Implementation of a new technique for magnetic improvised explosive device detection
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Date
2018-07-01
Authors
Hamzah Naser Mahmood
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Abstract
The Magnetic Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), also commonly known
as a type of a sticky bombs, are simply constructed devices yet very lethal.
Consequently, this research highlights the limitations of methods that have been
proposed to counteract this threat and its ever-increasing danger by indicating their
lack of systematic experimentation setups, commercial unavailability in addition to the
inevitable possibility of risking personnel safety while operating some systems due to
lack of automation or being not portable. The research has investigated a consumergrade
sensor that is capable of sensing a magnetic field ranging within ±8 Gauss. The
sensor is employed for sensing magnets to mimic the magnetic IEDs. The magnets are
of two different materials (contrasting in magnetic field density strength) with different
counts, and they were used to develop different possibilities of scenarios. The magnets
are Neodymium and Ceramic with an average flux density of 12,500 and 2,500 Gauss
respectively. Furthermore, a new technique has been developed and implemented as a
practical systematic testing technique based on gridded experimental area, which has
an individual cell size corresponding to a characterized threat. This new technique is
evaluated using the employed sensor with the purpose of exploring its extent of
employability for Magnetic IEDs detection. As a result, it has allowed the
representation of the results in a traceable manner and paved the way for further
analysis. The results of the new technique have revealed that the chances of threat
detection using the employed sensor in conjunction with magnets under defined cases,
where the worst case there is a ~ 181.4% chance of detection whereas the best case it could be as high as ~ 1666.7%, at a distance of 8.5 cm away from the sensor. However,
starting from 17 cm distance from the sensor onwards, different number of magnets of
the two different materials begins to contribute differently into readings variations. Its
extent of distinguishability values is as low as ~ 0.72 % to ~ 2.1 % at a distance of 42.5
cm to 51 cm respectively for Ceramic material, while the Neodymium material is as
low as ~2.3% and 2.5% at a distance of 59.5 cm and 42.5 cm respectively. Finally, the
research eventually recommended its employability in comparison with others laying
the ground for future studies concerned with developing low-cost, portable Magnetic
IEDs detection systems.