Lockheed Martin Applies 3-D Modeling To Improve Facial Recognition Accuracy

Lockheed Martin, Animetrics Team Awarded Research & Development Contract

HERNDON, VA. -- Facial-recognition experts will soon be able to make two-dimensional, partial images of suspects pop from computer screens with three-dimensional technology. Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Animetrics were recently awarded a research and development contract by the U.S. Government to improve the accuracy of facial recognition.

Currently, many pictures taken by security cameras are only partial or side-views of the subject’s face, making it difficult to identify suspects. The new technology will allow experts to use 3-D modeling to recreate the subject’s entire face, which experts will then compare to existing mug shots or file photos of the suspect.

“Lockheed Martin’s experience in facial recognition software already deployed in today’s field, together with Animetrics’ 3-D modeling will greatly assist in our customer’s ability to solve facial identity cases,” said Bob Eastman, vice president, Information Systems for Lockheed Martin.

The contract calls for a facial image comparison tool to be used by human operators as they narrow down the results delivered by automated facial-recognition tools. The objective of this program is to develop a software product that may be validated for use in case work.

“This is an important step in advancing biometric and facial-recognition technology,” said Eastman. “In the future, we hope to develop technologies that will not only model existing pictures in 3-D, but also collect images in 3-D.”

Headquartered in Conway, N.H., Animetrics is a leading developer of cloud-based web service facial search and retrieval applications using its 2-D to 3-D patented technology. Animetrics is driving market acceptance of facial recognition biometrics in government, homeland security, law enforcement, and consumer releases of its FaceR™ line, mobile platforms as well.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s 2009 sales from continuing operations were $44.5 billion.