Wi-Fi Gun Detection System Being Developed to ‘Out’ Concealed Gun Carriers

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A group of AI researchers at the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI) has developed an AI system that can identify concealed handguns using Wi-Fi signals, offering a non-intrusive alternative to visible cameras and cumbersome metal detectors,” computer technology site Tom’s Hardware reported Sunday. “To ensure the system could specifically distinguish a handgun from everyday items of similar shape or material, the researchers trained it on recordings of a plastic handgun, a metal water bottle, a real metal handgun, and a phone,” the report elaborates.


Prior experiments showed “ordinary Wi-Fi routers identify people with 99.5% accuracy,” and these latest controlled trials show “an average handgun-detection precision of 72.5%.” Where the system falters is “pinpointing the weapon’s exact location on the carrier, precision dropped to 53.8%. The neural network also struggles to perform accurately in unfamiliar, untested indoor layouts.”

“Planned improvements” are in the works, of course, and it’s a sure bet that government and private prohibitionist interests will be incentivized to see the system develop to where it can be as widely deployed and ubiquitous as Ring and Flock cameras.

Other systems utilizing different technologies are already out there, including ventures like the Omnilert AI gun detection system, which basically appears to recognize openly carried guns. There’s also ZeroEyes, which “detect[s] potential threats, from visible firearms and knives, to intruders,” and competitors like Brivo, “to identify brandished guns in a person’s hand…”

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