Question

You’ve just been hired by HSARPA to develop some potential ideas for technology to assist with homeland security. Your job has no directives or limitations – you are just to think about problems that exist, and potential ways that technology can solve them, no matter how far-fetched, how much they may cost, or how long they would take to implement. You simply must be creative and think about ideas that may spark something substantial down the line.

1. What ideas might you come up with?
2. To which sector of homeland security might they apply?
3. Would you expect your ideas to be easy to implement, or impractical in reality?

Answer 1

The Department of Homeland Security secures the nation's air, land, and sea borders to prevent illegal activity while facilitating lawful travel and trade. A top priority is to protect citizens from terrorism and other homeland security threats.

Below are top emerging national security threats:

• Chinese and Russian Global Expansion and Power Projection;
• Iranian and North Korean Military and Political Capability Developments;
• Foreign Governments’ Instability and Reduced Military Readiness;
• Terrorism and Rise of New Non-State Adversaries;
• Artificial Intelligence (AI), Autonomous and Unmanned Systems, Biotechnology, and other Emerging Technologies;
• Weapons of Mass Destruction and Cyber Weapons Proliferation; and
• Climate Change, Increased Migration, and Spread of Infectious Diseases.

Issues with homeland security: Terrorism, cyber attacks, pandemics, and catastrophic natural disasters, cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security and public safety.