Hitachi to Enter Counter-Terror Field

Hitachi to Enter Counter-Terror Field

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Hitachi announced that it will begin providing “walk-through type explosives trace detection system” for critical infrastructure facilities such as power plants and data centers from this month. The system will detect explosives in 3 seconds by efficiently collecting the fine particles attached on ID cards and analyzing them with built-in devices. It can screen a maximum of 1,200 individuals per hour without disrupting people flow. According to the company’s press release, it will contribute to improve the safety and security in the future by expanding the applications of this system to public facilities, such as airports, train stations event venues, etc.

In recent years, the need for explosive screening for important infrastructures, public facilities, and event venues has risen. Metal detector, X-ray equipment, and wipe-type explosives detector have been implemented to prevent people from bringing in explosives. However, conventional explosives detection methods are time-consuming because they require human-operations. To reduce the inspection time, Hitachi developed an explosive detection prototype in 2012. The development of the current system has been accomplished after system refinement by considering practical use cases through field tests at airports and train stations.

The system enables more sensitive detection by adopting a newly-developed sampling component. A high-speed air flow collects fine explosive particles from an ID card when it is inserted into the authentication unit. This product allows for shorter and more accurate inspections because the air flow hits uniformly the card at a fixed angle.

According to acnnewswire.com, Hitachi will exhibit the system at the Special Equipment Exhibition & Conference for Anti-Terrorism 2016 held at Tokyo in October. It will also showcase the system at the Hitachi Social Innovation Forum 2016 TOKYO.