For Decades, Millimeter Wave Radiometry has successfully been
used for: * The detection of landmines (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland), * Stratospheric Ozone Layer Monitoring (Global Environmental Monitoring Projects) *
The Observation of Ozone and Trace Gases in The Upper Atmosphere * The Validation of Total Water Vapor Over the Arctic Sea Ice.
* The Detection of Space Shuttle Tile Defects (IEEE) * Carbon Monoxide Detection (Defence Evaluation and Research Agency Malvern)
Several techniques have been investigated by the National Institute of Justice in the later 90s and early 21st Century to detect a concealed weapons under clothing. * Detection using an infrared
thermal detector was considered non-practical due to the very small temperature contrast of a concealed
weapon under clothing and especially heavy clothing.
More promising concepts included: * Ultrasound echo detection of
concealed weapon through clothing, * Microwave signal reflection
through clothing and body to detect concealed weapon, * Passive
millimeter wave imaging to detect temperature contrast of the concealed weapon with the body through
clothing, and * The millimeter wave radar (active) imaging
through clothing. * There was also a concept of using a magnetometer array for
ferric metal weapon detection. Each of the above techniques has its
advantages and drawbacks. For the past couple of years, most the the research focused on both active and passive millimeter
wave imaging. For Articles
& Documents on the matter click here.
Here below you will find the dominating brands in the field.
Currently, L-3 Communications
has developed the ProVision™
Body Screening System using Active Millimeter Wave Imaging. For more information, click here.
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Also, Brijot
Imaging Systems announced on July 11, 2006 that its BIS-WDS™ Prime had been installed for live, passenger screening operation
at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's (PANYNJ) Exchange Place PATH transit system station in Jersey
City, New Jersey as part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Rail Security Pilot Project's.
Note that Brijot Imaging Systems uses Passive Millimeter Wave Imaging
in contrast with L-3s Active Millimeter Wave Imaging. For a demonstration and more information on the Brijot BIS-WDS™, click here.
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DefenderTech International Solutions uses & recommends
the Brijot BIS-WDS™
Prime for use with all of its Protadas Threat Detection packages. For more information and a demo, click here.
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EORD, an Israeli company based
out of Haifa, Israel, is developing its active Millimeter Wave Imaging system, AMMIS™. The product is currently in its
final development phase and is expected to be operational by the Summer of 2007. For further information, click here.
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Millivision’s
Concealed Threat Detection (CTD) System makes use of the company’s patented Passive Millimeter Wave Imaging technology
to detect threats. For more information on their product, click here.
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Founded in 1977 Farran Technology is now a primary supplier
of leading-edge millimeter-wave subsystems to major Systems Integrators.
The Tadar millimeter-wave (mm-wave) Imaging System (camera)
employs patented mechanically-scanning technology with state-of-the-art mm-wave MMIC front-ends, resulting in the highest
performance, lowest-cost, system available. The mechanical-scanning design produces high resolution raster images at near
real-time refresh rates. Tadar may be configured as either a passive or active imaging system, without changing the mechanical
or optical configuration. In the passive mode it employs low-noise, wideband MMIC amplifiers (LNAs), with centre frequencies
at 77 GHz, 94 GHz and 140 GHz. It may also be used with Terahertz receivers when they become commercially viable. In the ‘active’
mode it employs 77 GHz fmcw front-ends, producing 3-D images of the scene, at stand-off distances of over 50 metres.
The primary applications for mm-wave imaging systems are in
security screening of people and enhanced vision systems (EVS).
• In People Screening Portal Security Screening it will detect the presence of metal and non-metallic
threat objects, concealed under a subjects clothing.
• In Stand-off Security Surveillance it can be used as a ‘trip wire’ to flag the presence of metal
concealed on a person, either as a weapon or as shrapnel in a bomb, alerting the security operator to the presence of a possible
threat.
• In Airborne Enhanced Vision System it will see through cloud and fog, giving an aircraft pilot the ability
to see the runway in adverse weather conditions.
• In Ground Enhanced Vision Systems it can be used for
Disclaimer:
Unless otherwise specified, this website makes no
representation whatsoever about any aspects of the products and services offered by the following companies. Also we
do NOTendorse any particular brand or website. The listing is for informational purpose ONLY!
The author of this website has attended some of the training
programs listed on this site. Comments & opinions made by this author are added in italic and are based on her attendance.
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