Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	EP/G004307/1
Title:	Cargo Screening Ferret
Principal Investigator:	Dodd, Professor TJ
Other Investigators:	Eftekhari, Dr M Sun, Professor T Fischbacher-Smith, Professor D Wilson, Professor L
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Automatic Control and Systems Eng
Organisation:	University of Sheffield
Scheme:	Standard Research
Starts:	01 October 2008	Ends:	30 March 2012	Value (£):	721,888
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Instrumentation Eng. & Dev. Robotics & Autonomy
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Electronics Transport Systems and Vehicles
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
In this proposal we aim to develop a new approach to cargo screening where we take sensors to the contraband within cargo containers using mini-robots, providing rapid and highly sensitive detection of a range of contraband. A variety of technologies and methods are available and routinely used for the screening and detection of illegal substances and materials within cargo containers. These external screening systems are typically bulky, expensive and require ultra-high sensitivity as the sensor is remote from the cargo. Further, detailed investigation requires either time consuming unpacking of the cargo or the need for staff to enter the cargo putting them at risk of contamination from the contraband. This proposal addresses both the development of novel sensors and their delivery to the point of detection through the use of a robotic system / thus the sensing devices must be compact, low power and lightweight to be best tailored to use in this way. The development of effective sensors is designed to make a difference / to be able to detect specifically (and in very low concentrations) given illegal substances. The sensors developed are targeted to match the sensitivity of dogs in detecting substances, but not having the problem of distraction, tiring or confusion, with a much longer on-duty time, due to the inanimate nature of the sensor. The key advantage is that the sensors are able to detect multiple specific substances in compact devices ideally suited to mounting on the small robotic vehicle to be used for the delivery of the sensors to the region where the measurement has to be made.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk Summary Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:
Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.shef.ac.uk