Technology

Biofire Smart Gun uses dual biometric sensors to prevent unauthorized use

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The Biofire Smart Gun incorporates sensors to prevent unauthorized use
Biofire
The Biofire Smart Gun uses an electronic firing mechanism
Biofire
The Biofire Smart Gun with its dock for charging and programming
Biofire
The Biofire Smart Gun runs on lithium-ion batteries
Biofire
The Biofire Smart Gun has a fingerprint sensor in the grip
Biofire
The Biofire Smart Gun and carry case
Biofire
The Biofire Smart Gun has a built-in facial recognition sensor
Biofire
The Biofire Smart Gun incorporates sensors to prevent unauthorized use
Biofire
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A 'safe' handgun is a relative term, but Colorado-based Biofire Technologies is taking a high-tech crack at the idea with its Biofire Smart Gun, which uses an electronic identification and firing system to prevent accidental or unauthorized use.

The concept of a smart gun that can only be fired by an authorized user and no one else has been around for decades. The idea resurfaces from time to time and, despite having one US state mandating their sale, as yet no smart guns have been offered for commercial sale in the United States.

There are a number of reasons for this, but one of the biggest obstacles has been producing a practical handgun that can identify its user with a high degree of reliability in an emergency and ensure that the weapon will fire on demand. This is because handguns, though they seem complicated to many people, are very simple, compact, and robust mechanical devices and adding an electronic safety device can make the gun clumsy and introduce points of failure when it is needed most.

The Biofire Smart Gun runs on lithium-ion batteries
Biofire

Traditionally, attempts at making a smart gun have revolved around taking a conventional firearm mechanism and introducing some sort of electromechanical lock that blocks it until some sort of key unlocks it. This key can be an RFID tag, a smart watch, a magnetic ring, a bracelet, a physical key, or a biometric lock. The problem is that keys can be lost or stolen and biometrics can fail due to something as simple as a dirty finger.

Biofire Technologies hopes to overcome these limitations by avoiding the problem of modifying a conventional mechanism. Instead, the company opted for redesigning its Smart Gun to work on a completely different principle.

Instead of mechanical linkages and springs actuated by pulling the trigger causing the firing pin to strike the cartridge primer and setting it off, the 9mm Smart Gun uses a solenoid to drive the pin. This is set in motion by the trigger, which is not directly connected to the pin, acting as a switch. Between the trigger and the pin is the digital circuitry and software that authenticates the user in a fraction of a second.

The Biofire Smart Gun with its dock for charging and programming
Biofire

This authentication is by means of two biometric methods. One is a fingerprint sensor on the grip that identifies the user's middle finger. Ideally, a pistol grip is designed so that when the user grasps it, the hand rests in exactly the right position. Since one reason fingerprint sensors fail is that the user touches them at the wrong angle, the grip position minimizes this.

Another problem with fingerprint sensors is that they can be foiled by a dirty or cut finger. To overcome this, the Smart Gun also has a 3D facial recognition system set in the back of the gun. With this redundancy, the idea is that if the fingerprint system fails, the face recognition won't, and vice versa.

In addition, there is an infrared sensor on the rear of the grip that tells the system that the gun is still being held by the user. This avoids the need for the system to waste time and energy reaffirming the user's identity over and over. The grip comes in a variety of options, including left-handed, and can be customized to suit the user.

The Biofire Smart Gun has a built-in facial recognition sensor
Biofire

The Smart Gun is based on Biofire's Guardian Biometric Engine, which is set using a secure, portable Smart Dock. The gun does not depend on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS, so the programmed biometric data cannot be accessed remotely and the gun cannot be converted to act like a conventional handgun.

"Biofire's approach is totally novel: we've applied high-precision engineering principles to make a meaningful impact on preventable firearm deaths among children," said Kai Kloepfer, CEO and Founder of Biofire. "No one had tried that before. As a result, Biofire is now offering the most technologically advanced consumer firearm the industry's ever seen. The Biofire Smart Gun shoots like any high-quality firearm, but it also feels like you're holding the future in your hand. This is a new era in firearm safety driven by ambition and optimism, motivated by the idea that we can in fact help save people's lives."

The Biofire Smart Gun is available for pre-order for a refundable US$149 deposit and a total price of US$1,499, and ships under the same regulations as a conventional firearm.

Source: Biofire Technologies

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6 comments
1stClassOPP
Nice try, but electronics take battery power, and batteries die. I think there are too many “mechanical” guns out there to change the gun culture. Registering all firearms would be a good start to control, with heavy penalties if found with an unregistered firearm.
Karmudjun
As an NRA safety officer, I find this idealistic and most gun owners like the simplicity of the current mechanical systems. Still, I can see a huge benefit if the price point is reasonable for peace officers! Every year or so we read about an officer shot with his own weapon - if this system works, if it is easily recharged, if it is reliable and cost-effective, that is one less risk inherent in police work. We know that there are no penalties which will alter a "bad guy's"perspective when they feel they can grab an officers weapon and drop them in a flash....except for a gun that won't work for their sorry self!!!
TpPa
I agree, batteries and guns kill worse than alcohol and guns. Unless they come up with a tiny nuke battery with forever life, no way would I trust it, then there is extreme cold that takes them out.
I would also never buy it unless it can be programmed for multiple users Husband - wife, Cop and their partner etc.
guzmanchinky
I grew up around guns, was the captain of my high school rifle team. That was in the 80's. Now I think they should all be banned outright.
zort
Maybe instead of (or in addition to) batteries include a little squeeze-lever under the trigger guard or on the grip to generate a charge?
Always nice to have a backup.
drzarkov99
Sadly, this is a lot of hype for a gun that the manufacturer admits is prone to misfeed and failure to eject more than would give me confidence, even if the identification system works perfectly.