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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 mhajicek on Wednesday June 10 2020, @05:53PM (2 children)
I'm not that educated on the subject, but doesn't a hash change if you change even the tiniest bit of the input? Get a wear mark or blemish and that could completely alter the hash rendering it useless.
The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek
(Score: 2) by Rich on Wednesday June 10 2020, @06:28PM (1 child)
A classic hash, yes. Here we have some sort of image hash, which is a different beast. I have no idea how they work in detail (probably something with multidimensional proximities). I know Shazam had their paper up for song hashes (I vaguely remember they had something with tight beat timing), and there are certainly resources on image hashes on the net.
Anyway, my epiphany in this context was when Shazam was new, the owner of the metal bar downtown wanted to show off how amazing it is. I took the challenge, to mock it, held it up for 10 seconds in the noisy bar with a very mediocre sound system, and there it was on the display: "Aiwass Aeon" by "1349", including cover artwork (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x3Oxmy66U8 [youtube.com]). Recognized by 10 seconds right out of the middle at around 1:10 among roughly all songs ever for sale... Unholy Cow!
(Score: 2, Touché) by khallow on Wednesday June 10 2020, @08:19PM
Doesn't matter. The real problem here is that you can alter the part so that it differs from its original scan by much more than another part off the line or a decent forgery. No magic hash is going to fix that problem.