NASA Tech Detects Weapons

Brett Adcock discusses repurposing NASA's high-frequency radar technology into a commercial weapons detection system called Cover. The technology uses radio waves to detect concealed weapons through clothing and bags from a distance, without requiring physical contact or metal detection.

Key Points:

• Core Technology:

  • Uses high-frequency radio waves (similar to WiFi but higher frequency)
  • Can detect weapons from 50 meters away
  • Works through clothing and bags
  • Can detect any material (not just metal)
  • Provides camera-like imaging of concealed items
  • Non-ionizing rays (safe like cell phones/WiFi)

• Initial Market Focus:

  • K-12 Schools (despite being the "worst market")
    • Several hundred thousand guns brought to schools annually
    • School shooting incidents occurring almost daily
    • Current detection methods ineffective

• Larger Commercial Applications:

  • Stadiums
  • Churches
  • Hospitals
  • Areas with larger security budgets
  • Anywhere requiring weapons screening

• Business Structure:

  • 12 people currently on the project
  • Licensed all intellectual property from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab
  • First system deployment in 30 days
  • Currently self-funded as a "passion project"
  • Team from JPL running the system

• Long-term Vision:

  • As human longevity increases, safety screening will become standard
  • Imaging systems like this will become ubiquitous for public safety
  • Focus on preventing weapons from entering spaces rather than responding after incidents