Preface
American Science and Engineering, Inc.
MINI
Z
Operator Manual 342-9000-1 Rev. A ECCN EAR99
Preface-vii
cle Inspection, Backscatter-Only Inspection, Parcel, Mail and Package Inspection, and Personnel
Screening.
Z Backscatter Inspection Systems
include the Z Backscatter
®
Van (ZBV
®
), a mobile cargo and vehi-
cle screening system, and Z Portal
®
, a drive-through cargo and vehicle screening system. Z Backscat-
ter X-ray technology provides high-quality, photo-like images that offer outstanding detection of
organic materials, such as plastic explosives and drugs. These systems allow for rapid screening of
containers and vehicles for terrorist threats, trade fraud, stowaways, and contraband. The ZBV is an
industry leader for drive-by screening systems because of its low-cost, flexibility, and maneuverability
— all contained in a commercially available delivery van. The AS&E Z Portal is a multi-view, drive-
through inspection system capable of scanning cars, vans, trucks, and their cargoes for threats and con-
traband.
Cargo and Vehicle Inspection
includes the OmniView
®
Gantry, a high-energy inspection system
which utilizes dual-energy transmission technology. It is ideal for inspecting vans, trucks, and air and
sea cargo containers for a variety of materials including explosives, drugs and weapons. The
OmniView Gantry features powerful 4/6 MeV high-energy transmission X-rays that penetrate up to
400mm (15.7 inches) of steel. The Sentry® Portal is a high-throughput, high-energy, drive-through
inspection system that offers a compact radiation footprint and dual-energy transmission imaging of
trucks, cargo containers, and tanker trucks. The Z Portal® system is a drive-through cargo and vehicle
screening system that combines dual-energy transmission inspection plus Z Backscatter® and For-
wardscatter® views for left, right, and top-side imaging of cargo. The Z Portal® and the Sentry® Por-
tal can be co-located for a multi-faceted solution. AS&E’s broad range of cargo and vehicle inspection
systems are designed to combat terrorism, trade fraud, drug trafficking, and weapons smuggling.
Parcel, Mail, and Package Inspection Systems
include the Gemini
®
inspection system, a multi-tech-
nology parcel system that combines dual-energy transmission and Z Backscatter X-rays for the most
complete and accurate threat detection available. Dual-energy transmission provides outstanding
image quality, and enables the quick detection of a wide variety of threats such as guns, knives, and
wires for explosive devices. The Gemini system Z Backscatter X-rays simultaneously generate an
image that provides enhanced detection of organic materials such as plastic explosives (including sheet
and liquid explosives), drugs, and plastic weapons. The combination of technologies dramatically
increases the likelihood of finding illegal materials hidden in parcels. AS&E also offers parcel systems
with varying tunnel sizes and configurations to fit diverse applications and inspection environments.
These systems are primarily used in government facilities, airports, high-security federal facilities,
commercial office buildings, and convention centers.
Personnel Screening (SmartCheck
®
) System
is a safe, non-intrusive system that allows users to detect
threats and contraband hidden on a person. The system displays both organic and inorganic materials,
revealing objects such as guns and knives, plastic and liquid explosives, composite weapons, and other
hidden threats and contraband. The SmartCheck system employs a software algorithm to protect the
privacy of screened passengers while still effectively displaying threats. The privacy-filtered image
provides users with information to identify the nature and location of any threats, but it will not show
