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15/06/2009
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UK universities and QinetiQ are developing a robotic probe that will attach itself magnetically to the inside of the roof of a steel container and run around to detect drugs, weapons, explosives and illegal immigrants.
 The project began in October 2008 and has been given the name 'Cargo Screening Ferret'. The probe will be equipped with laser and fibre optic sensors, small enough to be carried by the 30cm long machine.
"It's essential we develop something which is simple to operate and which border agents can have total confidence in," said Dr Tony Dodd, lecturer in aerospace systems engineering in the Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering at the University of Sheffield who is leading the project. "The ferret will be able to drop small probes down through the cargo and so pinpoint exactly where contraband is concealed."
Other partners are the University of Glasgow, Loughborough University and City University in London. Working prototypes could be ready for testing within two years and could potentially be deployed within around five years.
Categories: sensors and transducers
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Author
Tom Shelley
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