2024-04-08-RFI-Modular Mobile Surveillance Technolgoy Roadmap-ATTACHMENT-C.pdf

U.S. BORDER PATROL | 1

U.S. Customs and Border Protection United States Border Patrol

USBP Industry Day M2S2 Technology Roadmap Handout

January 25, 2024

The roadmap was developed in support of the evolution of the Mobile Trucks program. While legacy trucks have contributed to the detection, tracking, identification, and classification of illegal border incursions, there are shortfalls in effectiveness and suitability that highlighted the need for a new generation of trucks: the M2S2.

The First Roadmap | Supporting the Mobile Trucks Program

An integrated suite of sensor equipment attached to cargo bed of a Ford F-450 with operator station in the truck, requiring a BPA to sit in the vehicle for the field to retain any benefit.

An integrated suite of sensor equipment attached to the bed of a Ford F-150 with operator station in the truck.

MVSS is in the process of integrating with TAK.

USBP has deployed or plans to deploy the following augmentations to trucks:

• MSC-Lite: MSCs were selected for decommissioning and refreshed with MSC-Lite – an integrated suite of sensor equipment attached to the cargo bed of a Ford F-250 which still requires a BPA to sit in the vehicle for the field to retain any benefit.

• MVSS Equipped with Radar (MVSS-R): Some MVSS are in the process of being fitted with RADAR capabilities in partnership with vendors. This addition of RADAR will result in MVSS-R having the same overall capabilities as the MSC-Lite.

The new M2S2 will include a sensor package, automation, decision support, mast, and communications capabilities integrated on a commercially available, 4x4 capable vehicle.

The M2S2 program will be integrated with COP, TAK, and other enterprise-wide efforts to enhance situational awareness. The surveillance package can be operated remotely from the COP or a

TAK device, or by a BPA in a vehicle. The modular nature of the

M2S2 will allow BPAs to equip their truck to best fit their mission.

Mobile Video Surveillance System (MVSS)

Truck Augmentations

M2S2

Mobile Surveillance Capability (MSC)

The M2S2 program will sustain legacy MSC, MVSS, MSC-Lite, and MVSS-R trucks until they age out and are replaced with an M2S2.

The new M2S2 is the next generation of mobile surveillance capability, importantly allowing for remote operability – decreasing the need for manual operation and increasing the capacity to adapt to shifting threat patterns in various terrain types.

U.S. BORDER PATROL | 2

Current as of 5/25/23

The M2S2 Technology Roadmap considers needed technology candidates for the near-term – highlighting immediate opportunities to enhance existing capabilities of the mobile surveillance truck program.

THE ROADMAP

Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) rely on surveillance trucks in order to surveil illicit border activity between U.S. ports of entry. With some of the mobile truck fleet nearing obsolescence, it is an urgent and time-sensitive priority to lay groundwork for the next generation of USBP’s tactical surveillance capabilities.

Lays the conceptual foundation for the mobile surveillance truck program to achieve an autonomous next generation of mobile surveillance trucks.

Covers a range of technology candidates for the near-term, with a focus on technologies ready to be procured and implemented. USBP plans to integrate technologies to enhance legacy and new mobile surveillance trucks to support autonomous surveillance.

PURPOSE SCOPE

M2S2 PERFORMANCE AREAS

W H Y S T A R T W I T H M 2 S 2 ?

The roadmap is broken down by the following Performance Areas relevant to USBP’s technology needs and aligned with Mission and Operational tasks…

SURVEILLANCE SENSORS COMMUNICATIONS VEHICLE SECURITYPOWER

MAINTAINABLITY REMOTE OPERABILITYAUTONOMY

U.S. BORDER PATROL | 3

Technology Roadmap | Modular Mobile Surveillance System (M2S2)

M2S2: Showcasing How M2S2 Will Interact with Other Factors The following outlines critical capabilities of the next generation M2S2 and the truck’s relationship with other factors.

M2S2 Performance Areas

Attackers

Vandals, hackers, and terrorists attack or threaten the M2S2

Operator provides verbal warnings to perpetrators from remote location

Humans, Conveyances, Animals, and

Communication Devices

IoI reflections, thermal emissions, and

RF signals are detected, tracked, identified, and classified

Environment

Environmental factors such as temperature, rain, snow, ice, dust, fog, smoke, wind, terrain, and foliage will impact reliability and effectiveness of the M2S2

GPS/GNSS Satellites

Satellites send GPS/GNSS signals to the truck sensors

Communications Cloud

M2S2 uploads IoI tracking data, imagery, FMV, voice comms, and system status

M2S2 receives C2 and SW updates

C2/CSCENT COP

IoI data is exchanged and processed through C2/CSCENT, NOC/SOC, Maintainers, BP agents, and law enforcement

External Risk Factors

Surveillance Sensors GPS, Wide Area Scanner, Imagery and

Video, and RF Locating

Autonomy Computer Vision, Slew-to-cue, and

Edge Computing

Communications SATCOM, Cellular, Mesh Network, and

Data Compression

Maintainability Predictive maintenance and reminder, and remote system health monitor

Power Renewable, Backup Generator, and

Energy Storage

Remote Operability Mast and Sensor Control, System

Monitors, and Setup/Teardown

Vehicle Security Monitoring and Alerting, Exterior

Communications, Physical Security

Backend BP AssetsItems of Interest

M2S2 emits radar and laser emissions

U.S. BORDER PATROL | 4

Interoperability Modular Open System Architecture

(MOSA), Open Architecture, Standards

Performance Area Deep Dive: Surveillance Sensors

Surveillance

Sensors

RADAR and

Scanning IR

• RADAR and Scanning IR sensors are crucial for wide area scanning, detection, and tracking of Items of Interest (IoIs) in border security

• Advanced RADAR technologies like Synthetic Aperture RADAR (SAR), Phased Array RADARs, and 3D RADAR enhance detection capabilities and response times

• Continuous advancements in RADAR technology, such as AI integration and multi-sensor integration, improve border security effectiveness

• These systems act as a force multiplier for Border Patrol Agents (BPAs), enabling them to prioritize and respond to high-priority IoIs efficiently

EO and IR

Cameras

• Electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) cameras, along with LiDAR technology, enhance border security by supporting detection, identification, classification, and tracking of Items of Interest (IoIs) in various conditions

• Different IR wavelength ranges, such as SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR, cater to specific operational situations.

• Integrating these systems with machine learning and a pan-tilt unit can automate key tasks, allowing Border Patrol Agents to focus on high-priority IoIs and efficiently respond to border activities

RF Locating

• RF locating or direction finding is a technique used to determine the origin and direction of wireless communication signals, including radios, RADAR signals, and drone remote controllers

• Triangulation is utilized to pinpoint signal sources, and the process can be performed manually or automatically

• Although manual direction finding is low-cost and simple, automatic direction finding offers greater accuracy

• RF locating helps Border Patrol Agents detect and locate Items of Interest using communication devices, even when line-of-sight sensors are inhibited by atmospheric conditions or foliage

DescriptionCandidate Technology

U.S. BORDER PATROL | 5

Performance Area Deep Dive: Autonomy

Autonomy

Computer

Vision

• Computer vision technology is a field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that enables computer systems to capture digital images and video and derive meaning from data to make recommendations based on the captured information

• Surveillance camera systems use machine learning and deep learning approaches to automatically process images and videos and automate object detection, identification, tracking, and classification

Edge

Computing

• Edge Computing capabilities in video and RADAR surveillance systems provide the M2S2 the capability to detect, track, identify, classify and count people and objects of interests in the field of view, without the need to transmit and process data at centralized high performance computers

• Edge computing also enables sensor fusion, automated decision-making, security, health monitoring, communication, and other local AI/ML activity

Autonomous

Slew-to-Cue

• Slew to cue is integration of a RADAR or other target detection device that tells an EO/IR surveillance

PTZ camera where to point

U.S. BORDER PATROL | 6

Performance Area Deep Dive: Communications

Comms

Data

Compression

• Data compression reduces the size of digital files like images and videos

• In the M2S2 system, compression occurs before local storage or transmission to the COP

• Key video compression techniques include:

• Discrete cosine transform (DCT)

• Motion compensation (MC)

Voice and

Data Comms

• M2S2 must connect to COP and TAK devices and support multiple communication architectures for diverse operational areas

• Microwave offers high-speed wireless connections for voice, video, and data with a large information-carrying capacity

• LTE and 5G cellular networks provide improved coverage, security, and lower management costs

• Low Earth Orbit satellites ensure faster communication and higher bandwidth. Mesh networks accommodate mobile technologies and offer reliable coverage in irregularly shaped areas

• These technologies offer USBP flexible communication options for various environments, taking traffic, coverage, costs, and availability into account

U.S. BORDER PATROL | 7

Performance Area Deep Dive: Maintainability

Maintainability

Auto

Maintenance

Reminder

• Use Fleet Maintenance tools, GPS tracking and electronic system usage tools to provide alerts and recommended service notifications for the MSC/MVSS vehicles, the sensor systems and other payloads

• This will allow for more efficient scheduling of mobile surveillance assets and minimize service downtime of MSC/MVSS vehicles

• As the M2S2 trucks become more complex with more communications gear, computer equipment and electronics, scheduling the maintenance of these systems will become more challenging

• Automated Maintenance Reminders across the entire M2S2 system will allow the Border Patrol to more efficiently schedule and utilize resources across the entire Fleet

Predictive

Maintenance

• Predictive maintenance allows support personnel to monitor equipment health to avoid future failures during operation

• It uses predictive algorithms with data from equipment sensors to estimate when your equipment will fail

• It also pinpoints the root cause of problems in your complex machinery and helps you identify which parts need to be repaired or replaced

• This minimizes downtime and maximizes equipment lifetime

Remote

System Health

Monitoring

• Remote monitoring provides maintainers and operators with actionable data to prevent system failure or even performance degradation before it becomes a critical issue

U.S. BORDER PATROL | 8

Performance Area Deep Dive: Power

Power

Energy

Storage

• Battery technologies are the most viable energy storage technology for the mobile surveillance application

• Continued innovation has created new technologies like electrochemical capacitors that can be charged and discharged simultaneously and instantly and provide an almost unlimited operational lifespan

• Of those technologies, Lithium-ion (Li-ion) is the most widely used and beneficial technology today

• Li-ion batteries have been deployed in a wide range of energy-storage applications, ranging from energy-type batteries of a few kilowatt-hours in residential systems with rooftop photovoltaic arrays to multi-megawatt containerized batteries for the provision of grid ancillary services

Renewable

Energy

• The primary power should be a low-signature, renewable energy source(s), such as solar and stored in batteries

• Renewable energy sources produce little or no noise, and usually have a reduced heat signature compared to fossil fuel power generators

• Fossil fuel sources of power are acceptable as a backup power during M2S2 missions

Power

Generation

• By utilizing various power sources, such as solar panels, fuel cells, and high-efficiency portable generators, these systems can ensure continuous operation and enhance the resilience of the surveillance infrastructure

• Incorporating power management solutions that optimize energy consumption further bolsters system performance, while reducing the environmental impact and operational costs

• Innovative power generation methods enable USBP to deploy advanced surveillance technologies effectively and maintain a robust, sustainable, and adaptable energy source, crucial for mission success in an ever-evolving security landscape

U.S. BORDER PATROL | 9

Performance Area Deep Dive: Remote Operability (1 of 2)

Remote

Operability

Automate

Setup /

Teardown

• Automating the setup and teardown of a M2S2 system for a mission would return valuable time to BPAs to perform their primary responsibilities

• Remote teardown enables BPAs to prepare the M2S2 to be moved prior to arriving back from field

Mast Remote

Control

• The COP or BPAs could remotely stow the sensor mast if high winds threaten the mission while

BPAs are away from the M2S2

Sensor

Remote

Control

• Remote sensor control enables operators to monitor and adjust sensors from a distance, which improves situational awareness, safety, cost efficiency, and responsiveness

• Integration with automated detection, tracking, and classification systems can reduce operator workload and enable better decision-making

• Remote control systems typically employ secure communication protocols, ensuring data protection and preventing unauthorized access

U.S. BORDER PATROL | 10

Performance Area Deep Dive: Remote Operability (2 of 2)

Remote

Operability

Pan-Tilt Unit

• Pan-tilt units (PTUs) enable precise positioning of surveillance sensors in two axes, supporting devices like cameras, antennas, rangefinders, and RADARs. PTUs offer fast, reliable, accurate, and adjustable sensor support capabilities for BPAs

• By locating quality PTU vendors with APIs for custom applications and joystick integration, BPAs can automatically track IoIs, differentiate between them, and manually search for IoIs at varying distances and speeds, providing 360-degree surveillance in all weather conditions

Remote

Vehicle

Control

• The COP and BPAs may need the capacity to disable systems remotely in scenarios such as shutdown ahead of anticipated power loss, cyber-attack, or physical attack to the M2S2

Remote

Power

Monitoring

• The BPAs and COP may monitor the system state remotely, including the status of primary/secondary systems, available data storage capacity, data latency, battery life, available fuel, and output from renewable energy sources

U.S. BORDER PATROL | 11

Performance Area Deep Dive: Vehicle Security

Vehicle

Security

Physical

Security

• For unattended MSC/MVSS vehicles, physical security technologies can be employed to physically secure the vehicle and make it more difficult for the vehicle to be stolen

• This, in conjunction with the other vehicle security technologies would greatly reduce the likelihood of a threat being able to successfully steal an unattended Scope Truck

Monitoring

& Alerting

• Remote Vehicle/Platform Security Monitoring and Alerting would provide BPAs the ability to monitor the MSC/MVSS vehicles remotely, either from the C2 or even using the handheld devices, such as a TAK device

• Remote Vehicle Monitoring can be video or even a proximity type sensor

• If an intruder approaches a surveillance truck that is unattended, BPAs would be alerted

Exterior

Comms

• In the event non-authorized personnel or threats attempt access the Scope Truck or it’s systems, active communication with the vehicle by BPAs will allow them to inform the threats that the vehicle is being monitored and to provide proper instructions to keep away from the vehicle

• BPAs can also communicate with distressed persons that approach

U.S. BORDER PATROL | 12