Purpose:

U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Innovation Team (INVNT), intends to host a symposium with industry to foster discussion, share insights, and accelerate innovation regarding the use of autonomous and physical systems to enhance CBP’s mission. This symposium will include discussions related to CBP INVNT’s upcoming Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) Pilot opening: CSOP-BP-GS-26-0002 – Autonomous Ground Surveillance Vehicles (AGSV).
Topic Descriptions:

1. The Future of Autonomous Systems in Advancing the CBP Mission

Autonomous systems, including AI and ML, are vital for CBP’s mission to protect the American people, safeguard borders and facilitate trade. They enhance situational awareness, improve threat detection, and increase operational efficiency by acting as force multipliers, allowing personnel to focus on complex tasks. These technologies are crucial for maintaining domain awareness across diverse environments and adapting to evolving threats.

2. Accelerating Autonomous Ground Surveillance Solutions for Border Security

Autonomous ground surveillance solutions are critical for securing vast land borders. Accelerating development and deployment of these systems enhances border security by providing persistent, wide-area detection and tracking capabilities. These AI-driven systems improve detection rates, reduce response times, and increase agent safety in challenging environments, bolstering overall border security. Furthermore, these technologies significantly contribute to time savings and efficiency for frontline personnel by automating labor-intensive tasks, reducing operator workloads, and freeing personnel to focus on critical field operations.

3. Navigating Procurement and Innovative Pathways for Emerging Technologies

CBP’s ability to adopt cutting-edge technologies relies on agile procurement and innovative pathways. CBP collaborates with industry via the CBP Innovation Team, conducting pilot programs and establishing partnerships to accelerate the testing and adoption of disruptive commercial capabilities. Leveraging flexible acquisition strategies is essential for industry partners to contribute to CBP’s mission and ensure national security.