Category: security

The conventional use of ID verification tags has faced a significant loophole: peeling them off and affixing them to counterfeit products renders them ineffective. In response, MIT scientists have devised a revolutionary ID tag system that leverages the adhesive itself as a unique fingerprint, ensuring that the barcode becomes scrambled if an attempt is made to peel it off.

The underlying principle of these ID tags aligns with radio frequency identification tags (RFIDs), commonly employed for inventory tracking and authenticity verification. Each tag possesses a distinct identifying code, detectable through a scanner to validate the authenticity of the item. However, the prior flaw lay in merely verifying the tag’s authenticity rather than the item to which it was attached. The MIT team’s solution involved developing a tag that obliterates its barcode upon removal.

The role of security guards is vital and often necessary, but their deployment can be limited by cost and availability. In Switzerland, residents have had the opportunity to witness the potential of a patrol bot developed by robotics start-up Ascento, affiliated with ETH Zurich. This innovative machine has shown promise as a replacement for human security guards, already serving as a guard for Swiss security firm Securitas AG.

A video released by ETH Zurich showcases the remarkable agility of this new security guard, enabling it to patrol various locations seamlessly. The robot’s capability to monitor diverse terrains with precision raises the question: Can it match the attention and responsiveness of a human guard? The incident involving a RoboCop in 2019 sparked skepticism when it failed to assist a woman in need despite her activating the emergency button. The incident highlighted the need for better integration and protocols for such robotic systems.