New camera can detect weapons under clothes

March 17, 2008
LARGO (Bay News 9) -- As American soldiers continue the war on terror overseas, Thermal Matrix USA, located in Largo, is testing new ways to help soldiers on the front lines.

"We're using this system to complement other sensors that we use to give an overall capability for detection of chemicals, explosives, weapons and contraband," Bill Foster, president of Thermal Matrix USA, said.

According to Foster, the system is essentially a camera that can see through layers of clothes to detect danger.

Unlike a scanner in an airport or an X-ray in a hospital, this system allows the observer to detect any concealed weapons or explosives from a significant distance.

"Whatever it is, it's blocking naturally emitting terahertz energy," Foster said. "So it's really independent of what the material is."

Terahertz energy is the frequency of radiation or waves given off from a human body.

"This offers a stand off capability," Foster said. "So the person being scanned or imaged more accurately may not even know they're being imaged. And so it's a distance that this offers."

And unlike some other detectors that have caused privacy concerns, you can't make out any body parts beneath the clothing.

"There's no privacy issues here because you don't have that level of resolution, but you can clearly see there's a threat," Foster said.

The technology could also be used in the U.S.

"It could be at the Republican National Convention," Foster said. "It could be at a sporting event. At Raymond James Stadium there's an issue right now without pat downs, and so this could be looked at as a virtual pat down." ThruVision, a United Kingdom based company, was first to develop the technology. Thermal Matrix of Largo was the first U.S. based partner to adopt it.

According to a London news agency the high-powered camera can detect hidden objects from up to 80 feet away.

Due to security reasons, Foster would not verify that information.