Mobile large-vehicle inspection system design issues

摘要

X-ray systems capable of scanning semitrailers using conventional fanbeam technology are restricted to transmission-based imaging techniques that suffer from superposition of clutter. MobileSearch$+TM$/ I is a truck- mounted 450 KeV pencil beam system incorporating x-ray backscatter imaging to produce near photo-like images, which was reported on in a paper by Swift in 1996. Since that time MobileSearch$+TM$/ II added a transmission detector providing both backscatter and transmission in a single pass. The transmission detector design is the result of extensive x-ray and optical simulations. The radiation safety was studied extensively using the GEANT$+2$/ simulation system. The simulations were extended from 450 KeV to 5 MeV, to determine the safety implications of increasing the x-ray energy. Operationally, a 14' high, 8'6' wide vehicle can be parked on a level area and the MobileSearch$TM$/ II system driven alongside to examine the contents. Deployment and setup are facilitated by having a self-contained system, which can be driven over the road and cen be operational in less than an hour. MobileSearch$TM$/ II is also capable of continuous mode scanning. In this mode, a line of vehicles can be scanned without having to stop and reposition or queue vehicles. The system is designed to fit in a C17 for easy air transport to a distant location.