Remote-controlled robot to inspect suitcase bombs

A system to scan abandoned luggage for potential bomb threats is under development

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques (FHR) in cooperation with industry partners and criminal investigation authorities are developing a remote-controlled sensor system which can scan abandoned luggage for potential bomb threats.

While most abandoned luggage items turn out to be harmless, the emergency services have to proceed on the assumption of possible danger and check whether they are dealing with an improvised explosive device (IED) that might blow up at any time.

The system being developed by Fraunhofer makes it possible for explosives experts to assess the danger of the situation quickly – until now, specialists were often forced to destroy suitcase bombs – making it difficult to identify the perpetrators.

The system records 3D images of the contents and shape of the luggage as well as of the surrounding area which makes the specialists’ work easier, speeds up the reconnaissance process, and minimises the risk for the emergency personnel.

Stefan A. Lang, team leader at the FHR and the project’s coordinator, said: “Up to now our techniques have not allowed us to form a 3D outline of suitcase bombs, and it has been impossible – or only partially possible – to make a spatial map of the contents. With the sensor suite we can visualise in three dimensions what’s inside a luggage item, and so determine the composition of the bomb and how the parts are arranged in the luggage.”

Within the project, the FHR researchers are developing the millimetre wave scanner for fast reconnaissance. This scanner allows a very high depth resolution.

“For the radar we make use of the synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, principle, by which the sensor is moved along a trajectory, a kind of track – from left to right in front of the case, for example – and the Doppler information generated in the process is used to create an image,” said Lang.

Apart from the research work on the sensor, the expert and his team are also looking into ways of determining the optimum trajectory for surveying an object. This depends on the shape of the luggage item or container, its position in the environment, and the position of the robot.

The Institute is developing the remote-controlled system together with the North Rhine-Westphalia State Office of Criminal Investigation, the Leibnitz University in Hannover, ELP GmbH and Hentschel System GmbH. The German Federal Office of Criminal Investigation in Wiesbaden and the German Federal Police Force are supporting the project as additional expert consultants.

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding the project with a grant of two million euros as part of its Research for Civil Security programme.