Supply Side: Duos, SecurityScorecard

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Duos Technologies is a Jacksonville, Fla.-based supplier of automated railcar inspection portals (pictured) and artificial intelligence (AI) detection models. (Photograph Courtesy of Duos Technologies)

Duos Technologies is a Jacksonville, Fla.-based supplier of automated railcar inspection portals (pictured) and artificial intelligence (AI) detection models. (Photograph Courtesy of Duos Technologies)

Duos Technologies debuts “Head of Cushioning Unit Condition” monitoring for its Railcar Inspector Portal (rip®). Also, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) awards a contract for SecurityScorecard subscriptions that will enable rail and pipeline owner/operators to monitor and assess cybersecurity.

Duos on May 18 reported that its Railcar Inspector Portal (rip®) can now detect when a cushioning unit head is damaged or missing. Once identified, a qualified mechanical car inspector—in accordance with AAR Rule 59 (Cushioned Underframe Devices) and FRA 49 CFR 215—can determine if the detection result is actionable, according to the Jacksonville, Fla.-based supplier.

The new “Head of Cushioning Unit Condition” detection model was developed in response to a Class I railroad request and deployed during this year’s second quarter. Within the first five days, “the customer recorded 19 validated defects, which were immediately addressed to avoid potential derailments,” Duos reported.

“We are continuing to advance rail safety standards with the development of specialized AI [artificial intelligence] models capable of identifying defects that can cause real problems for rail operators, including derailments,” Duos CEO Chuck Ferry said. “As we expand the breadth of detection models for our rip® systems, customers have shown a clear desire to add this greater level of coverage. We plan to continue expanding our AI development work and expect to have more than 50 models available in our catalogue by year end.”

In a related development, Duos in April received a $1.9 million contract add-on for Amtrak.

SecurityScorecard on May 16 reported that its prime contractor Alvarez LLC and distributor Carahsoft Technology Corp. have been selected by the TSA to provide SecurityScorecard subscriptions, which will allow railroad and pipeline owner/operators to assess their public-facing internet applications and services “with cybersecurity vulnerability monitoring, ratings and threat intelligence.”

“While use of the subscription service is not directed or required by any TSA cybersecurity security directives, TSA’s private-sector partners who elect to use the subscription will receive access to SecurityScorecard’s comprehensive security ratings and automated assessments,” said SecurityScorecard, which is based New York, N.Y. “Owner/operators will receive findings in patented, easy-to-understand, ‘A to F’ graded scorecards with collaborative mechanisms to remediate observed cybersecurity risks. This allows for more effective compliance reporting, improved communication and informed decision-making.”

SecurityScorecard said that it will also provide TSA with “high-level reports containing data on the cybersecurity vulnerabilities affecting the rail and pipeline sectors.” 

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