Lauretta.io – a leading developer of Artificial Intelligence/ Deep Learning (AI/ DL) software for real-time, human behaviour-based video analytics, has been awarded a contract from the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology, Silicon Valley Innovation Program (DHS S&T/ SVIP). 

DHS S&T’s Screening at Speed Program (SaS) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA)’s Innovation Task Force (ITF) are exploring the use of self-screening portals at TSA airport security checkpoints. Built in a similar fashion to self-checkout at grocery stores, self-tagging baggage checks and ATM machines, many airline passengers can complete the process at their own pace, hassle free. 

Development of personal self-screening portals would allow for a reimagining of traditional checkpoint layouts and could result in increased overall passenger screening throughput capacity. This effort becomes even more relevant during the pandemic, as social distancing and other protective measures are put into place in order to minimize the exposure and contact between TSA Officers (TSOs) and passengers.

Dr. Petros Kotidis, GM of US Operations, commented – “This DHS contract is a great opportunity for Lauretta to demonstrate its capabilities and become the preferred video analytics software provider for TSA, when the self-screening portals become reality.”

The goal of this contract is to apply Lauretta’s behaviour-based AI video analytics at self-screening portals for the following reasons:

• Social distancing measures are maintained

• The length of contact between TSOs and passengers is measured 

• Validation of passengers properly progressing through the screening process

• Detection of anomalous behaviors when passengers go through a self-screening portal

Mr. Galvin Widjaja, CEO of Lauretta, added – “We are honoured to receive this award and we greatly appreciate DHS’s confidence in our technology. Lauretta is well-positioned to address the needs of DHS and provide cutting-edge solutions.”

Galvin had led technical development of patented computer vision analytics products with 5 times the accuracy of current tools. Lauretta is a Techstars portfolio company, SDC Start-Up Innovation 2020 Grand Winner and SLINGSHOT 2020 Winner. It was also selected by Singapore’s first proptech accelerator, Propell Asia run by JLL and Lendlease. In 2019, Innovation Enterprise listed Lauretta.io as one of Singapore’s 20 most exciting startups.

Lauretta is developed with a focus on privacy and human-centric AI principles.

We believe that AI systems should be designed to bring broad benefits to people. AI is a powerful technology that can deliver insights, efficiency, savings and speed to diverse human activities and can give rise to wholly new capabilities. But with its potential, comes with the risk of unintended consequences, and thus deploying AI systems should in a way that accounts for human values.

A central and practical outworking of this is our company policy to refrain from the use of biometric technologies (such as facial recognition) in our solutions. Lauretta’s systems are anonymous by design and focus on understanding what is happening, rather than who is present.