This system can accommodate pallets and air cargo containers up to 8 ft high and 8.5 ft wide. It has been designed to use a special 1 MeV nested high voltage X-ray source, and is capable of generating both transmission and backscatter images. Image Enhancement Algorithms Complementing the imaging system developments, image enhancement algorithms to automatically search the imagery and highlight suspected contraband for detailed examination by the image analyst are being investigated. Spectrometer A prototype handheld ion mobility spectrometer has been developed and demonstrated. The system weighs eight pounds, including batteries sufficient for a one-hour mission.
Sensitivity is in the one hundred picogram range.
Approximately 40 units have been deployed for multi-threat use. Results are available to Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies. Furthermore, the results could augment the development of artificial biosensors for drug detection.