Texas Tech researchers opened the Critical Infrastructure Telecom Ecosystem Incubator, known as CITEI, at the Reese National Security Center in Lubbock to build new threat detection technology.
A ribbon cutting and demonstration marked the opening. Researcher Brenda Connor says the goal is to speed up the calendar. "Our intent is to make technologies that wouldn't naturally become available until 2030 plus to be deployable as early as 2027," she said.
The work starts with normal communications between a radio, a tower and a device. Researchers then add a radar signal, which transmits, reflects off something and comes back. Put that signal in the same radio, and Connor says a cellular tower becomes a sensing entity. The approach is called integrated sensing and communications, and it scans the land around the device.
That matters most where few people are watching. Connor says the system can "dome that critical infrastructure and be able to tell you there's a vehicle in your oil field when it oughtn't to be there." The incubator also lets researchers test capabilities for remote rural areas and tactical deployments. Connor pointed to border security, wildfires and emergency response.
The range runs from someone cutting across your property to matters of national security.
Common questions
What is CITEI in Lubbock?
- CITEI is the Critical Infrastructure Telecom Ecosystem Incubator, a new Texas Tech research center at the Reese National Security Center in Lubbock. Researchers there are working to build new threat detection technology. A ribbon cutting and demonstration marked the opening of the center.
When could the new threat detection technology be ready?
- Researcher Brenda Connor says the technology could be deployable as early as 2027. She says the center's intent is to take technologies that wouldn't naturally become available until 2030 plus and get them out sooner. In short, the goal is to speed up the calendar.
How does integrated sensing and communications work?
- Integrated sensing and communications starts with normal communications between a radio, a tower and a device. Researchers then add a radar signal, which transmits, reflects off something and comes back. Putting that signal in the same radio, Connor says, turns a cellular tower into a sensing entity.
