Pentagon Developing System To ID People By Their Walk

[chadtm80]

Pentagon Developing System To ID People By Their Walk

POSTED: 9:03 a.m. EDT May 20, 2003

The Pentagon is developing a radar-based device that can identify people by the way they walk.

It would be used in a new anti-terrorist surveillance system.

It's based on a theory that an individual's walk is as unique as a signature.


The Georgia Institute of Technology has received $1 million to conduct the research project for the Pentagon and has been successful in identifying people 80 to 95 percent of the time.

The head of the project at Georgia Tech said "one of the nice things about radar" is that it can see through bad weather, darkness, even a heavy robe shrouding the legs -- something video cameras cannot.

He said the radar works even 600 feet away from the subject.

But it's not foolproof. The research head said if a woman decides to wear combat boots instead of her usual shoes, there may be a difference in the way she walks.

[JQ Public]

How cool is that? What would they do for twins or people that get their legs blown off or smthg. I really like the eye scanning/ facial scanning thing i've heard about. They use it in Europe...and despite the rare false alarm it is doing well in London.

[coriolis]

It won't be long until they know every move we make.

[JetMaxx]

What if they are drunk? Uncle Larry walks far differently after he's downed a few too many

[breeze]

Hmmmm, Perry - that's interesting....in the mornings, I walk
quick-paced. After lunch, slower, and the 'ole arthritic knee
might show a very slight limp. But, after work hours, the margarita
"happy hour" walk could be totally different! It might be FUN
to fool the Pentagon!

[ColdFront77]

They must be confident that our step are in no way the same. I can't wait to find out more about this.