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from the the-next-generation-of-forensics dept.
High definition scans and image recognition are combined to produce a unique signature for any part:
Everything needed to trace, track or certify any individual manufactured part is already present on the part itself, according to Brian Crowley, CEO of Alitheon, a startup company focused on object traceability. The surface detail of a manufactured part is unique in the same way fingerprints are, he says. And, importantly, off-the-shelf imaging technology — notably including the cameras in our phones — is now capable of accurately capturing this distinctive surface-level detail. The result is a new possibility for identifying parts, arguably better and more reliable than serial numbers. Alitheon’s technology for using this surface detail for part ID is called “FeaturePrint.”
Sorry if this seems like a soylvertizement--I don't have any connection to the company, it just seemed like an interesting new technology, with wide-ranging consequences. While initially this might be used internal to factories that need to track every part of an assembly and avoid bad parts or counterfeits slipping into production, other applications seem possible. For example, there is no point in filing the serial number off that gun, unless you also deface all the surfaces on *all* the external and internal parts.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday June 10 2020, @01:43PM
Full custom sports car builds (of relatively low-tech stuff like the 250 GTO) run in the 100-200K range. For that amount, you can series produce 250 knockoffs that won't fetch even $100K on the open market, because the people who are pushing the values up to $2M+ don't really care about the functionality of the car, they are after the history, the rarity, etc.
Same way you can print a new Babe Ruth baseball card and it won't be worth the price of the chewing gum.
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