SubscribeAre There Explosives Hidden in This Dump Truck? With the Rapiscan Eagle you can know for sure.
Explosives hidden under construction materials pose a dangerous threat that is difficult to detect. The Rapiscan Eagle demonstrated the capability to detect explosives hidden within a load of gravel in a dump truck.
Figure 1 Dump Truck Filled with Gravel
Sixgray, plastic trash cans, simulating a large amount of hidden explosives, were placed in the bed of a dump truck. The cans, which were filled with water, were arranged in rows of one, two and three cans, as shown in Figure 2, to provide various amounts of water and gravel in the x-ray beam path. One empty metal trash can was also placed in the truck bed.
Figure 2 Dump Truck Filled with Simulated Explosives in Cans
Then the dump truck was loaded with crushed granite. The rock was distributed around each can and filled the truck bed to slightly above the rim. Notice that none of the cans is visible under the gravel in the truck after loading (Figure 1).
The Eagle operating at 6MeV scanned the dump truck at the nominal scan speed of 0.5 mph (Figure 3). The truck was then emptied; the cans were removed; and the truck was filled with the same gravel. The truck was scanned with the Eagle, as before, to provide an image of the truck loaded with gravel alone. The resulting x-ray images, which were immediately available to the inspector on the Eagle during scanning, reveal the trash cans hidden in the gravel truck.
Figure 3 Rapiscan Eagle Scanning Truck
Figure 4 Eagle X-ray Image of Gravel Truck Without Simulated Explosives
Figure 5 Eagle X-ray Image of Gravel Truck With Simulated Explosives
A comparison of the images with and without the cans (Figures 4 and 5) clearly demonstrates the ability of the Eagle to reveal objects, such as explosives, hidden under construction material. The Eagle’s x-ray beam was able to penetrate the entire thickness of gravel and create an image of the truck and its contents. This demonstration highlights only one possible use for the versatile Eagle family of cargo and vehicle inspection systems which can detect contraband, weapons and explosives at entrances to critical facilities, border crossings and sea ports.
