MSB, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, has allocated the sum of SEK 4 million to FOI for the start-up, during 2009 and 2010, of Swedish research leading up to an international research project with the objective of making it possible to detect personally carried explosives and weapons at a distance using radar technology. MSB then intends to finance Swedish participation in the international project to the extent of a further SEK 4 million annually.

“Our task will be to coordinate the Swedish inputs and to work on signal and image processing while Chalmers produces components. Together we are very strong,” says Professor Staffan Rudner, Research Director at FOI.

By working in the submillimetre region – where the wavelength of the microwave signal is less than a millimetre – imaging radar technology can render clothing virtually transparent when a subject is checked using the scanner. The images can be likened to the infrared images obtained using a heat sensitive camera but in this case it is hidden objects such as guns, knives and explosives that are detected.

At an event which attracts large crowds it should be possible to check suspected persons at distances of up to 50 metres. Using this technology it should also be possible to improve and supplement the surveillance systems at airports, for example, where today’s walk-through metal detecting arches may well not pick up explosive charges or weapons made from ceramic materials.

It is anticipated that within one year we shall see the start of international collaboration between Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom, and possibly Germany, aimed at developing prototypes for a submillimetre imaging system. But FOI has already been tasked by MSB to make a start on the Swedish work. This will be conducted in cooperation with Chalmers where the work is led by Professors Jan Stake and Herbert Zirath.

MSB has made a preliminary allocation of SEK 12 million covering the period up to and including June 2012. Funding will be released in three stages, in each case following a decision to extend the work. According to Staffan Rudner, one of the reasons for starting this project now is the reduced cost of transistor and semiconductor technology which has made it possible to produce cost-effective systems also in the submillimetre region.

“The big advantage of this technology is that one can detect the dangers at a relatively long distance, up to 50 metres. This means that a suspected suicide bomber or terrorist can be dealt with before he or she can reach the intended target.

The international project which starts next year is planned to run for four years.

“The aim is to ensure that we then have a system which works in real time. The idea would subsequently be to commercialise the technology. The main role for Swedish industry is to supply components and it is therefore probable that one or two new companies will be started up in association with Chalmers and brought in at a later stage.

FOI is also working on a parallel project for the detection of explosive substances, for example on the surface of objects or in bottles, but that work is based on laser technology.