Mobile aircraft inspection system

• US 8,798,232 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2013
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bendahan, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Midkiff, Anastasia
• Application Number:
  US13/934,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20140098937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 378/51, 378 54- 57, 378/62, 378/76, 378/189, 378/193, 378/197, 378/198
• US Class Current: 378/57
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/1006 different radiations, e.g. X and alpha
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/1013 gamma
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/1016 X-ray
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/106 neutrons
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/3303 object fixed; source and detector move
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/631 large structures, walls
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/04 and forming images of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/05 using neutrons
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/083 the radiation being X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/203 Measuring back scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/22 Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/222 measuring scattered radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/232 having relative motion between the source, detector and object other than by conveyor G01V5/226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 42/028 Industrial applications
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/02 Constructional details

Abstract

A system for scanning aircraft for concealed threats is provided. The system comprises a vehicle and a manipulator arm attached with a scanning head that can be maneuvered in multiple directions to completely scan an aircraft from the outside. The system uses transmission based X-ray detection, backscatter based X-ray detection or a combination thereof, in various embodiments. The system also includes gamma-ray and neutron detectors, for detection of nuclear and radioactive materials.

Claims

1. A system for scanning an aircraft from the outside for the detection of concealed threats, comprising:

a scanning head comprising an X-ray source for generating an X-ray beam toward the aircraft and two backscatter detectors for receiving X-rays that are backscattered from the aircraft, wherein each of the two backscatter detectors are defined by a triangular space having a photomultiplier tube as one side and scintillator material as a second side and wherein each of the two backscatter detectors are positioned adjacent to a gap through which the X-ray beam is emitted;

a manipulator arm for maneuvering the scanning head relative to the aircraft, wherein said manipulator arm has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is movably connected to a vehicle for transporting the system and wherein the second end is movably connected to the scanning head;

a movable detector unit comprising a set of detectors, said detector unit being aligned with said scanning head such that the set of detectors receive the X-rays transmitted through the aircraft;

a computer system for controlling the motion of the system, wherein said computer system further comprises a memory.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said scanning head further comprises at least one proximity sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the positions of the X-ray source and the first set of detectors are synchronized remotely.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said X-ray source and said set of detectors are positioned along opposite sides of the aircraft.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said detector unit is L-shaped to capture X-rays transmitted through the aircraft.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said manipulator arm has a plurality of degrees of freedom for positioning the scanning head, wherein said plurality of degrees of freedom includes at least one of up, down, left, right, in, out, and rotation.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system for controlling the motion of the system further includes a database of at least one plane contour stored in the memory for controlling said motion based on said plane contour.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein images are displayed on a monitor for local or remote viewing by an operator.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein images are compared with images collected from planes of the same model to determine anomalies.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the detected threats include organic materials, inorganic materials and nuclear materials.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising gamma-ray detectors and neutron detectors for detection of nuclear and radioactive materials in passive mode.

12. The system in claim 1 further comprising gamma-ray detectors and neutron detectors for detection of nuclear materials following radiation induced by photofission.