High-Resolution vapour Screener for AUtomatic and faST belongings scanning

Project Information

SAUST

Grant agreement ID: 101168146

DOI

10.3030/101168146

EC signature date 19 July 2024

Start date 1 September 2024

End date 31 August 2026

Funded under

• Civil Security for Society

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 1 426 993,65

Coordinated by

MOBILITY ION TECHNOLOGIES SL
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SAUST (High-Resolution vapour Screener for AUtomatic and faST belongings scanning)

Reporting period: 2024-09-01 to 2025-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The objective of Aviation Security (AVSEC) regulations is the detection of explosive substances to ensure the safety of air travel. These regulations encompass the screening of all articles introduced into an aircraft by identifying and preventing explosive substances from being brought on board. It means that the technology for detection, mainly X-rays and ETDs (Explosive Trace Detectors) have been developed and optimized for explosive detection, not for narcotics. Additionally, other illicit or illegal substances, such as drugs, tobacco, exotic materials, etc., are not subject to the same level of regulation and scrutiny. Consequently, these substances go undetected most of the time, and their seizure falls under the jurisdiction of customs authorities, where no specific regulations are in place currently. The final consequence of this situation is that transporting drugs in aviation is not complex, and the organized crime organizations know this very well, so the primary objective of the SAUST project is to develop a vapor detection solution for luggage screening, with a primary focus on narcotics detection in aviation.

The proposed solution is based on the combination of an innovative sampling system for batches of pieces of luggage inspection and the vapor detector technology developed by MION for the analysis. For the sampling system, an innovative concept of vapor collection has been developed and validated and for the detection system, a technological adaptation of the EVD (Explosive Vapor Detector) developed by MION was proposed, which includes the integration of new substances (mainly drugs) in the database, the development of new coatings for vapor trapping and the implementation of new software routines based on AI to improve the detection capabitilies, both in term of False Alarm Rate (FAR) and Detection Rate (DR).

The project includes an intensive collaboration with end-users (Spanish Guardia Civil) for the implementation of the proposed SAUST solution in an operational environment, which includes testing during the development phase (Year 1) and implementing some pilots in the airport during Year 2.

The result of the project will be a new concept of narcotics (extrapolable to other things) for the authorities, increasing the detection capabilities, and with a direct impact on society since the reduction of the available drugs has a direct impact on many aspects of society, from direct fatal consequences on health to consequences in security, the economy, and well-being.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the RP1, a relevant progress of the SAUST technology has been successfully made under WP2, and also in the communication and dissemination activities within the WP5; this progress is deeply reported in the technical report and the specific deliverables, but it is also summarized here.

In terms of technology development, the following technical activities have been successfully achieved. Most of the technical activities have been carried out by the technological SMEs: MION, STAM and EZAKO:

1. Development of a baggage screening chamber, which has been designed, developed, built and validated at MION facilities. Additionally, some testing with real suitcases and real samples of drugs in the airport of Palma de Mallorca in Spain was performed with very interesting results. In terms of vapor emanation from the samples, the results were not as good as expected (Risk #1 - see risks section), and an innovative and simple idea has been proposed to replace the original concept. This new concept is based on the generation of a little vacuum around the baggage, forcing the vapors to leave from the suitcases, notably increasing the detection capabilities and also the sampling times, including also a benefit from the economical point of view (cost per suitcase screened).

2. Development of anticontamination and cleaning solutions. Some ideas were proposed and tested. These results are reported in the deliverables.

3. Development of different types of coatings, increasing the vapor trapping efficiency. A matrix of experiments was performed with very relevant results.

4. A communication tool from the sampling to the analysis was developed in the form of a mobile app.

5. An AI-based processing technology was implemented to improve the detection of interferents coming from the suitcases.

6. In addition to the technical progress, the inclusion of the threats of interest defined in the D1.1 has been successfully integrated in the detector, including some tests with fentanyl have been also performed with relevant results.

Due to the complexity of the proposed detection method, some tests with real drugs have been performed in the Palma de Mallorca airport in collaboration between MION and GUCI, specifically, 5 trips have been done during RP1. See D2.1 for additional details.

At this moment (M12), most of the technology developments have been completed and validated with very relevant results, achieving most of the KPIs, and the work to be done during the next 6 months is focused on the integration, optimization and preparation of the pilots that will take place during the final 6 months of the project

Even though the activity related to the Airport testing management (T4.1) will start in M17, some progress with KEMEA and GUCI has been made almost from the beginning of the project since the implementation of a pilot in an infrastructure such as an airport requires a lot of time.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The result of the work carried out in RP1 is outstanding, and it is clear progress over the SoA. The experiments carried out during RP1 demonstrate the high potential of the vapor detection technology of MION after the adaptation for the case of luggage inspection in collaboration with the technology developed by STAM and EZAKO. Just to provide one example, there are no alternative methods in the world with the capacity to detect miligrams of one drug in a suitcase and the solution developed in SAUST has already demonstrated the capacity to detect these tiny amounts of substances.

From now on, the plan is to integrate the different elements, optimize the sampling and analysis parameters, continue with the tests and prepare the pilots. In parallel, the exploitation plan of the technology for the successful market introduction is also planned with the goal of accelerating the market introduction.
Additionally, the technological partners are also working on the protection of this innovation.

imagen-mallorca.jpg