Liberty Defense Holdings Inc. has said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Vancouver Arena to beta test its HEXWAVE system, which uses 3D imaging and AI to detect potential weapons threats.

Liberty Defense Holdings said the HEXWAVE system is designed to provide “discrete, modular and scalable protection to provide layered, stand-off detection capability, the intended end result of this is to “provide a means to proactively counter evolving urban threats”.

The sensors with active 3D imaging and AI-enhanced automatic detection are designed to detect metallic and non-metallic firearms, knives, explosives and other threats.

Bill Riker, chief executive officer for Liberty Defense, said: “There’s really two major elements to the system. It’s the radio frequency that can transmit any part of it and then there’s the artificial intelligence side.

“The Hexwave uses a low power radio frequency signal to illuminate the detection space. And then from that energy, which it emits into the space and captures reflection, it captures the signals to create 3D images in real time.

“These 3D images are then analyzed by machine learning to go ahead and make a determination of whether or not it’s a weapon or if it’s just an anomaly or if it’s a standard item like a cellphone or set of keys.”

Liberty Defense is planning to deploy the technology, in beta, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver in the first quarter of 2020.

Director of event operations and security at Rogers Arena, Jim Day, said: “We are committed to our customer safety and looking for ways to improve their experiences while visiting Rogers Arena. This includes exploring how using cutting edge technologies can help keep our fans and visitors safe.”