Written by: Laura Dempsey
Classified information is being compromised, according to DoD statistics, because those tasked with securing safes and containers are forgetting crucial steps. Doors are left open and locks unlocked, often because the required “final spin” of the lock was forgotten.
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) saw the statistics (unsecured safes and doors, together, are tied as the No. 3 security problem) and decided to do something about it.
AFRL enlisted Wright Brothers Institute (WBI), known for innovative approaches to problem solving, to lead an effort to find a feasible solution, one that could mitigate the human factor and go far toward safeguarding the country’s classified information.
WBI saw this challenge as a good fit for a Sprint, a focused, weeklong series of meetings during which industry and subject matter experts brainstorm with those who brought the issue to WBI. The goal of a Sprint is to have a solution or solutions to the problem at the end of the week and then move on to prototyping and testing those ideas.
This project, named TALOS (Tech to Alarm Locks and Open Safes), was well-suited to the Sprint process. On Day One, the team brainstormed several possible solutions, and the design/prototyping team was able to get down to work.
Solutions included simple fixes, such as email and text reminders; auditory alerts; indicator lights, and sensors built into the device.
The team briefed their results to an Interagency Committee, whose members were receptive to some proposed solutions while skeptical of others (installing sensors on these devices requires a complicated mix of waivers, regulations, etc.). Each proposed solution was examined for its pros and cons: the team is now tasked with prototyping initial systems to test and demonstrate functionality for the following:
- Simple lanyard
- Magnetic reminder
- Reminder system with door and combination lock spin sensors
- Reminder system with door sensor
They will be seeking feedback and guidance from the Department of Defense Lock Program, GSA, leadership, and potential users/customers.