ORNL's laser-based surveillance / monitoring system takes on RFID

Amazingly, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is actually not located in the UK, but we wouldn't doubt if the latest development to emerge from its confines somehow ends up across the pond. Nevertheless, scientists at the lab have developed a Laser-Based Item Monitoring System that "addresses surveillance requirements in places where video would be unacceptable because of the presence of proprietary information or other privacy concerns." Essentially, this optical monitoring system uses low-cost reflective tags placed on objects, and then maps the precise location of high-value items to sense tampering. The laser can purportedly detect minute changes (movements of less than a centimeter) by utilizing "a high-resolution two-axis laser scanner capable of looking at a 60-degree field of view in 0.0005-degree increments," meaning that it can divide its field of view into more than 10 billion individual pointing locations. The crew also noted that this system was generally superior to bar code and RFID alternatives as the LBIMS would not be susceptible to jamming or interception, but there's no word just yet on when the Department of Energy (or anyone else) will be putting this stuff to good use.

[Via Smartmobs, photo courtesy of Primidi]

[biscuitus @ May 29th 2007 6:22PM]

Umm...as one who was born and raised in Oak Ridge, a mere photon's throw from ORNL, I have to ask why it's considered amazing that it's not located in the UK? What's the (dis)connection?

[Ross @ May 29th 2007 6:46PM]

Yeah, I grew up in OR too, and even worked at ORNL for a couple summers. Why on Earth would somebody think it was in the UK?

[Dustin Frazier @ May 29th 2007 7:43PM]

The connection is that the UK is going bat shit crazy for surveillance technology and the ORNL is developing just that.

[Andrew @ May 29th 2007 6:48PM]

Yeah! Oak Ridge represent!

[Jeff Snugglebutton @ May 29th 2007 7:58PM]

but the best part is if the item is stolen a 25 ton nuculear warehead will be dropped on your head.