long-wavelength quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs). Atom-sized quantum

wells can be packed together in extraordinary densities, allowing them to capture

infrared radiation with good efficiency.

The QWIP camera has greater sensitivity,

resolution, and stability than competing

infrared cameras and has many applications in surveillance, including night

vision, navigation, flight control, and

early warning radar. QWIP cameras

would be useful in surveillance areas such

as airborne national border patrol.

Its Status

JPL’s QWIP camera is available for use in

surveillance applications, and improvements are currently being developed in

collaboration with Indigo Systems,

Inc. BMDO funded JPL to develop

imaging cameras for groundbased and space-based infrared surveillance at long wavelengths.

Contact

Dr. Sarath D. Gunapala

Microdevices Laboratory 

Section MS 302-306

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

4800 Oak Grove Drive

Pasadena, CA 91109-8009

Telephone: 818.354.1880

Facsimile: 818.393.4540

E-mail: Sarath.D.Gunapala@jpl.

nasa.gov

Internet: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov

PEOPLE UNDER SURVEILLANCE OFTEN SHIELD THEMSELVES 

AND THEIR ACTIVITIES WITH DARKNESS.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion

Laboratory packed atomsized quantum wells together

in extraordinary densities to

develop the QWIP camera,

which has greater sensitivity,

resolution, and stability than

competing infrared cameras.

QWIP Camera

17
Inspect Luggage for Nuclear Material

The Tool

NOVA Scientific, Inc. (Sturbridge, MA),

has developed a family of imaging

neutron detectors that can be used

to non-destructively inspect for

nuclear material and other contraband at airports and other security

check points. Although explosive

substances can be shaped into something

that appears non-threatening, neutron

techniques can determine the elemental

composition of an item, like nitrogen,

boron, and lithium, at a precise location.

This prevents the suspicious material from

being lost through the spatial averaging of

many different substances, which is often

what causes a “failure to detect” in nonimaging techniques. The x-ray and highly

penetrating neutron scanning techniques

therefore complement each other as a

security measure in airports.

Its Status

BMDO funded NOVA Scientific to develop a neutron imager for non-destructive

evaluation applications. The neutron

imagers have proven to be successful tools in research and

industry and are effective at radiography with low-energy neutrons. The

company is now developing imagers that

can work with high-energy neutrons.

Contact

Bruce Feller

Vice President

NOVA Scientific, Inc.

660 Main Street

PO Box 928

Sturbridge, MA 01566

Telephone: 508.347.7679

Facsimile: 508.347.6479

E-mail: bfeller@novascientific.com

Internet: http://www.novascientific.com

NOVA Scientific’s family of

imaging neutron detectors

can determine the elemental

composition of an item at a

highly precise location.

CONVENTIONAL AIRPORT SCANNERS USING X-RAY RADIOGRAPHY TO

CHECK LUGGAGE CANNOT EFFECTIVELY IMAGE LIGHT ELEMENTS,

MAKING SCREEN INSPECTIONS INEFFECTIVE.

Microchannel Plate Imaging 

Neutron Detector

Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Surveillance and Information Collection

18
Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Surveillance and Information Collection

Identify Unrecognized Contraband 

In this case, the scanner uses one technology source to detect prohibited items

so officials can prevent them from

getting on a plane. Multiple references of data strengthen the reliability of information rather than

depend on the accuracy of only one

source.

The Tool

Essex Corporation (Columbia, MD) is

developing a product that may be more

effective than current technology in scanning airport luggage by gathering information from a variety of sources to form an

image. ImSyn, or image synthesis, is the

result of combining several technologies.

Essex coupled high-speed digital processing with optical processing and combined

it with 3-D data collection, computation

algorithms, and optical correlation techniques to produce ImSyn. The technology

can find objects normally not detected by

conventional airport scanners. And it does

it in real time.

Its Status

BMDO funded Essex to develop a

wideband range-Doppler imager

for ground-based radar applications. Essex is still developing ImSyn and

projects it will be ready by 2004. The optical processing technology has been developed and is currently being marketed for

medical imaging.

Contact

David Parry

Essex Corporation

9150 Guilford Road

Columbia, MD 21046

Telephone: 800.533.7739

Facsimile: 301.953.7880

E-mail: dap@essexcorp.com

Internet: http://www.essexcorp.com

AIRPORT SCANNERS UTILIZE X-RAY TECHNOLOGY TO SEARCH 

PASSENGERS’ BAGGAGE FOR CONTRABAND.

Essex Corporation’s ImSyn,

or image synthesis, gathers

information from a variety

of sources to create a more

accurate image and find

objects not normally detected

by conventional airport

scanners.

ImSyn

19
Separate Extraneous Noise from Data

Covert investigators recording a conversation in high-noise environments, such as

airplanes, will find it hard to understand as well. Nothing can be done

about the noise of the plane engines

during the recording, so it must be

extracted from the soundtrack.

The Tool

Frontier Technology, Inc. (Goleta, CA),

has developed the digital signal noise processing (DSNP) system to separate extraneous noise from needed data. The system

is based on Frontier’s target nearest

encryption (TNE) algorithm, which can

be used to search for voice patterns in

heavy background noise once the sounds

are in a digital format. The system transfers acoustic signals from analog to digital

format, allowing temporal and frequency

filtering, separately or in combination, for

highly accurate results. The data sifting is

orders of magnitude faster than current

techniques, which are normally a 1:1 ratio

with the size of the data set under analysis.

The system facilitates large, real-time data

searches on modest processing software.

Its Status

Frontier’s DSNP system is available and ready for use today. The

BMDO SBIR program funded Frontier to

develop automatic recognition of partially

obscured targets.

Contact

Steve Bridge

Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Frontier Technology, Inc.

6485 Hollister Avenue

Goleta, CA 93117

Telephone: 805.685.6672

Facsimile: 805.685.1107

E-mail: sbridge@sb.ft-net.com

Internet: http://www.fti-net.com

Frontier Technology’s digital

signal noise processing system separates extraneous

noise from needed data by

transferring analog acoustic

signals to digital format.

EVER HAVE A CONVERSATION IN THE BACK OF AN AIRPLANE?

ENGINE NOISE DURING TAKEOFF CAN MAKE THE CONVERSATION

NEARLY INAUDIBLE FOR THE PARTICIPANTS.

Digital Signal Noise Processing System

Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Surveillance and Information Collection

20
Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Surveillance and Information Collection

Isolate the Voice of Interest

The addition of sound allowed film’s earliest pioneers to add more information, feeling, and depth to the genre. The

collection of intelligence is similar in

that an image or video is effective,

but even more so when the conversation can be heard. However, the

interference of background noise

can often make the comprehensibility of a

conversation impossible.

The Tool

IC-Tech, Inc. (Okemos, MI), developed

the Clarity Clear Voice Capture (CVC) system for noise reduction and speech signal

enhancement. Originally based on blind

signal separation algorithms, CVC has

evolved into a complete toolbox for isolating the voice of interest from interfering

sounds and noise. Competing technologies require unwanted noise to come from

different directions or to contain different

frequency components. CVC relaxes constraints instilled by conventional voice

extraction technologies, allowing intelligence officials to obtain information from

real-world, indoor and outdoor, noisy

environments.

Its Status

BMDO funded IC-Tech to develop an integrated voice processing

device for real-time separation,

localization, and recognition of speech.

CVC is now owned and marketed by

Clarity, LLC, as a commercial product for

use in automotive telematics, cellular

hands-free kits, industrial wearable computers, and hearing aids.

Contact

Dr. Gail Erten

IC-Tech, Inc.

4295 Okemos Road

Suite 100

Okemos, MI 48864

Telephone: 517.349.9000

Facsimile: 517.349.2559

E-mail: erten@ic-tech.com

Internet: http://www.ic-tech.com

ONE OF THE MAJOR TURNING POINTS IN FILM HISTORY WAS THE

ABILITY TO ADD A VOICE TRACK TO THE IMAGES.

IC-Tech utilized blind signal

separation algorithms to

develop the Clarity Clear

Voice Capture system,

which separates audio 

signals from a mixture 

of background noises.

Clarity Clear Voice CaptureTM

21
Precisely Position Surveillance Equipment

These technologies contribute in a more

subtle way to the counter-terrorism effort.

The Tool

Sagebrush Technology’s Roto-Lok®

Rotary Drive is a rotary drive system that precisely positions any

type of sensor, camera, antenna, or

optical component to the area of interest.

Very precise positioning permits more

accurate imaging and longer ranges. The

Roto-Lok system can be assembled to fit

the individual needs of each application

and can replace power transmission systems that use gears, pulleys, or chains. Its

high efficiency, accuracy, and torsional

stiffness surpass conventional transmission and positioning systems because the

Roto-Lok system can be connected to less

powerful motors.

Its Status

The Roto-Lok system is on the market and

already being utilized in military and commercial applications through standard

products, customized commercial-off-theshelf solutions, and custom original-equipment-manufacturer

designs. BMDO funded the RotoLok Rotary Drive to control astronomical

telescopes, which require extremely precise pointing of large, heavy structures.

Contact

Joseph Zmuda

President

Sagebrush Technology, Inc.

15100 Central Avenue, SE

Albuquerque, NM 87123

Telephone: 505.299.6623

Facsimile: 505.298.2072

E-mail: jzmuda@sagebrushtech.com

Internet: http://www.sagebrushtech.com

The Roto-Lok Rotary Drive,

developed by Sagebrush

Technology, precisely positions any type of sensor,

camera, antenna, or optical

component using less powerful motors than conventional transmission and

positioning systems.

SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY IS NOT ALWAYS IN THE CAMERA.

SOMETIMES THE SOPHISTICATION IS IN THE OTHER TECHNOLOGIES

ENABLING THAT CAMERA TO WORK.

Roto-Lok® Rotary Drive

Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Surveillance and Information Collection

22
Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Surveillance and Information Collection

Extend the Wavelength of Normal CCDs

When doing surveillance, obtaining a

good photograph can be a challenge, considering the people being observed

probably do not want to be seen.

The smaller, lighter, and more efficient the equipment, the better the

chances of obtaining the desired

information.

The Tool

Materials and Technologies Corp. (MATECH; Poughkeepsie, NY) has developed a

process for fabricating wafers with a thickness as low as 50 microns. The company

uses its dynamic confinement and linear

scan system to achieve a cost-effective,

high-yield approach for single-sided thinning of large-area, high-quality substrates.

MATECH provides these technologies to

fabricate high-performance charge-coupled

devices (CCDs), which can also be used

for infrared imaging. With these CCDs,

the thinner the substrate, the more photons it allows through and the higher the

device efficiency.

The CCDs generated using MATECH’s system require lower lighting conditions to

obtain an image than a conventional CCD.

Using this system, MATECH can extend

the wavelength of normal CCDs making

them high-performance CCDs

that can capture visible and near

infrared. A person could view

invisible infrared laser aiming devices, for

instance. Another possible application of

MATECH’s wafer thinning system is the

production of smart cards. People could

carry valuable identification information

on a driver’s-license-size smart card.

Its Status

The BMDO SBIR program funded MATECH to produce wide bandgap silicon

carbide substrates for high power, high

frequency radar applications.

Contact

Dr. Ricardo I. Fuentes

Materials and Technology Corp.

241 Sheafe Road

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

Telephone: 845.463.2799

Facsimile: 845.463.2786

E-mail: fuentes@matech.com

Internet: http://www.matech.com

A PICTURE SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS, WHICH IS WHY AN IMPLICATING PHOTOGRAPH CAN TURN THE TIDES OF PUBLIC OPINION.

Using MATECH’s wafer

thinning system can extend

the wavelength of normal

charge-coupled devices

making them high performance with the capability 

to capture visible and 

near infrared images.

Wafer Thinning System

23

“...virtually every vital service—water supply, transportation, energy, banking and finance, telecommunications,

public health. All of these rely on computer and fiberoptic lines, switchers and routers that connect them.

Corrupt those networks, and you disrupt this nation.”

Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor 

The Partnership For Critical Infrastructure 

Annual Meeting, U.S. Chamber of Commerce,

Washington, D.C. 22 March 2001

Cyber 

Warfare
Trace Money Trails to Terrorists

A successful counter-terrorism strategy is

to trace the money trail leading to a terrorist cell’s financial support.

The Tool

HNC Software, Inc. (San Diego, CA),

has developed the Risk Manager for

Money Laundering, a risk-scoring

system based on HNC’s Falcon Fraud

manager technology. Risk Manager provides a flexible framework to utilize profiling analysis to examine transactions and

detect money laundering activity, meet

regulatory requirements, manage operational risk, and provide greater insight to

objectively know customers. The technology profiles transaction patterns at the

account, customer, and peer group levels,

including type of customer, geographical

area, branch, and other categories. These

profiles provide a baseline for normal

behavior, against which each transaction is

evaluated during the monitoring process.

The technology then builds on the customer profiling information with intelligent statistical models to identify high-risk

customers and accounts. Risk Manager

can evaluate millions of transactions a day

for potential money laundering activity

based on established automated

money laundering models and

rules. It enables immediate access

to all data for a case.

Its Status

HNC’s Risk Manager technology is currently available for use. The BMDO SBIR

program funded HNC to develop a neural network capable of compressing and

decompressing data in real time using

low-cost hardware.

Contact

Melinda Bateman

Public Relations Manager

HNC Software, Inc.

5935 Cornerstone Court West

San Diego, CA 92121

Telephone: 858.909.4353

Facsimile: 858.799.3831

E-mail: mbateman@hnc.com

Internet: http://www.hnc.com

HNC Software’s Risk

Manager system provides 

a flexible framework for

detecting money laundering

activity and tracing a

money trail to its source.

INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED TACTICS AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

ARE MAKING MONEY LAUNDERING MORE DIFFICULT TO DETECT.

Risk Manager for Money Laundering

Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Cyber Warfare

26
Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Cyber Warfare

Identify Suspicious Travelers

Zacarias Moussaoui, the “20th hijacker,” is

a native of France who moved to the

United States to take pilot lessons

and frequently visited Malaysia to

meet with an alleged Al Qaeda representative. Suspicious activity can

be highlighted by a neural network

capable of monitoring a person’s

travel patterns and contrasting them with

profiles of normal behavior in real time.

The Tool

Knowledge Based Systems, Inc. (KBSI;

College Station, TX), has developed the

integrated data experimentation and

fusion system (IDEFS), which is data

mining and fusion software that leverages

numerous sources of information and

integrates it to make an informed decision. KBSI is developing two IDEFS technology systems aimed at counter-terrorism efforts: Pattern Characterization and

Analysis System (PCAS) and Integrated

Port of Entry Security Screening (IPSS).

Both systems contain applications in airport security. PCAS can monitor travel

patterns and create profiles of normal and

suspicious behavior. It fuses information

gathered by various law enforcement

agencies with current communications

gathered from the Internet, foreign intelligence sources, news, etc., to create terrorist profiles and indicators of potential

threats. Individuals or emerging situations would then be compared with these

profiles to generate real-time threat estimates. IPSS can be applied to the

screening process when boarding

airplanes. This system would fuse

the data gathered from x-ray images with

other information such as biometric

indicators. IPSS integrates passenger

profile information with baggage threat

assessment and utilizes intelligent information processing algorithms to create a

real-time risk evaluation at the baggage

screening checkpoint.

Its Status

PCAS and IPSS are ready for use. The

BMDO SBIR program funded KBSI to

develop technology that will result in the

increased use of data fusion technology

to solve a variety of problems in the

defense, government, and industrial

communities.

Contact

Dr. Peraketh Benjamin

Vice President

Knowledge Based Systems, Inc.

1408 University Drive East

College Station, TX 77840

Telephone: 979.260.5274

Facsimile: 979.260.1965

E-mail: pbenjamin@kbsi.com

Internet: http://wwwkbsi.com

THE SEPTEMBER 11 HIJACKERS TRAVELED FREQUENTLY. MOHAMED ATTA

TRAVELED FROM HIS BIRTHPLACE IN EGYPT TO GERMANY, WHERE HE

WENT TO COLLEGE, AND THEN TRAVELED TO THE UNITED STATES.

Knowledge Based Systems,

Inc., is developing two data

mining and fusion software

systems capable of monitoring

travel patterns, screening

people at the airport, and

creating profiles of normal

and suspicious behavior. 

Integrated Data Experimentation & 

Fusion System

27
Coordinate Information Resources

These ongoing investigations and intelligence gathering operations will generate

an enormous amount of information. As a result, the government is

facing the challenge of coordinating

the information among agencies in

the United States and around the

world.

The Tool

Sentar, Inc. (Huntsville, AL), is proposing

development of a loosely integrated synthesizer of terrorist activity indicators based on

its KnoWebTM technology. The synthesizer

works with a distributed network of intelligent, cooperating autonomous software

agents that coordinate to solve problems.

The software is a solution engine that provides answers based on numerous knowledge sources. These sources are continuously provided input by subject matter experts.

It builds an evolving system that can be targeted towards specific areas and the information, and knowledge resources can be

increased and improved without rewriting

the system.

Its Status

The BMDO SBIR program funded

Sentar to develop knowledgebased systems capable of managing the

decisions and logistics of deploying a ballistic missile defense system. Sentar is

currently marketing KnoWeb products to

dynamic decision making, customer relationship management, and portal markets. The counter-terrorism version of the

technology may be available in less than

a year.

Contact

Peter Kiss

Chief Executive Officer

Sentar, Inc.

4900 University Square, Suite 8

Huntsville, AL 35816

Telephone: 256.430.0860

Facsimile: 256.430.0840

E-mail: pkiss@knowave.com

Internet: http://www.sentar.com

Sentar, Inc., is developing 

a solution engine that will

respond to questions with

answers based on numerous

knowledge sources that are

continuously provided input

by subject matter experts.

THE CIA, FBI, U.S. MILITARY, LOCAL AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT

AGENCIES, MEDIA, AND NUMEROUS FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS ARE 

CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIONS INTO TERRORIST ACTIVITIES.

Synthesizer of Terrorist Activity Indicators

Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Cyber Warfare

28
Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Cyber Warfare

Extract Important Intelligence Information

However, the threat can be lessened

through timely identification of abnormal

events or activities, which offers the

potential to immediately intercept

terrorist activities. The Internet,

intelligence activities, and civilian

tips are just a few of many sources of

data. An application in which to

store and compare the collected information is vital.

The Tool

Torch Concepts (Dulles, VA) uses its ACUMEN algorithms for data mining to investigate and develop information that will

identify and/or predict terrorist activities.

ACUMEN can identify previously unknown

relationships in collections of structured

and unstructured data using machinelearning algorithms to discover unknown

patterns and apply high-speed pattern

matching tools to uncover hidden trends,

relationships, and behaviors. The information is then analyzed and significant

patterns in the data reviewed with visualization tools that interpret the results and

highlight unusual features that might otherwise be missed. The results are refined

using additional data sources or variables,

which lead to the best model. Human

expertise guides the data analyses. Once

patterns are established, potential terrorist

activities can be quickly identified, appropriately classified, and tracked. Using

these techniques, the technology can

extract intelligence from data to

identify possible terrorist action,

make better decisions for asset protection, and manage operations more

effectively. Potential application areas

include: terrorist activity prediction, disease outbreak detection, network optimization and intrusion detection, accident

trending, and crime pattern detection.

Its Status

ACUMEN is still in its early stages of

demonstration but can be ready for use

within a year. The BMDO SBIR program

funded the research because of a need for

automatic target recognition, sensor

fusion, and data analysis, compression,

and archival.

Contact

Bill Roark

Torch Concepts, Inc.

4640 Whitesburg Drive, Suite 101

Huntsville, AL 35802

Telephone: 256.885.0145

Facsimile: 256.885.2368

E-mail: roarkb@torchconcepts.com

Internet: http://www.torchconcepts.com

ANYONE IS A POTENTIAL TARGET OF TERRORISM. THERE IS NO 

GUARANTEE OF SAFETY IN THE CIVILIAN OR MILITARY SECTORS.

Torch Concepts’ ACUMEN

technology uses machinelearning algorithms to identify

previously unknown relationships in collections of structured and unstructured data.

ACUMEN

29
Learn Information and Generate Solutions

The Tool

Intelligent Automation, Inc. (IAI; Rockville,

MD), developed the Fuzzy Cerebellar

Model Arithmetic Computer (CMAC),

a hybrid technology that learns ten

times faster than conventional neural networks. The Fuzzy CMAC

could simplify the design of realtime control systems and improve the

speed and precision of pattern recognition systems. It combines the ease of coding and flexibility of fuzzy logic controllers with the self-learning capability

and flexibility of neural networks. These

technologies enable the system to learn

and generate output faster than other

learning control approaches. Compared

with conventional neural networks,

Fuzzy CMAC is also much easier to

implement in hardware.

Its Status

Fuzzy CMAC has been implemented in

the RotoScan, a tool IAI developed to digitize and compare striations. RotoScan is

contained in the DRUGFIRE® system, a

ballistics analysis system developed and marketed by Mnemonic

Systems, Inc. The DRUGFIRE

system is currently being used by the

Federal Bureau of Investigation and

domestic and foreign crime labs. The

BMDO SBIR program funded IAI to

explore potential applications of Fuzzy

CMAC in missile control, target classification, and satellite control.

Contact

Dr. Leonard Haynes

Intelligent Automation, Inc.

2 Research Place, Suite 202

Rockville, MD 20850

Telephone: 301.222.3155, ext. 450

Facsimile: 301.590.9414

E-mail: lhaynes@i-a-i.com

Internet: http://www.i-a-i.com

Intelligent Automation,

Inc.’s, Fuzzy CMAC is 

a neural network that 

can simplify the design of

real-time control systems

and improve the speed 

and precision of pattern 

recognition systems.

NEURAL NETWORKS, WHICH CAN LEARN OR ADAPT TO CERTAIN

CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENTS, HAVE APPLICATIONS IN THE 

MILITARY AND COMMERCIAL SECTORS, FROM FLIGHT CONTROL 

TO TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT.

Fuzzy CMAC

Missile Defense Technologies

Tools to Counter Terrorism

Cyber Warfare

30
“I respectively suggest the way of life of present and future terrorists has

changed forever. The future of organized terrorist cells is about to welcome the

21st century in a way they never anticipated, for in this dastardly act they may

have done what no other group of people could possibly have done, and that is

to unite the civilized world, unite our allies in Europe who share our values,

unite our Russian friends, our Chinese friends, unite the world, because that

image of that plane smashing into the second tower has reverberated around the

world and every leader in every country can picture the same thing happening

in their nation.”

Joseph Biden, United States Senator, Press Release

12 September 2001
This report has been written and produced for MDA by the National

Technology Transfer Center-Washington Operations.

Writer/Editor ..................................................Tabatha Spitzer

Production Manager/Editor ............................Lisa Hylton

Design and Layout ........................................Renan Kiper

Technical Advisors..........................................JR Shasteen, Bill Meyer

This project is sponsored by MDA. The information presented does not

necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Federal Government; no

official endorsement should be inferred.