Awards and Patents
2003 FLC Award - The Acoustic Inspection Device
Protecting our nation’s borders is a daunting task, particularly since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. On a typical day, the U.S. Customs Service (USCS)—which patrols the vast, open borders of the U.S. and prevents dangerous materials from coming in—examines 1.3 million passengers, 2,700 aircraft, 51,000 trucks, 355,000 vehicles, and 500 vessels.
Detecting and preventing hidden contraband and weapons of mass destruction from entering through U.S. borders is now a high priority. A multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers from PNNL, Mehls, Griffin & Bartek Ltd. (MGB Ltd.), and International Engineering and Manufacturing is helping solve this problem by developing and transferring the Acoustic Inspection Device (AID), which provides non-invasive examination of sealed containers and can help screen bulk solids.
The AID rapidly and reliably discriminates and identifies or “sees” liquid contents in sealed containers, determines if there are concealed compartments within sealed containers of liquid, and detects hidden compartments in solid forms such as metal ingots and tar kegs that may contain contraband (drugs or other smuggled commodities), or weapons of mass destruction. Detecting and preventing such items from entering the U.S. illegally will help ensure the safety and security of our nation, deter illicit drugs, deter smuggling, increase revenues, and verify treaty compliance.
The AID was originally developed by PNNL for inspection of chemical weapon stockpiles in Iraq after the 1991 Gulf War and for U.S. and Russian chemical weapons bilateral treaty verification. Subsequently, the USCS wanted the technology to be commercially available for domestic deployment at U.S. ports-of-entry. USCS funded PNNL to identify and transfer the technology to a private sector commercial partner for testing and eventual mass production and subsequent procurement and use by USCS inspectors.
The technology transfer was conducted aggressively over 9 months, from May 2001 to the license signing in January 2002. PNNL approached MGB about manufacturing the AID in early 2001. Realizing its potential, MGB management took a keen interest in securing the technology. A strong working relationship between PNNL and MGB in the past and the events of September 11 sped up the commercialization process.
MGB Ltd. is currently customizing AID for the USCS, which will be a prime user
of the technology along with many new and emerging customers and applications
as a result of the on-going marketing efforts by MGB. Potential customers and
applications include the Air Force, Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) personnel, and
the power, pipeline and pharmaceutical industries.
Developers: Aaron A. Diaz, Todd J. Samuel, Chester L. Shepard, Joe C. Harris, Laurie P. Berube, Richard A. Pappas, James R. Skorpik, Larry D. Reid, Steven W. Martin, Theodore T. (Tom) Taylor, Michael L. Spradling, and Brion J. Burghard