ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Advanced Photonix subsidiary PicoMetrix LLC has won a U.S. Department of Homeland Security contract for a new terahertz inspection wand.
The award -- a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research contract to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating a hand-held, time-domain terahertz inspection wand with other sensor technologies for detection of concealed threats -- carries a value of $100,000 and is for a six-month period.
"This contract is another indication of our strengthening relationship with (Homeland Security), which first began in 2004 with feasibility demonstrations for checked baggage screening utilizing our T-Ray 2000 platform," Richard Kurtz, chairman and chief executive officer of API said.
A key capability of the TD-THz inspection wand is the ability to detect concealed objects on a person without imaging and its associated privacy concerns. This feasibility study is the first step in combining various sensor technologies together into one device to give the Homeland Security Department a viable solution to the very complex problem of threat detection.
The Phase I contract is synergistic with the $1.8 million contract recently announced to develop a TD-THz based anomaly detector for the security market.
With successful completion of Phase I, a Phase II follow-on contract will be discussed to develop and demonstrate a prototype multi-sensor wand based upon the company's existing T-Ray product platform, the company said.
