Developing Algorithms and Software Assistants for Security Domains

Principal Investigator: Milind Tambe

Abstract: 

This research has been at the forefront of applying computational game theory techniques for security. It has led to a wide range of actual deployed applications of game theory for security. Our first application, Assistant for Randomized Monitoring Over Routes (ARMOR), successfully deployed game theory in practice at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in 2007, and has been in use since. In particular, ARMOR uses game theory to randomize allocation of police checkpoints and canine units. Our second application, Intelligent Randomization in Scheduling (IRIS), is in use by the US Federal Air Marshal Service since 2009 to deploy air marshals on US air carriers. A third application, Port Resilience Operational / Tactical Enforcement to Combat Terrorism (PROTECT), for the United States Coast Guard, has been demonstrated at the Ports of Boston and New York and is actually headed for nationwide deployment. We also collaborated with the US Coast Guard on an application for deploying escort boats to protect ferries, which has been deployed since spring 2013. A final application called TRUSTS (Tactical Randomization for Urban Security in Transit Systems) for multi-operation patrolling (fare evasion, counter-terrorism and crime) on LA area metro trains has been evaluated in field trials and is now being evaluated at TSA for further expansion; same is true of the GUARDS project developed for the TSA for randomizing security activities inside the airport. Many other agencies around the globe are now looking to deploy these techniques. 

SOW: