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Rapiscan Systems has officially launched the new Driverless Eagle M60. Building on the success of the Rapiscan Eagle Mobile series, the new Driverless Eagle M60 is a fully-automated vehicle screening system which can operate without the need of a driver.
As with the original Eagle M60, the Rapiscan’s driverless model utilizes the world’s most powerful mobile X-ray imaging technology and has been specifically designed to assist customs and border personnel in their detection of nuclear materials, explosives, weapons and contraband such as tobacco, alcohol and currency in trucks, cargo and containers.
Rapiscan’s revolutionary, driverless system requires no driver to be present during scanning – a technical innovation that offers a raft of financial and operational benefits to customs and border control staff.
These benefits include eradicating driver fatigue and driver work-shift changes; improving inspection rates and vehicle throughput; and removing risks associated with lone workers, health & safety incidents and potential human error.
It can be driven on the road like a standard vehicle, allowing the unit to move between locations quickly and easily as required.
Such flexibility is also embedded in the Driverless Eagle M60’s operational processes.
Once moved into position via a remote steering system, the M60 automatically detects two positional sensors – one placed at either end of the scan location. The positional sensors can be placed as far as 35 meters apart, allowing for oversized cargo or multiple units to be scanned in one pass.
As the scanning commences, additional sensors on the M60 make minor adjustments to the direction and position of the vehicle which ensures it consistently drives in a straight line between the two positional sensors. The system is so accurate it is designed not to deviate by more than 25mm from the centre line.
The automated scan process is then monitored by a system operator who is housed in the M60’s onboard inspector’s office. This operator views the high resolution X-ray images produced by the system in real time.
Ajay Mehra, President, Rapiscan Systems, said: “Rapiscan strives to provide products and services which meet and exceed customer requirements. It was the need for a high-quality, flexible mobile scanner solution which drove us to design the original Eagle® M60 that is today deployed all over the world. The Driverless Eagle® M60 builds on this success, and directly addresses a number of resourcing and financial challenges faced by customs and other border security agencies.
“These include the cost and time implications of employing qualified drivers, 24/7 to maintain the inspection throughput required at ports, borders and checkpoints. It also limits the risk of human driver error or mishap during the critical scanning process.
“This new technology is another example of Rapiscan’s technical leadership and it reflects our commitment to address the evermore complex and challenging issues of smuggling, terrorism and contraband in the 21st century.”
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