customs officer
This lie-detecting robot is the customs officer of the future
Travelers in the US and Canada may soon be forced to undergo a lie detector test as a standard part of airport security. The Automated Virtual Agent for Truth Assessments in Real Time (AVATAR) is currently being tested by the Canadian Border Services Agency and the US Department of Homeland Security. The robot -- programmed to look for physiological changes that indicate lying through eye-detection software and other sensors -- could help border agents catch terrorists or drug traffickers, according to San Diego State University researchers. "AVATAR is a kiosk, much like an airport check-in or grocery store self-checkout kiosk," San Diego State University management information systems professor Aaron Elkins told SDSU's News Center. "However, this kiosk has a face on the screen that asks questions of travelers and can detect changes in physiology and behavior during the interview. The system can detect changes in the eyes, voice, gestures and posture to determine potential risk. It can even tell when you're curling your toes," he added.