Laser tech could scan liquids to end the 3-1-1 stupidity
May 1, 2014, 2:50 pm
#1
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Laser tech could scan liquids to end the 3-1-1 stupidity
Aside from the fact that it's written by a person who buys into the legitimacy of the liquid lunacy, it's an interesting article about laser scanning liquids to look for "bad" liquids.
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/05/...el-3-1-1-rule/
Of course, it probably won't be used here because it's made by a furrin' company.
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/05/...el-3-1-1-rule/
Made by Cobalt Light Systems in the U.K., the Insight100 can identify the chemical composition of liquids sealed in non-metallic packaging. It employs technology that currently enables the pharmaceutical industry to scan and verify medicines.
The Insight100 shines a laser beam at a container of liquid. A spectrum of light returns, and the machine crosschecks it against a library of liquids that are known to be threats.
“The technology works using the technique of Raman spectroscopy,” says Professor Pavel Matousek of the U.K.’s Science and Technology Facilities Council. “When combined with advanced algorithms to distinguish between the container and its contents, the technology is able to identify the chemical composition in seconds, and with greater reliability than any other existing system.”
Insight100 has been successfully deployed in 65 airports across Europe – including Heathrow and Gatwick in the U.K. – to screen for liquid explosives since January.
Liquid explosives don't look any different from regular liquids on X-ray monitors, but the Insight100 system can analyze the contents of bottles up to three liters without having to open them.
The Insight100 shines a laser beam at a container of liquid. A spectrum of light returns, and the machine crosschecks it against a library of liquids that are known to be threats.
“The technology works using the technique of Raman spectroscopy,” says Professor Pavel Matousek of the U.K.’s Science and Technology Facilities Council. “When combined with advanced algorithms to distinguish between the container and its contents, the technology is able to identify the chemical composition in seconds, and with greater reliability than any other existing system.”
Insight100 has been successfully deployed in 65 airports across Europe – including Heathrow and Gatwick in the U.K. – to screen for liquid explosives since January.
Liquid explosives don't look any different from regular liquids on X-ray monitors, but the Insight100 system can analyze the contents of bottles up to three liters without having to open them.
May 1, 2014, 3:06 pm
#2
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When the 3-1-1 stupidity was first brought in (and one needs to remember that, for once, we - the UK - were the ones who started it) we were told that it was a temporary measure and that new equipment was being developed that would make the liquid ban unnecessary.
We were even given a date on which the liquid ban would be abolished - 29 April 2013. That day came and went, but the liquid ban is still there.
We were even given a date on which the liquid ban would be abolished - 29 April 2013. That day came and went, but the liquid ban is still there.
May 1, 2014, 3:39 pm
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When the 3-1-1 stupidity was first brought in (and one needs to remember that, for once, we - the UK - were the ones who started it) we were told that it was a temporary measure and that new equipment was being developed that would make the liquid ban unnecessary.
We were even given a date on which the liquid ban would be abolished - 29 April 2013. That day came and went, but the liquid ban is still there.
We were even given a date on which the liquid ban would be abolished - 29 April 2013. That day came and went, but the liquid ban is still there.
Or admit that it was wrong in the first place. That's when they usually double down on the stupidity.
I've heard "temporary" from both the gov't and airlines about cutting amenities. When some amenities were cut shortly after 911, they claimed that they had to pay for the extra security at the moment and they'd eventually be back. Yeah, right ...
May 2, 2014, 3:28 pm
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I'll reserve judgement on this tech until it sees some action with TSA and we see if TSAs crappy training and congenital incompetence can operate the durn thing well enough to make it workable.
May 2, 2014, 8:14 pm
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I'm just questioning what will happen in practice. The TSA has previously shown considerable disregard for things that need to remain sterile or otherwise can't be opened until use. (Things which are intended to be wholly used at once and thus no mechanism is provided to reseal the container.)
May 3, 2014, 6:27 am
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I see a problem:
I work in the printing and packaging industry. Pharmaceutical is highly regulated and requires very specific packaging to meet regulations. The type of plastic is critical.
Transpose this to people bringing liquids through in everything from unopened bottles to bottles with flavor added. There are soft drinks, medications and possibly a cold beer for the wait. A lot of these have labels, either paper or printed. Some labels have foil (metal) substrates.
This has gigantic "FAIL" written all over it. Yes you can bring liquids, but only certain liquids in certain containers. Sure, that will work.
It employs technology that currently enables the pharmaceutical industry to scan and verify medicines.
Transpose this to people bringing liquids through in everything from unopened bottles to bottles with flavor added. There are soft drinks, medications and possibly a cold beer for the wait. A lot of these have labels, either paper or printed. Some labels have foil (metal) substrates.
This has gigantic "FAIL" written all over it. Yes you can bring liquids, but only certain liquids in certain containers. Sure, that will work.
May 3, 2014, 6:44 am
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May 5, 2014, 1:29 pm
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May 6, 2014, 12:07 am
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Each time I have passed through NRT, there is a sign to put your liquids in some machine; this has been for several years. I never carry liquids, so never used it. Do I assume this is something like what is being talked about by TSA?
May 6, 2014, 9:07 am
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*With the manufacturer's barcode label saying "100 mL" plus my home-printed label saying "Febreze: 100 mL".
But the spray mechanism takes up a lot of extra volume so it often gets an extra look.*Yeah, I know, I let it out of my sight.
But it's fabric spray, not food or medicine, and hey, it's Japan. 
So I didn't worry about it being contaminated.When the 3-1-1 stupidity was first brought in (and one needs to remember that, for once, we - the UK - were the ones who started it) we were told that it was a temporary measure and that new equipment was being developed that would make the liquid ban unnecessary.
We were even given a date on which the liquid ban would be abolished - 29 April 2013. That day came and went, but the liquid ban is still there.
We were even given a date on which the liquid ban would be abolished - 29 April 2013. That day came and went, but the liquid ban is still there.
IdiotBoy Hawley: "Liquid limits to be eliminated soon, no, wait, uhh 2009, actually, I'm outta here."
TSA Spokes-idiot Sterling Payne in Sept 2009: "Liquid limits for at least another year."
Blogdad Bob in Oct 2009: "We haven't really figured out how to screen medically necessary liquids much less shampoo and water. Don't hold your breath."
Tagesschau.de: "Liquid limits to be eliminated in 2012."
RadioGirl's prediction: It will always be "2 or 3 years from now".
TSA Spokes-idiot Sterling Payne in Sept 2009: "Liquid limits for at least another year."
Blogdad Bob in Oct 2009: "We haven't really figured out how to screen medically necessary liquids much less shampoo and water. Don't hold your breath."
Tagesschau.de: "Liquid limits to be eliminated in 2012."
RadioGirl's prediction: It will always be "2 or 3 years from now".
May 6, 2014, 7:05 pm
#14
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No, the instruments used in Japan at the checkpoint use some sort of magnetic field measurement. I don't quite understand how it works, but it's not the same as the Cobalt Light system, which uses laser-based Raman spectroscopy. I'm not sure how reliable the two are in comparison.
May 7, 2014, 4:58 am
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No, the instruments used in Japan at the checkpoint use some sort of magnetic field measurement. I don't quite understand how it works, but it's not the same as the Cobalt Light system, which uses laser-based Raman spectroscopy. I'm not sure how reliable the two are in comparison.