November 6, 2007 — /PRNewswire/ — WASHINGTON, DC — ICx Technologies, a developer of advanced technology solutions for homeland and military security, announced today a contract award to procure its AirSentinel(R) ambient aerosol sensors for detection of airborne biological threats. The AirSentinel sensors, developed with support from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), will be deployed as part of the protective capability for the Department of Defense.
“Timely identification and containment of airborne biological agents is essential to protecting people from dangerous threats,” says Colin Cumming, president of ICx Detection. “By working closely with DARPA and DTRA, we have developed a ground-breaking bio-threat detection technology that is both affordable and effective for critical infrastructure protection.”
AirSentinel is a continuous monitoring system that quickly detects changes in concentration of ambient aerosol particles that have characteristics indicative of a potential bio-threat. In addition, AirSentinel is capable of collecting a concentrated sample of those aerosols for subsequent identification when an aerosol event is detected. Networks of sensors are able to quickly and effectively detect when a release of a biological agent occurs, pinpoint the location of the source of that release, and trace the spread of contamination.
Easily integrated into building monitoring and control systems, AirSentinel provides a cost-effective bio-threat detection solution for commercial facilities, operating within a network configuration to form the frontline of a building’s bio-threat detection system.
ICx received official notice from the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) on Sept. 4, 2007, that its patent number 7,265,669 B2 has been issued. This patent covers AirSentinel’s core technology, which is based on ultraviolet light-induced fluorescence of aerosols. Also covered is the use of these sensors in a sensor network.
About ICx Technologies(TM)
ICx develops advanced technologies for effective security solutions. ICx sensors detect and identify chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) materials. ICx surveillance products discern people and objects invisible to human senses and conventional cameras. ICx software and systems connect, command and control these security devices, while its intelligence and special-operations experts provide the unique insight that drives the company’s innovation. ICx has manufacturing and research facilities in the United States, Canada and Europe.
Source: ICx Technologies