Detecting The Menace In A Bottle

Ever since the plot to blow up transatlantic airplanes with liquid explosives was uncovered in London in August 2006, pressure has increased on the airline industry -- and government -- to find new ways to not only detect liquids in baggage and on passengers, but also to figure out what those liquids are.

Now, the Homeland Security's Science & Technology Directorate is teaming with scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory to develop a possible solution.

The DHS S&T Directorate is testing a new airport baggage screening technology that can differentiate among a variety of liquids, gels, and lotions. Called SENSIT (for “sense-it”), it already can tell the difference between some 50 kinds of fluid-type products.

“Today, when you pack for the airport, you might have to place your toothpaste tubes, shampoo bottles, and cosmetics in a sandwich bag per the 3-1-1 Rule. We want to make that practice a thing of the past,” saidrian Tait, who manages the SENSIT research, one of several Directorate initiatives to address liquid explosives. “And that’s going to make a lot of people very happy.”

An interim step to this goal, Tait said, is to develop the capability to screen carry-on bags that are allowed under the 3-1-1 Rule in an operational environment. In late June, he says, a Los Alamos team successfully completed a proof of concept of an extremely sensitive future screening technology that scans the magnetic changes of individual materials at the molecular level and stores them in a database. These data allow screeners to differentiate and identify many materials that may be packaged together or separately as they go through the screening process. It uses the same technology that is used to scan brains, and it is based on ultra-low field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The team aims to place the technology next to current X-ray screeners.

SENSIT has thus far demonstrated the ability to differentiate more than four dozen materials considered “safe” for carrying onto airplanes -- from everyday personal items such as toothpaste and mouthwash to those that are considered hazardous.

“With the MRI signal, we want to distinguish between harmful items, and many common carry-on liquid consumables,” said Tait. “The goal is the reliable detection of liquids, with high throughput, that is non-contact, is non-invasive, requires no radiation, produces no residue, and uses the existing airport security portal.”

SENSIT is one of S&T’s Homeland Innovative Prototypical Solutions (HIPS) -- research that has moderate to high risk but considerable promise for high payoff. “We’re working hard on getting the SENSIT technology to an airport near you very soon,” said S&T’s Innovation Director Roger McGinnis.

Featured

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.