Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) says radiation technology developed by its scientists is licensed to and being used by Textron [TXT], which has developed portal and mobile adaptable radiation area monitors in use by several states and some local agencies. The California Highway Patrol operates portal versions of the technology at vehicular entrances and the New Jersey State Police operate the RadTruck variant (TR2, Oct. 18, 2006). The technology has gone from the portal application to mobile ones, with the initial SUV-based designs having to be parked when conducting operations to now being able to detect on the move. Brian Adlawan, program director for detection systems at Textron Defense Systems, tells TR2. One other state and two local agencies also operate RadTrucks although their identities remain undisclosed, he says. The next step is putting the technology on a boat to do harbor patrol missions, he adds. Textron is continuing to work with LLNL on the radiation detection technology. LLNL says that ARAM systems can detect concealed radioactive material about the size of a grain of sand moving at 45 mph.
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