Smart suitcase to ensure more safety
dubai — a new smart suitcase that can detect “cleverly concealed” explosives and weapons will be deployed across dubai airports to catch smugglers.
the suitcase is equipped with two screens and sample explosives, which can be scanned by the officer and detailed information on the illegal substance will be displayed on one of the screens — alerting the inspector on potential dangers and threats.
khalid al zarooni, innovation specialist at the dubai customs innovation centre, told khaleej times that they have found smugglers who try to conceal illegal substances in a “creative way”, sometimes in play-doh, inside pens or phones.
the invention was being displayed at the first day of the arab innovation forum, organised by the mohammed bin rashid al maktoum knowledge foundation, at the dubai customs stand.
“it’s a smart suitcase, invented mainly for the training of new inspectors, on new innovative methods of detecting illegal substances and catching smugglers,” al zarooni said.
“smugglers are always coming up with new ways to hide what they are smuggling, so part of what this suitcase does is show them these substances in innovative ways. there are multiple displays and there is even a smart way to learn about each illegal substance through a scanning device. each illegal substance has been given a smart code in the system and they can scan that code, it shows up on screen and tells them everything about that substance — how to see it in x-ray machines, how to detect it when it’s being hidden in containers, toothpaste and tubes.
“sometimes smugglers merge illegal substances, chemicals and drugs into other things. we’ve caught many smugglers mixing play-doh with cocaine. we can still detect it because we have special devices. there are various ways that you hide projectile weaponry, you can hide them in pens and phones.”
It’s a smart suitcase, invented mainly for the training of new inspectors, on new innovative methods of detecting illegal substances and catching smugglers.” Khalid Al Zarooni, innovation specialist at the Dubai Customs Innovation Centre
the suitcase also has a declaration system that can be used anywhere in the airport, which has been mainly designed for emergency situations and for vips.
a camera is also embedded inside the suitcase and is connected to the main control, enabling the supervisor to monitor the trainee’s work progress.
al zarooni said about 120 of these suitcases will be distributed across dubai customs zones, including airports and cargo inspection vehicles.
dubai customs also uses a smart machine that can detect any kind of drugs that have been concealed in items. they also have a table, which was introduced in 2015, that can detect what is inside a suitcase without having to open it.
dubai customs has introduced 26,028 new ideas and innovations between 2004 to 2017, resulting in dh1.7billion in revenues and cost reductions.
other government entities were also displaying some of their existing innovations at the forum, which continues today. more than 200 start-up firms were also showcasing their ideas and inventions at the event.
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com