Methodologies to produce simulants of textured threat compounds
Inventors
Brogden, Michael • Pedersen, Kevin • Krauss, Ronald
Assignees
US Department of Homeland Security
Publication Number
US-12187661-B2
Publication Date
2025-01-07
Expiration Date
2038-12-21
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Abstract
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed towards a simulant and method relating to producing a simulant. For example, a simulant of a textured target threat includes a background material associated with a background attenuation, and a texture component(s) dispersed in the background material and associated with a component attenuation and a component characteristic. The component characteristic prevents the component attenuation of the texture component from being homogeneously dispersed throughout the background attenuation of the background material, to cause the simulant to mimic an aspect(s) of an X-ray signature of the textured target threat.
Core Innovation
The present invention provides explosive simulants that mimic the textured internal morphology of threat materials as revealed in X-ray imaging, particularly for use in explosive detection systems (EDS) and advanced imaging technology (AIT) portals. A simulant includes a background material associated with a background attenuation and at least one texture component dispersed within the background material. This texture component has a characteristic that prevents its component attenuation from being homogeneously dispersed throughout the background attenuation, causing the simulant to replicate aspects of the X-ray signature of the textured threat.
The problem addressed is that conventional simulants matched only the average X-ray properties of threat explosives, such as mass density and effective atomic number, without reproducing the physical heterogeneity or texture within the threat. Advances in EDS technology have enabled higher spatial resolution imaging capable of resolving inhomogeneous textures in explosives, which are relevant for accurate detection and reducing false positives. Consequently, there is a need for simulants that quantitatively characterize and reproduce the texture of the threat to more faithfully mimic the threat's X-ray signatures and morphology.
The invention includes methods to quantify texture components in threats using micro computed tomography imaging to characterize features such as particle size, shape, distribution, and attenuation. Simulants are produced by formulating background materials with matching X-ray properties and dispersing texture components with analogous attenuation and morphological characteristics obtained by mechanical separation and particle size control. Iterative adjustments are performed to ensure the simulant texture quantitatively matches the threat texture to within a range visually indistinguishable on scanning.
Claims Coverage
The claims disclose methods for producing textured simulants that mimic threat explosives by iteratively adjusting grayscale values and dispersions observed via micro computed tomography explosives detection systems (micro-CT EDS). The claims focus on main inventive features related to characterizing threat texture, formulating background and texture components, mechanical separation and dispersion, and iterative matching of simulant texture to threat texture.
Quantitative characterization of threat texture using micro-CT EDS
The method includes scanning a textured threat compound to obtain a 3D image, removing background pixels by thresholding, and quantitatively characterizing threat texture including size, shape, and distribution of texture particles identifiable in explosive detection.
Formulating and adjusting texture component formulations to match attenuation
A first texture component formulation is created by adding candidate wax to background material to increase attenuation. This formulation is scanned and iteratively adjusted by adding wax until its grayscale value is approximately 60 to 80 levels higher than the background. The formulation is consolidated, mechanically separated into particles according to component characteristics, and dispersed in the background material.
Iterative adjustment and comparison of simulant texture to threat texture
The simulant texture comprising background and dispersed texture particles is quantitatively characterized by scanning. The simulant texture is compared to the threat texture for parameters including size, shape, and distribution. Texture components are iteratively dispersed and adjusted until the simulant texture matches the threat texture's non-homogeneous dispersion to within a visually indistinguishable range.
Formulating a second texture component with differing attenuation and morphology
A second texture component can be formulated by adding wax to increase attenuation approximately 20-30 levels higher than background, fused by vacuum suction to a semi-solid, mechanically separated into particles, sieved into size bins, and dispersed with the first texture component particles to replicate multiple texture attenuation levels found in the threat.
Methods of consolidating texture components
Texture components can be consolidated by melting and casting into solids or by compression via vacuum suction fusion to a semi-solid morphology before mechanical separation into texture component particles.
The claims collectively cover methods for producing textured simulants by detailed quantitative characterization of threat textures using micro-CT scanners, formulation of background and multiple texture components with controlled attenuating properties, mechanical separation and dispersion of texture particles, and iterative adjustment to ensure simulant textures replicate threat textures as visualized on detection systems.
Stated Advantages
The invention enables simulants to mimic the textured internal morphology and X-ray signatures of explosives, improving fidelity compared to prior simulants that only matched average properties.
Improved simulants can enhance training and testing for explosive detection systems and security personnel, particularly as EDS imaging capabilities increase in spatial resolution.
Reproducing texture allows better representation of heterogeneous threats, potentially increasing detection performance and reducing false positives in explosive detection.
Iterative quantitative matching of simulant and threat texture ensures simulants accurately replicate both morphology and attenuation characteristics across spatial distributions.
Documented Applications
Use as surrogates for hazardous threats and explosives for training and testing of explosive detection systems (EDS) and advanced imaging technology (AIT) portals.
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