- The technology company Biofire launches its smart gun based on biometrics to prevent accidents and unauthorized use.
- The Biofire Smart Gun employs biometric technology and recognizes pre-programmed users via fingerprint and 3D facial recognition.
- Biofire’s smart pistol offers unique customizations for buyers, including color options and configurations for left- or right-handed shooters.
The Biofire company has launched its new firearm, the Biofire Smart Gun, which uses pre-programmed biometric data to recognize users and prevent unauthorized use.
The technology employs a biometric engine called Guardian, which can identify users with integrated fingerprint and 3D facial recognition, and can recognize up to five users.
The company ensures that the Smart Gun is always in a “locked” state and prevents the possibility of accidental discharge or use by unwanted persons.
Some detractors of smart weapons have claimed that the additional security measures can lessen the potential reliability of the weapon when it counts.
The Biofire prototype failed to fire twice during a live demonstration to Reuters, leading to reliability issues. However, founder Kai Kloepfer assured observers that the designers had thoroughly tested the biometric system and that the failures were due to mechanical problems, not the security biometric system.
Background on the smart weapons market
The use of biometrics and similar user identification mechanisms to ensure the functionality of weapons is nothing new.
The Armatix iP1, introduced in the mid-2010s, employed an RFID-based security mechanism that would only allow the weapon to function for users wearing the system’s accompanying RFID watch. The manufacturer advertised it as one of the safest firearm systems available. However, hackers breached the iP1’s security shortly after its release, casting doubt on its effectiveness.
Biofire Smart Gun Availability and Pricing
Biofire began accepting orders for the Biofire Smart Gun, allowing potential owners to build and configure their Smart Gun package.
Buyers can choose from one of three models: the $2,999 Founder’s Edition, the $1,899 Launch Edition, or the $1,499 base Smart Gun.
Each model offers unique customizations, including color options for the primary polymer, trigger and magazine release, the ability to configure for left- or right-handed shooters, and even the ability to create a custom serial number.
The Biofire build page says that the Founders Edition models are out of stock and should ship by Q4 2023. The other models are available and will begin shipping in early 2024.