‘Smart Guns’ Still at Least 5 Years Away
by Joseph P. Tartaro
Executive Editor
Researchers are making progress in developing user recognition technology, sometimes called “smart gun” technology, but it will still be at least five years before a New Jersey law requiring it could take effect, officials said in Bayonne, NJ, in early December, according to Associated Press and Newsday.
Using sensors in the pistol’s grip, the technology is intended to prevent an unauthorized person from firing a handgun. The gun’s sensors would be enabled only for its owner or other pre-programmed authorized user.
Scientists, politicians and police officers attended a demonstration on Dec. 9 of a system being developed at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) that identifies a gun’s authorized user but does not control the gun’s firing mechanism.
Donald Sebastian, NJIT’s vice president for research and development, said it would be another year before “Dynagrip” technology would be accurate enough and another year after that until it could be fully merged with firing technology to prevent an unauthorized discharge.
New Jersey’s 2002 smart gun law requiring the technology on handguns sold in the state is written to take effect three years after the state attorney general certifies that the technology is available for retail sale. That places the emphasis in the media reports on the term “at least five years.”
When the law was enacted, the New Jersey legislature also provided a starter grant to NJIT of $1 million to kick start the research on the much publicized technology. Since then, the state and federal government have provided additional funding. NJIT, which had earlier researched the user recognition concept for the New Jersey legislature and reported that no viable system then existed, became the clearing house for a variety of recognition technologies being pursued in different laboratories and companies around the world. Some gun companies at various times also partnered with NJIT, but are not now full time participants.
Anti-gun politicians want “smart guns” and so do some in the industry as it would present much publicized new marketing opportunities. But most police and law-abiding gunowners are still wary of the concept. Working street police are opposed to the “smart gun” idea unless such guns would be operable if the system fails. However, if the guns fail in the operable condition, it would not satisfy the anti-gunners and the public money they have invested in the project.
Dynagrip uses 20 pressure sensors mounted inside the handle of a gun to distinguish the particular characteristics of a user’s grip.
When 60 people crowded into a small room at the Bayonne police firing range to witness smart gun technology, Sebastian stood near an oversized screen displaying a real-time video of an NJIT policeman shooting an experimental handgun in an adjacent indoor range. Although there was no applause as shots rang out, the action demonstrated that the smart gun knew friend from foe.
Sixteen electronic computerized sensors embedded in the gun’s grip distinguished known from unknown users. “We’ve only just begun and we’re pleased to say that we’re getting 90% reliability when scanning users,” said Sebastian.
Since 1999, Sebastian has led the project based upon Dynamic Grip Recognition, a technology invented by Michael Recce, PhD, associate professor of information systems at NJIT. Since June of 2004, five members of the NJIT police force have been trained to use the test gun and be recognized. Ultimately computerized sensors in each gun will record data on dozens of known users while also blocking unauthorized users.
According to Newsday, as might be expected, the project has the enthusiastic backing of the state’s two anti-gun Democrats in the US Senate, Frank R. Lautenberg and Jon S. Corzine. In addition to proudly witnessing the technology, the pair announced that, once again, they had secured $1 million in federal funding for the project. Last year, they secured a similar amount. The funding was included in this year’s US Department of Justice budget. Reps. Robert Menendez and William Pascrell (both D-NJ), who have also supported the research and sought federal appropriations, also spoke, as did NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch and Bayonne Mayor and state Sen. Joseph Doria, an early New Jersey legislative supporter.
Lautenberg said New Jersey’s legislative effort to introduce smart gun technology should be a national model for the country. Once Congress returns to session next year, Lautenberg and Pascrell plan to introduce legislation modeled after New Jersey’s law.
The demonstration included a description of how the technology works. “Everyone has body features that are unique signatures,” said Sebastian. “Fingerprints and retinas number among the best known markers. Identifying a person by such attributes is called the science of biometrics.”
Another form of biometric—the dynamic biometric—depends on both physical markers and behavior. “This is about who you are and how you do something.” said Sebastian. This biometric is the foundation of Dynamic Grip Recognition. The technology measures not only the size, strength and structure of a person’s hand, but also the reflexive way in which the person acts. For “smart” gun, the observed actions are how the person squeezes something to produce a unique and measurable pattern. Embedded sensors in the experimental gun then can read and record the size and force of the users’ hand during the first second when the trigger is squeezed.
The next step is for NJIT researchers to turn over their invention to the Australian-based research and development company Metal Storm Ltd. Currently January of 2006 is the target date. Metal Storm will then incorporate the NJIT technology into their patented electronic handgun, as NJIT researchers continue testing.
Since 1999, NJIT has spearheaded efforts to develop a personalized handgun that can instantly and reliably recognize one or more pre-programmed authorized users. To date, the New Jersey legislature has awarded NJIT $1.5 million for the project.
In 2003, NJIT signed an agreement with Metal Storm, which owns a patent for its Electronic Firing System that can be used in a handgun. As reported by Gun Week earlier this year, Metal Storm’s O’Dwyer™ VLe® system is a unique, patented approach to firing projectiles. Entirely electronic, the system utilizes preloaded barrels holding multiple projectiles that are fired by electronic ignition. However, as Gun Week reported, some observers claim that this ammunition is not yet 100% reliable.
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