Next generation, high performance, long range, standoff, concealed threat detection system to protect European citizens and critical infrastructure

Project Information

MiRTLE

Grant agreement ID: 806097

DOI

10.3030/806097

Project closed

EC signature date 27 September 2018

Start date 1 October 2018

End date 31 October 2020

Funded under

• Secure societies - Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens

Total cost

€ 1 345 725,00

EU contribution

€ 942 007,51

Coordinated by

RADIO PHYSICS SOLUTIONS LTD
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 4 - MiRTLE (Next generation, high performance, long range, standoff, concealed threat detection system to protect European citizens and critical infrastructure)

Reporting period: 2020-03-01 to 2020-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Acts of terrorism aim to instill fear into Europe's citizens. Since 2000, approximately 163,000 people have died from global terrorism. Attacks on citizens and urban targets have increased as terrorists use autonomous cells and lone individuals to concerts, markets, shopping malls, airports, transport hubs, sports stadia, cinemas, bars, night clubs and tourist resorts.

It is impossible to deploy security personnel in enough numbers to protect every location. When present security personnel lack the technology to detect, at a safe range, concealed threats such as person borne improvised explosive devices (PBIEDs), guns and knives. There is an urgent need for a cost effective, high performance, long range, concealed threat detection system.

Radio Physics Solutions Ltd has developed MiRTLE (Millimetre-wave Radar Threat Level Evaluation), the world’s first, high performance, long range (up to 50m), low cost, standoff “concealed threat” detection system for the protection of citizens and critical infrastructure. MiRTLE is capable of screening large groups of people automatically and autonomously, without operator intervention, in real-time. Our highly innovative system detects PBIEDs, guns (including 3D printed) and knives up to a range of 50m in real-time, with targets in motion, all without privacy concerns.

The overall objective of this project is to successfully refine, scale-up and demonstrate our superior technology to our customer base. We aim to capture an 8% market share of the improvised explosive devices (IED) and weapon detection market, which will generate cumulative revenues of €161m, cumulative EBITDA of €43m by 2025 and create 302 high skilled jobs in Europe.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Period 4
• The creation of the demonstration unit for the Field Trials in Warsaw

• Development in Consortium member CBN the capability to deliver the Field Trial without on-site assistance or presence from RPS

• Selection by CBN of a suitable alternative site for Blind Testing and Field Trials in Warsaw after the option of Chopin Airport became non-viable

• Engagement by CBN of a Subject Matter Expert to assist with the Field Trials

• Development of a video support capability for RPS to support the trials remotely

• Completion of the Field trials in Warsaw over a 1 week period, collecting more test date from the system in a new and representative venue, than has been collected to date

• Preparation and publication of written and video-based reports and articles (including a video recording taken by the BBC for publication in January 2021)


Period 3

• Confusion matrices gathered from the revised AI threat classification for a range of threat types and body sizes.

• Extra engineering resources now in place, working on new product introduction of the latest hardware builds, into production.

• User experience work now underway, with a route-map being developed to seeing this implemented against the user requirements.

• System testing, both product and functional well underway for MiRTLE hardware and software. EMC pre-qualification complete with minor revisions required only.

• NPI activities underway including identification of production equipment required and creation of procedures, work instructions and manufacturing data packs.

• Documentation management system introduced with standard document formatting in place to suit ISO9001.

• Shop floor layout revised to incorporate lean manufacturing methodology including cellular manufacturing and improved workflow.

• Improved health and safety presentation implemented, and staff first aid trained.

• Hardware, software and environmental test plans produced and testing underway on completed M30 Gen2.3 unit.

• Initial systems built with only minor design changes required.



Period 2

• Demonstrator for the video image processing, with auto-tracking created. Shown to a number of potential customers and investors

• Test data gathered from the new minaturisable homodyne transceiver from various test subjects and weapon types. This data will be used for the AI tuning processes

• Linearised and temperature compensation design created and tested. In use now with the new transceiver

• Ethernet connectivity designed and in use. The MiRTLE sensor is now networkable, along with the corresponding camera

• Combined transmitter/receiver system development work with White Horse Radar to support has delivered a tested successful prototype functioning at ranges up to 50m

• Transmitter/receiver temperature and component variation compensator built and tested

• Product test and Functional test plans have now developed

• Design for Manufacture and Failure Mode Effects Analysis processes have been followed

• No objections received to our FCC petition for waiver, and active within ETSI working groups for harmonised standards development for concealed threat detection technologies

• RPS Hub: RPS has created a platform to enable better communication with channel partners. The hub acts as a single source for sales documents and media, monthly reporting from channel partners and as a convenient forum for discussions

• Development videos: short videos about product development were created to keep potential investors and channel partners informed

• Demos: Conducted a demo in Gdansk to 25 people from a variety of organisations including Gdansk port, Gdansk airport and customs and a demo in Warsaw to security representatives

• RPS attended the International Security Expo in December where we hope to showcase Optracon/Gen 2.3

• Weekly project Consortium partnership heartbeat meeting embedded

• Product Technology Roadmap has been updated in line with both market requirements and the intent of this project

• Ethics Board active and Ethics deliverables produced

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

During period 4, we have carried out a full and detailed comparison of Optracon MiRTLE 30 (OM30) sensors, comparing with previous MiRTLE 2.2 sensors and with competition, to ensure differentials are fully understood and performance continues to far outstrip that of competition.

The proposed work relates directly to the Horizon 2020 Secure Societies Work Programme, in particular topic SMEInst-13-2016-2017: Engaging SMEs in security research and development. In particular, the MiRTLE project is aligned with 7.2. Protecting and improving the resilience of critical infrastructures, supply chains and transport modes. We align with the call by:

Helping to protect people’s lives by enabling high throughput screening of people including the ability to screen them in real time as they approach buildings or enter public transportation systems. Our product meets the needs and requirements of national law enforcement agencies and private operators of critical infrastructure.

Helping to protect a wide range of critical infrastructures. These include but are not limited to the critical infrastructures sectors listed in the European Programme for Critical Infrastructures Protection (EPCIP) such as energy installations and networks, finance (banking, securities and investment), water (dams, storage, treatment and
networks), supply chain and government (e.g. critical services, assets and key national sites and monuments).

Our ultimate aim: to contribute to protecting the freedom and security of Europe and its citizens. To allow Europeans to go about their daily lives without fear of attack.

Gen2.3 Demo Hardware electronics close up view

Gen2.3 Demo Hardware in housing on Tripod March 2020

Gen2.3 Demo Hardware in hosing alternative close up view

Gen 2.3 Demo Hardware no housing alternative view

CAD Image of the New Gen 2.3 Hardware

Detail of the Demonstration Harware in assembly - new spring damper

Demonstration Hardware in the assembly operation

Gen2.3 Demo Hardware in housing close up view

Photograh of MiRTLE Gen 2 Unit

Gen 2.3 Demo Hardware no housing

Hardware for Field Trials showing boresight camera

CAD image of the Camera Housing

CAD image of the single mirror sensor under development

CAD image of the single mirror sensor under development