Radio Cuffs
Each year, several thousand fatal auto accidents occur in the United States that involve drivers who aren’t even supposed to be on the road-their licenses have been suspended or revoked. Gaithersburg, Md.-based Multispectral Solutions has developed a credit-card-sized radio transmitting tag that could bag these illegal drivers.
The tag, developed with the U. S. Department of Transportation, mounts on the unlicensed driver’s car. It constantly broadcasts an ultra-wideband (UWB) radio signal containing a digital picture of the banned driver, along with information about the car and the driver’s record. Composed of nanosecond pulses, a UWB signal is immune to the interference that longer signals suffer when they bounce off nearby surfaces. A tag reader at roadside or in a police car sounds an alert and displays the transmitted data, giving police the chance to check the face behind the wheel against the face on the screen.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
DeepMind’s cofounder: Generative AI is just a phase. What’s next is interactive AI.
“This is a profound moment in the history of technology,” says Mustafa Suleyman.
What to know about this autumn’s covid vaccines
New variants will pose a challenge, but early signs suggest the shots will still boost antibody responses.
Human-plus-AI solutions mitigate security threats
With the right human oversight, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can help keep business and customer data secure
Next slide, please: A brief history of the corporate presentation
From million-dollar slide shows to Steve Jobs’s introduction of the iPhone, a bit of show business never hurt plain old business.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.