AS&E Introduces Relocatable Car Scanning System
American Science and Engineering [ASEI] has introduced CarView, a high-throughput relocatable portal scanning system to detect hidden threats in cars and small vehicles, the company says. CarView simultaneously produces two images of the top-down view of the vehicle, a dual-energy transmission image that highlights metallic threats, and a photo-like Z Backscatter image that highlights organic threats and contraband. AS&E says the system can screen vehicles traveling at speeds up to 20 KPH, is cost-effective, fits into existing traffic lanes and is ideal for security special events and parking garages, high-threat facilities, government buildings and vital checkpoints. The system also includes Wave Shifting Fibers detector technology to provide dual-energy, material discrimination capabilities. “We continue to develop and introduce innovative underlying technologies, such as Wave Shifting Fibers, that can extend the capabilities of new platforms,” says Chuck Dougherty, AS&E’s president and CEO. “The CarView system is the latest in our family of solutions to leverage multiple, complementary technologies in a low-cost, relocatable, compact footprint. This will enable AS&E to extend the served market for portal systems to include commercial applications, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to develop a range of solutions that meets our customers’ real-world operational requirements.”
Rapiscan Introduces Backpack Radiation Detection System
OSI Systems’ [OSIS] Rapiscan Systems division has launched the MP100 backpack radiation detection system, a lightweight system that can detect radiological and nuclear materials and is housed within a compact commercial backpack, making it idea for covert radiation inspection, the company says. Rapiscan says MP100 features a long battery life for extended deployment, gamma and optional neutron radiation detection, meets U.S. and international standards, and integrated with Android mobile devices. “Today’s terrorists don’t need special nuclear materials, such as uranium and plutonium, to create chaos,” says Pak Chin, president of Rapiscan. “A small quantity of radioactive material that is routinely and safely employed in medical and industrial applications can cause significant radiation contamination to a wide area when part of a dirty bomb. The MP100 applies Rapiscan design principles and technology to a practical, high performing, portable radiation detection solution that is suitable for a variety of use cases. It’s one of the lightest and easiest to use systems available today.”
Sandia Helps Firm Bring Bomb Detector Close to Commercialization
Sandia National Laboratory has helped R3 Technologies further develop the company’s suicide bomb detection system, bringing the technology closer to commercialization, the lab says. R3 approached Sandia two years ago for help with its Conceals Bomb Detector-1000 system, which uses X-band radar to detect metallic and non-metallic explosives. Robby Roberson of R3 says the CBD-1000 can detect ball bearings, glass, nails, ceramics, rocks and other materials often used as shrapnel in suicide vests. Sandia scientist JR Russell says he has worked on the device’s accuracy and pushed to redevelop the software so it would more reliably detect a bomb threat. The CBD-1000 weighs 13-pounds, is the size of a cereal box and is mounted on a tripod. “If the person is not carrying a threat, the return signal is in the same polarity as when it was transmitted,” says Roberson. “A threat will rotate the polarity of the signal, and it comes back differently.” He says a scan takes about 1.3 seconds from 9-feet away. He adds that R3 is working on an instantaneous scan with a range of up to 100-feet.
Hoyos Labs, NIST in Partnership to Measure Contactless Fingerprint Image Fidelity
Hoyos Labs says it has entered a partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop new ways to measure the image fidelity of contactless fingerprint capture devices. NIST, sponsored by the FBI’s Biometric Center of Excellence, recently launched a contactless fingerprint capture device measurement research program. Hoyos has submitted its 4F contactless mobile biometric application for blind pilot testing. “Our participation in NIST’s research program is mutually beneficial,” says Hector Hoyos, CEO of Hoyos Labs. “Not only are we playing a critical role in building a worldwide standard for testing contactless fingerprint scanners, but NIST researchers are also providing us with new scenarios that we have been previously unable to test using human subjects, to help us better understand any limitations to our product and make the necessary improvements.” Safran Group’s MorphoTrak and 3M [MMM] have also contributed contactless fingerprint technology to NIST under the program.
CACI’s SkyTracker UAS Detector Successful in Initial Testing
CACI International [CACI], the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security say that initial testing of the company’s unmanned aircraft system (UAS) detection system showed that SkyTracker “performed as designed” and “successfully identified, detected, and tracked UAS in flight, and precisely located drone ground operators, all without interfering with airport and ground operations.” The primary goal of the ongoing project, which organized under a Pathfinder agreement with the FAA, is to “safely explore procedures and processes for deploying and operating detection technologies in and around commercial airports,” the FAA says.