The system consists of multiple redundant "layers" of protection. Each layer works equally effectively deployed independently or in concert with other layers. The rapidly changing and dynamic nature of modern military combat motivated ShotSpotter's decision to develop redundant protection layers which can interact with other layers when available or fall back to single layer performance when operating in an unsupported mode.
Last December, U.S. Joint Forces Command announced that they conducted a test of unmanned aerial vehicle, gunshot detection and interoperation capabilities in urban environments as part of a U.S. Marine Corps exercise in Louisiana. "One of the primary goals for the experiment involved the testing of the ShotSpotter system, an acoustic locating system that cues a UAV sensor to locate an enemy when he fires a weapon, whether on a battlefield or in an urban environment."
In field-testing, the ShotSpotter wireless systems "provided improved awareness of the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data - in near real-time with less than a ten-second delay," said Cdr. James Joyner, US Navy. In addition, the integration of "ground-based sensors with UAV sensors made it possible to visualize the shooter's location within seconds."
Layer 1: Soldier-worn
Available now, this highly-sophisticated soldier-worn gunshot location system allows troops on the move to detect and locate gunshots and sniper-fire. Sensor devices weigh less than half a pound and are about the size of a PDA. The system immediately tells the small unit leader where a shot or multiple shots were fired from, and can deliver that information to others in the field. In one recent test performed by US Joint Forces Command, for example, ShotSpotter sensors successfully located weapons fire and immediately transmitted that information to an unmanned flying vehicle (UAV), such as the Scan Eagle or Predator, thereby providing friendly forces video of the shooter.
"This technology is a must-have for our men and women deployed in harm's way," said Maj. General (Ret.) Steve Siegfried, vice chairman, ShotSpotter. "Of all the coalition troops lost to date in Iraq, the single highest cause of death was hostile small arms fire. The soldier-worn system gives them mobile protection and the advantage of instantly knowing where hostile fire is coming from."
Layer 2: Vehicle-mounted
A second layer of protection is provided by ShotSpotter designed specifically for convoy and/or vehicle protection, whether on the move or stationary. These sensors are capable of locating a solo vehicle detect sniper fire. The system works seamlessly with both soldier-worn systems and fixed, installed sensors, so that as the convoy moves, the vehicle-mounted sensors blend in with other grids. These sensors, too, can be integrated with cameras mounted on the vehicles and aimed at the direction of enemy fire or used in concert with UAVs for aerial visual of the direction of fire.
Layer 3: Fixed installations
A third layer, for deployment around temporary or fixed locations consists of a rapid-deployment wireless version of the time-tested ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System that has been deployed in cities across the US for the past several years. Sensors can be quickly and easily installed on walls, posts and rooftops to form a complete grid that detects and locates gunfire and instantly relays that information to a visual display. The ShotSpotter technology is proven in difficult urban environments, and can be taken down and re-deployed as needed.
Developed using intellectual property acquired during ShotSpotter's recent merger with Centurist Systems, the wireless gunshot detection systems are covered by US patents, both issued and pending. All three layers use the same core ShotSpotter technologies which filter out the echoes which cripple competitive systems when they are deployed in urban environments. Using ShotSpotter's patented spatial filter architecture, the system can be set to filter in or out "non-threat" events (such as fire crackers, car backfires, etc.).