New Jersey-based MaXentric Technologies LLC, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) technology to industry partner, will make commercially available a first responder solution to law enforcement agencies nationwide.
The radar-based Detect Presence of Life (DepLife) allows users to easily and safely identify whether anyone is inside a room when direct line-of-sight is not an option.
“DepLife provides first responders with critical intelligence and situational awareness, while reducing their risk of incurring physical harm,” Julie Brewer, acting under secretary for Science and Technology, said. “This technology could support serving search warrants, searching for trafficked individuals, or even potential hostage situations.”
S&T’s First Responder Resource Group identified the need for a hands-free version of this type of tool, and S&T funded DepLife and developed it in collaboration with MaXentric.
Field tests were conducted in autumn 2024. S&T and MaXentric used feedback from agencies to make final adjustments before commercialization.
“We engaged with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies over an eight-week period to deploy and test DepLife in various operational scenarios,” Anthony Caracciolo, DHS first responder technology program manager, said.
DepLife complements other S&T-developed detection and tracking technologies that give first responders more tools when coordinating plans.