Dual Gradiometer Passenger Screening for Shoe Explosives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current passenger screening systems are inefficient in detecting explosive materials concealed in shoes or near the ankle/calf region, as metal detectors are not effective in this area and require time-consuming manual inspection.
Innovation Solution
A passenger screening system utilizing dual gradiometer coils operating at different frequencies, integrated with a quadrupole resonance detection system, to detect explosive materials in shoes and lower extremities, providing rapid and reliable identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal detectors are used to screen passengers, then concealed weapons can be detected, but explosive materials in shoes cannot be effectively detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical metal detector with a gradiometer-based explosive detection system. The gradiometer uses magnetic field gradient measurements to detect explosive materials in shoes, eliminating the limitation of metal detectors that cannot detect non-metallic explosives.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the detection parameter from metal density (metal detector) to magnetic field gradient (gradiometer). By operating at multiple frequencies and analyzing magnetic field gradients, the system can detect various explosive materials regardless of their metal content.
2Reliability
If manual inspection of shoes is performed, then explosive materials can be detected, but the screening process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service screening by allowing passengers to walk through the automated gradiometer screening system. The system automatically detects explosives in shoes without requiring manual inspection by security personnel, thus maintaining high detection accuracy while significantly reducing screening time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an automated gradiometer-based detection system. The system uses magnetic field gradient measurements to automatically identify explosive materials in shoes, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual inspection while maintaining or improving detection accuracy.
3Device complexity
If single-frequency detection is used, then the system is simpler, but it cannot effectively differentiate between types of explosive materials
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic action by operating the gradiometer at multiple frequencies (first frequency and second frequency). This multi-frequency operation allows the system to differentiate between various explosive materials based on their unique magnetic resonance characteristics at different frequencies, improving measurement precision without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameter from single frequency to multiple frequencies. By analyzing the magnetic field gradient responses at different frequencies, the system can identify and differentiate between various explosive materials, achieving higher measurement precision while keeping the system relatively simple.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient detection of explosives in shoes and lower leg areas, allowing for rapid passenger screening and differentiation between shoes containing suspect materials, reducing the need for manual inspection and improving security efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first gradiometer, and a second gradiometer disposed adjacent the first gradiometer. The first and second gradiometers each configured to operate at a first frequency and a second frequency to facilitate detecting the presence of an explosive material.
Implementation Method 2
integrated with a quadrupole resonance detection system, to detect explosive materials in shoes and lower extremities
Data Source
AI summary
A passenger screening system including a first gradiometer, and a second gradiometer disposed adjacent the first gradiometer. The first and second gradiometers are each configured to operate at a first frequency and a second frequency to facilitate detecting the presence of an explosive material. A method of operating the passenger screening system is also described herein.