A drive-through scanning system comprises a radiation generating means arranged to generate radiation at two different energy levels and direct it towards a scanning volume, detection means arranged to detect the radiation after it has passed through the scanning volume, and control means arranged to identify a part of a vehicle within the scanning volume, to allocate the part of the vehicle to one of a plurality of categories, and to control the radiation generating means and to select one or more of the energy levels depending on the category to which the part of the vehicle is allocated.

The present specification discloses a high speed scanning system for scanning cargo carried by rail. The system uses of a two-dimensional X-ray sensor array with, in one embodiment, a cone-beam X-ray geometry. The pulse rate of X-ray source is modulated based on the speed of the moving cargo to allow a distance travelled by the cargo between X-ray pulses to be equal to the width of the detector, for a single energy source, and to half the width of the detector for a dual energy source. This ensures precise timing between the X-ray exposure and the speed of the passing object, and thus accurate scanning of cargo even at high speeds.

In some examples, there is described a method for processing inspection data associated with cargo irradiated by a plurality of successive pulses of X-rays. The method may involve obtaining the inspection data, the inspection data being generated as a result of scanning the cargo using a matrix including a plurality of at least two rows of detectors, and a source of the plurality of successive pulses. In some examples radiation corresponding to the plurality of successive pulses irradiating the cargo is arranged in a first order on the plurality of rows of detectors of the matrix and one or more successive reconstruction zones for the inspection data and corresponding to different orders are determined. Intermediate images of the cargo and an average image are generated. On the generated average image, pixels may be selected and neighbourhoods of the pixels having fewer artefacts may be extracted.

In one example, there is provided a method for processing data associated with inspection of cargo with an inspection system, the inspection system including a radiation source configured to emit a plurality N of successive pulses irradiating the cargo at a frequency, and a matrix detector including a first column p.sub.1 of detectors and at least one second column p.sub.2 of detectors. The method includes obtaining data associated with a scanning of at least one part of the cargo with a current frequency f.sub.n, wherein the scanning includes displacing the cargo and the system with a relative scanning displacement; determining a pace δ, at a predetermined instant t; and determining whether the determined pace δ is reliable. If the pace is reliable, the current frequency is updated.

The present specification discloses a radiographic inspection system for screening an area. The inspection system has a container that defines an enclosed volume, a radiation source positioned within the enclosed volume, a detector array, a movable structure attached to a portion of the base of the container, and a controller programmed to move the movable structure to achieve an optimum height of the radiation source's field of view based upon a plurality of data.

A method for inspecting at least one vehicle with an inspection system, the inspection system and the at least one vehicle being configured to move relative to one another during an inspection of at least one part, the method including controlling, by a controller, an inspection dose of inspection radiation generated by a radiation source such that, during the inspection of the at least one part of the vehicle by the inspection radiation, the inspection dose remains substantially equal to a predetermined inspection dose, wherein controlling the inspection dose includes the controller obtaining image information representative of a location of the at least one part, and location information representative of a location of the at least one part, wherein the image information is obtained from an image of the vehicle, and the controller controlling the radiation source, based on the obtained information.

A sample inspection system contains a source of electromagnetic radiation and an apparatus that includes a beam former, a collimator and an energy resolving detector. The beam former is adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation from the source to provide a polygonal shell beam formed of at least three walls of electromagnetic radiation. The collimator has a plurality of channels adapted to receive diffracted or scattered radiation at an angle. The energy resolving detector is arranged to detect radiation diffracted or scattered by a sample upon incidence of the polygonal shell beam onto the sample and transmitted by the collimator.

A system and method for the accurate determination of a time to fire high energy radiation for security inspection of a cargo vehicle in a drive-through inspection portal. The system includes at least two sensors, one of which is positioned at an entry to the portal, and the other is positioned just after beamline center (BCL). As a driver of the vehicle activates a button at the entry to the portal, the system takes a measurement using one sensor to determine a distance from the driver to a front of the vehicle. As the vehicle reaches the BCL, a measurement is taken by the other sensor in real time and compared with the measurement taken at the entry. A user defined offset is then applied to determine how far behind the driver should the high energy radiation be fired.

The present specification describes a compact, hand-held probe or device that uses the principle of X-ray backscatter to provide immediate feedback to an operator about the presence of scattering and absorbing materials, items or objects behind concealing barriers irradiated by ionizing radiation, such as X-rays. Feedback is provided in the form of a changing audible tone whereby the pitch or frequency of the tone varies depending on the type of scattering material, item or object. Additionally or alternatively, the operator obtains a visual scan image on a screen by scanning the beam around a suspect area or anomaly.

The present specification discloses a high speed scanning system for scanning cargo carried by rail. The system uses of a two-dimensional X-ray sensor array with, in one embodiment, a cone-beam X-ray geometry. The pulse rate of X-ray source is modulated based on the speed of the moving cargo to allow a distance travelled by the cargo between X-ray pulses to be equal to the width of the detector, for a single energy source, and to half the width of the detector for a dual energy source. This ensures precise timing between the X-ray exposure and the speed of the passing object, and thus accurate scanning of cargo even at high speeds.