"We are delighted to include Taurus in our development team" said Donald H. Sebastian, Ph.D., vice president for research and development at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Newark. Metal Storm and NJIT signed an agreement earlier this year creating the initial team. "The addition of a commercial producer to our technology partnership is vital to ensuring that our design reflects the combined influences of efficient manufacturing practice and consumer preferences. By working prototype and commercial product design in parallel we will shave years off the development cycle."

The partners will create a handgun that will instantly and reliably recognize its authorized operators. The new firearm will combine the developed and patented Dynamic Grip Recognition technology owned by NJIT with the patented handgun Electronic Firing System owned by Metal Storm Ltd. Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc. Florida, and Forjas Taurus, Brazil, will design a total handgun package to house the two new technologies.

The NJIT project picked up speed last spring when NJIT Associate Professor of Information Systems Michael Recce, Ph.D., received a patent for his behavioral biometric, Dynamic Grip Recognition. Recce's invention enabled NJIT researchers to embed multiple small electronic sensors in both sides of a gun's handle to identify the user. Recce sees his invention someday being used in other applications--perhaps the yoke of a plane or the steering wheel of a car.

In New Jersey, the project to develop a personalized weapon, better known as smart gun, has been an ongoing effort since the spring of 2000 when NJIT received the support of the
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Contact: Sheryl Weinstein
weinstein@njit.edu
973-596-3436
New Jersey Institute of Technology
26-Nov-2003