Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosives
Advances in CBRN
EADS is at the forefront of developing new technologies and systems designed to enhance security in many ways - defence from CBRN threats and terrorism, providing safety on the ground and in the air. EADS’ understanding of the continually evolving CBRN threat and partnership with key stakeholders has enabled us to provide security innovations in the modern world.
Checking Unattended Luggage for Unseen Threats
EADS has developed ULIS, the Unattended Luggage Inspection System that might help to put an end to false security alerts. ULIS is an easy-to-use portable neutron interrogation system for the detection and identification of explosives, chemicals and nuclear and radioactive materials that might be hidden inside suspicious objects.
The system analyses gamma rays to work out the type and location of any hazardous material, and thus helps bomb-squad personnel to separate real threats from false alarms, and even to identify the best way of dealing with any problems.
“Sniffing out” Minute Particles of Drugs or Explosives
EADS Innovation Works is also working on a novel security portal, equipped with an ‘artificial nose’ based on Laser Ion Mobility Spectrometer (LIMS) technology. The technology is up to 30 times more sensitive than a dog’s sense of smell and will be smaller than a book. Yet the system can detect and identify the smallest amount of explosives or drugs among one trillion particles, so detecting the tiniest traces that may have remained on skin or clothes, even after thorough cleaning. EADS researchers am to further miniaturise the instrument, so that it can be installed in hand-held equipment similar to metal detectors used at airport security check points.
Testing Water Contaminants in Minutes
Safe drinking water is obviously vital, and sensor technology developed by EADS is helping to ensure that water sources can be tested and cleared more quickly than ever. The prototype BioSensor developed by EADS Innovation Works and academic partners is cutting testing time from today's two days to just 15 minutes. The portable, easily operated sensor pumps a water sample through a microfilter where tiny pores trap any bacteria so that they can be tagged with fluorescent labelled markers and then identified through illumination with lasers or LEDs. The system can be used by an untrained operator, and it is self-cleaning and ready for another cycle in 15 minutes. Obviously the system is ideal for testing water for disease-causing bacteria in developing countries or areas affected by natural disasters, but it could also be further developed to guard against bio-terrorism in air conditioning systems, for example.