From news service Stockhead, by Nadine McGrath
- Micro-X Argus bomb detection unit successfully field tested opening door to US$1.8 billion market
- The device removes need for a bomb disposal technician to get up close to a suspect package
- Argus has attracted attention of key defence and security agencies globally including the FBI
Adelaide-based cold cathode X-ray machine manufacturer Micro-X (ASX:MX1) is changing the way bombs are detected with its Argus IED X-ray camera pre-production unit successfully completing field testing for improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
First a quick lesson on the highly risky practice of bomb detection and disposal (we’ve all seen the movies). Up until now the bomb disposal technician must approach the suspect device or package to get a detector plate behind it to x-ray the contents without moving the device itself.
MX1’s Argus X-ray camera enables the technicians to capture high-resolution images using backscatter, or radiation reflected from the suspected device, which means there’s no longer a need for detector plates.