TRX Provides Location Technology for DARPA’s Sigma Program

​A DARPA program, called SIGMA, aimed at preventing attacks involving radiological “dirty bombs” and other nuclear threats has successfully developed and demonstrated a network of smartphone-sized mobile devices that can detect the tiniest traces of radioactive materials. A key feature of the SIGMA architecture is that it allows for automated, real-time detection, identification and tracking of nuclear threats with continuous situational awareness via web-based command and control interfaces.  More details can be found here. ​

​TRX is providing location technology to the Sigma program through integration with the NEON Personnel Tracker solution. TRX’s NEON solution uniquely provides real-time, continuous 3D location data using patented smartphone algorithms that allow for tracking of personnel carrying the Sigma radiation detectors both indoors and out.  Personnel Tracker is an Android application tightly integrated with the NEON Location Service where a suite of patented algorithms fuse GPS, inertial sensor data, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi readings and inferred map and building data to deliver reliable 3D location.

​​​Recently, TRX participated in a test of the Sigma solution where several hundred volunteers walked for hours around the National Mall in Washington DC carrying networked radiation detectors in as part of a scavenger hunt type game. More details can be found here. The event was the largest test yet of DARPA’s SIGMA program. DARPA is planning to demonstrate SIGMA’s full city- and regional-scale, continuous wide-area monitoring capability in 2017 and to transition the operational system to local, state, and federal entities in 2018.
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For more information on NEON Personnel Tracker, pls contact us.