New Technology Aims to Track Police Firearms
OutdoorHub Reporters 10.29.14
California-based Yardarm Technologies is promising to revolutionize how law enforcement officers handle their firearms, and it all has to do with a small device inserted into the grip of a handgun. The start-up company is currently developing a sensor that will allow police to track and monitor how their firearms are used in real-time. The sensor works by sending information to the “Yardarm Cloud,” through which commanders will receive updates on any particular firearm’s geo-location, when the firearm is unholstered, when it is being discharged, and even the direction of shots taken.
“The company’s Yardarm Sensor gives organizations a new level of awareness about what’s happening with their officers’ firearms. This lets commanders make informed, split second decisions about events on the ground—decisions that can save lives, help officers in the field do their jobs better than ever, and give crime scene analysis teams the information they need after the smoke has cleared,” Yardarm’s website states.
It is a change of direction for the company after it made its start trying to develop a device that would remotely disable firearms. Yardarm marketing vice-president Jim Schaff told the Associated Press that the company has since abandoned that project, which was heavily criticized by gun rights activists. Yardarm said that it does not intend on making what many have termed a “smart gun,” but only to make firearms safer and easier to use for gun owners and law enforcement organizations.
The new Yardarm sensor does not include any kind of “locking” technology, but it will track the activity of the firearm it is attached to. The company asserts that its product will allow police commanders to be alerted to situations as they unfold, and potentially save officers precious seconds in tense situations. Early versions of the sensor are currently being tested by law enforcement agencies, but Yardarm is looking to expand into the military and private security as well.
“The company’s patent pending technology delivers new levels of awareness for any organization that utilizes and manages firearms,” Yardarm stated.
You can see how it works below:
Yardarm Technologies from Jim Schaff on Vimeo.
