PECASE Winner Plans to Continue Research in Detection

  • Published
  • By Maria Callier
  • Office of Scientific Research
ARLINGTON, Virginia --  Air Force Research Laboratory-funded Dr. Scott Craver, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Binghamton University, is investigating the development of detectors that are resistant to exploitation for an adversary's algorithms. Dr. Craver and his research team are also investigating audio, image, and video fingerprinting, which embeds an imperceptible label in a media file that can later identify that file's history. Nominated by AFRL, Dr. Craver is one of the winners of the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers award for his breakthrough work. 

For the most part, Dr. Craver and his research team use computer simulations, and their work is primarily theoretical. They design proof-of-concept software to illustrate their techniques, including the concealment of encrypted messages in computer animations and video and audio clips. Their additional breakthroughs involve simultaneous deciphering of a watermarking algorithm and creation of new ways to reverse-engineer detectors. The scientists turn this technique into a generic algorithm that determines the watermark's size, signal power, and detector false-alarm rate. They have also created channels that are resistant to any level of detection. 

In spite of the challenges inherent to their research, Dr. Craver and his team are optimistic their results will ultimately facilitate the development of new detectors that are more resistant to attack than their counterparts are today. 

The PECASE award recognizes only 100 of the nation's finest scientists and engineers who, while early in their research careers, show exceptional potential for leadership at the frontiers of scientific knowledge during the 21st century. AFRL continues to expand the horizon of basic research through its management of Dr. Craver's program, which advances communications and computer forensics technology.