The Matrix: A Roadside Wireless Security System

Over the past decade, worldwide increases in terrorist activities by both state and non-state actors has created a need for a real-time monitoring system that can identify and classify potential threats from a safe stand-off distance. Specifically, since the beginning of both the Iraq and Afghan wars, a major concern for coalition forces has been maintaining security for their bases, convoys, troops and equipment. The ability to procure safe access to bases and outposts as well as oft traveled routes, such as roads for supply convoys remains a primary security concern. In modern asymmetric warfare, hostile threats are often distributed over large distances, in harsh environmental conditions, and thus cannot be monitored adequately using current technology. A search and seizure is one example among many where wireless security can aid in the protection of military forces. As a result, automated roadside detection and classification is vital for personnel safety and government security. In the past few years, wireless sensor networks have been demonstrated to be capable of accurately and reliably detecting objects using Radio Tomographic Imaging techniques developed by Wilson and Patwari [1]. This paper presents the design and development of an enhancement of these wireless sensor networks by incorporating object recognition and classification. The enhanced network, known as “The Matrix” will be able to autonomously monitor remote roads, identify potential security threats, and alert a command and control center if security measures need to be activated.