The new face recognition system, which was developed by order of the US Department of Defense, works at a distance of up to 1 km. While it will be used only during ground operations, but in the future the system will be introduced for aviation reconnaissance.
The U.S. Department of Defense has introduced a portable face recognition device that can identify faces up to 1 km away. It will be used in "especially dangerous territories" where the presence of the military is "undesirable."
The project, entitled “Advanced Tactical Face Recognition at a Distance”, began in 2016. In early 2020, after three stages of development, the researchers presented a working prototype for mass production. The Ministry of Defense notes that the development of the device continues, but refuse further comments.
According to the publication New Scientist, the military has already received the first prototype of the device, which can recognize faces at a distance of 650 m to 1 km. Researchers are confident that this will increase “tactical awareness of the situation and allow identifying those of interest without the need to approach them.”
At the same time, the device can be transported, since it is small in size, weight and power. While the system is used only during ground tactical operations, however, in the future it will be introduced for aerial reconnaissance and capture of targets from the air.