Forensics

Recognizing Faces – Also in the Dark

Thermal cameras are all over the modern battlefield, from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets such as drones or vehicle and dismounted targeting systems. But recognizing a face with software in real time has long been out of reach. A new technology may lead to enhanced real-time biometrics and post-mission forensic analysis for covert nighttime operations.

The US Army Research Lab scientists have paired artificial intelligence and machine learning to make a face image from the thermal image seen on many weapons sighting systems, according to an ARL release.

“This technology enables matching between thermal face images and existing biometric face databases/watch lists that only contain visible face imagery,” said Benjamin Riggan, an ARL research scientist. “The technology provides a way for humans to visually compare visible and thermal facial imagery through thermal-to-visible face synthesis.”