SoundThinking Inc.

09/20/2024 | Press release | Archived content

Introducing the Next Generation in Weapons Detection

Screening System Challenges

Traditional entrance screening methods for weapons detection often require excessive staffing, creating bottlenecks and long lines for visitors. Metal detectors can slow down entry for wheelchairs or gurneys and may interfere with medical implants, raising concerns for efficiency and safety. Additionally, bulky detectors at every entrance can be intrusive.

Unlike bulky legacy metal detection, SafePointe's weapons detection technology addresses these issues by providing unobtrusive, high-throughput, and effective security without disruption or the need for security personnel stationed at entrances. SafePointe's ability to safely scan individuals, even those with medical devices, makes it the best and most cost-effective option.

SafePointe AI-Based Weapons Detection

SafePointe's patented system integrates hardware and software to quickly detect concealed weapons. It has an advanced 3D camera and an NVIDIA®-powered edge processor running a state-of-the-art AI model. The AI uses the extra data captured by the camera to better determine the threat level and detect the individual with the weapon and the weapon's location. It combines person-motion data, including velocity, position, and movements, along with magnetic moment analysis, allowing the scanning of multiple entrants simultaneously.

SafePointe features two unobtrusive metal bollards, 10 feet apart, that blend in with the facility entrance to create an entrance lane that scans for weapons without making entrants wait in a queue like traditional screening detectors. Most customers add multiple lanes to cover every entrance and ensure protection across the facility.

Detection Identifies the Person and Locates the Weapon

The latest SafePointe weapons detection system enhancements provide updated, customer-driven features that use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to identify weapons. As entrants move past the bollards, magnetic moment technology identifies a digital signature of any magnetically conductive objects by measuring the disruption to the Earth's naturally occurring magnetic field.

The 3D camera gathers live-motion data, including direction, speed, and movement. Simultaneously, magnetic data from the bollards are analyzed using AI to determine whether the subject has a weapon. If a weapon is detected, the information is passed along to human analysts who review and confirm this information within 10 seconds, filtering out non-threats such as armed security. Once identified as a verified threat, a digital alert is sent to the facility security staff via the SafePointe app or text, including an image identifying the individual and likely weapon location, along with a short video. This information about weapon location, the number of people in the area, the direction of travel, and other information allows internal security to respond using the facility protocols.

The 3D cameras, edge processor, and updated software let SafePointe isolate the person by drawing a box around them and showing the weapon's location on the person. This is possible even when multiple people are walking through the bollards simultaneously. The upgraded hardware and software include improved object classification and can indicate when people are loitering near entrance/exit locations, which may impede traffic flow.

Easy-to-Use Analytics Software with Advanced Search Capability

The analytics software and comprehensive reporting options let users generate alert reports and customize historical reports. The InSight data platform allows analysis, review, and sharing of SafePointe data across multiple lanes, entrances, and even different facilities and locations. Using InSight, the SafePointe app can show the alert, along with other information, on the same screen. Configuration allows users to select and view more than one lane.

The InSight data platform allows analysis, review, and sharing of SafePointe data across multiple lanes, entrances, and even different facilities and locations.

Comprehensive Reporting and Performance Metrics

SafePointe's alert review summary provides details in an easy-to-read incident report to aid investigations and facilitate the sharing of safety and investigative information. The summary is available upon query of the InSight application and can be shared internally or externally. InSight also provides an incident scorecard daily, weekly, and monthly that provides visitor count, number of detections, alerts, and SLA performance.

Additional Features and Benefits

One of SafePointe's key features is the AI-based system with machine learning, which enables continuous performance improvement. The inclusion of data reporting and performance metrics makes gathering information for analysis easier on the security staff tasked with gathering entrance numbers. The images and videos gathered can become evidence in an investigation, and reporting also provides supervisory insight for resource management.

Some of the additional features include:

  • The ability to screen up to 7,200 people per hour per lane is ten times faster than traditional systems like metal detectors.
  • Unmanned screening at the entrance that allows free traffic flow while reducing operational ownership costs.
  • Discreet sensors that look like bollards, planters, trash cans, or other entrance items create a more welcoming experience.
  • Indoor or outdoor installations are fast and easy, and a security option exists to air-gap the system from core IT systems.
    Outdoor hardware is developed and tested under the harshest weather conditions.
  • SafePointe's use of magnetic moment screening is safe for vulnerable populations, including those with medical devices, wheelchairs, or gurneys.
  • SafePointe has completed all the process and functionality requirements for SOC2, and HIPAA has begun formal certification.

Harness the Power of AI to Secure the Safety of Your Facilities

SafePointe's continued commitment to improving the system and incorporating customer feedback is ushering in the next generation of AI-based and machine-learning weapons detection. The unobtrusive nature of SafePointe's bollards, which create high-throughput lanes with no waiting, an AI-based system that uses 3D magnetic moment technology to detect weapons, and the cost savings of not needing staff at the entrance to monitor traditional metal detectors make SafePointe the best and most cost-effective solution in stealth weapons detection.

Contact us to learn how SafePointe can help improve your facility's security without compromising the visitor experience.

And, if you're attending GSX, September 23 - 25, 2024, we invite you to attend the session on Layering Physical Security on Tuesday, September 24th at 11:15 AM EDT. We also encourage you to visit SoundThinking's booth in the exhibit hall, number 1535, to see the latest improvements in discreet weapons detection. The SafePointe product, including the low-profile form factor bollards, will be displayed so visitors can see the latest SafePointe product in action.

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