ATLANTA–In its own testing Smiths Detection has demonstrated that its HI-SCAN 6040aTiX X-Ray system can distinguish between innocent liquids and “liquids of interest” as part of its plans to deliver on the promise of explosives detection in the Advanced Technology (AT) X-Ray machine, according to Mark Laustra, vice president for Homeland Security at Smiths Detection.
So far Smiths has demonstrated that its 6040aTiX system can discriminate between the threat liquids and innocuous ones when bottled liquids are put through the X-Ray machine in a bin with some parcels around them, Laustra told sister publication TR2 at the ASIS 2008 security conference here last month. That was done early in the summer, he said.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has seen the testing, Laustra said.
Next up will be testing the system to find the liquids of interest inside a bag so that liquids don’t have to be removed from carry-on luggage, he said.
Laustra wouldn’t be specific on timelines for its test program. Smiths is working with the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate on some of the testing, he said.
In addition to testing for liquids that can be used in explosive devices, Smiths has plans to test its 6040aTiX so that it can automatically alert for explosives in laptop computers left inside their carrying bags, Laustra said. Hiding a bomb in a laptop is the “easiest to conceal and the hardest to find,” he said. The algorithms needed to detect liquid threats will be ready sooner than anything else, he added.
The various testing milestones run through 2010, Laustra said.
The TSA is currently buying AT X-Ray machines from two vendors–Smiths and OSI Systems‘ [OSIS] Rapiscan division–to replace existing X-Ray systems deployed at aviation checkpoints throughout the country. TSA’s plans for the AT X-Ray machines include making future upgrades to deployed systems so that they can begin to automatically detect for explosives in carry-on luggage. The older X-Ray machines rely on operator skills to determine if bombs or bomb making parts are present in carry-on bags.
Another important discriminator between the older machines and the new AT systems is that the newer ones provide operators with multiple images of a bag from different angles, making it easier for a screener to better understand the contents of any parcel.
The eventual upgrades to the 6040aTiX will be a simple matter of a software upload, Laustra said.
There’s also interest elsewhere in the world for the explosives detection capabilities of the 6040aTiX, Laustra said.
Separately at ASIS, Smiths introduced several new systems or upgrades to systems, including its first radiation detection device, the High Performance Radioisotope Identifier (HPRID), which was developed in part with funding from the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office. The handheld HPRID alerts users to high levels of radiation and then identifies and analyzes the specific potential threat. The onboard radioisotope library can also be expanded to detect and identify masked or shielded threats, Smiths said.
HPRID provides a high confidence answer within 30 seconds. The 7.5-pound unit has a list price of about $35,000. The device can be connected to Smiths sensor and video management situational awareness system called FirstView, which the company launched at ASIS.
FirstView can integrate legacy security systems and add new ones, such as CCTV, video analytics, CBRNE, access control, and X-Ray systems over any network for command and control or mobile applications. The system can be integrated with the company’s PROTECT system, which provides software tools for crisis management as part of the situational awareness platform.
Smiths also introduced a ruggedized and enhanced version of its SABRE 4000 trace detector. The Multi-Mode Threat Detector is made to operate in extreme environmental conditions, has wireless connectivity, a hot swappable battery, GPS and is made to keep operating even after a three-foot drop onto concrete. It can also detect a wider range of explosives, including homemade bombs. The military is likely the main customer for the MMTD, the company said.
The company also introduced its second-generation chemical threat detector for monitoring air in critical infrastructures. The SABRE CENTURION II detects and identifies chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals. Smiths said the unit will not alarm on a chemical immediately to make sure that a potential threat is present. The CENTURION II comes with a command and control system to control up to 70 detectors. The Department of Homeland Security is buying CENTURION II for its mailroom, Smiths said.
Upgrades over the first generation system include improved algorithms, higher reliability components, an improved valve system, and a better false alarm rate. The unit price for the system is between $35,000 and $50,000. Another sampler can be added to a unit for just $2,500. The higher priced version is for outdoor air sampling.