Fido Explosives Detector
Encyclopedia
The Fido explosives detector is created by ICx Technologies, Inc. and is based on a proprietary technology developed by MIT called amplifying fluorescent polymer (AFP). The AFP technology was invented by 2007 Lemelson-MIT Prize
winner Professor Timothy Swager and adapted for use in the Fido explosives detector to detect trace levels of explosive materials. The product is so named because its level of detection is comparable to highly trained explosives detection dogs, the gold standard
in explosives detection
technology.
Fido is designed for operation in either handheld, desktop or robot-mounted configurations, and has recently been integrated on to the iRobot Packbot
and Foster-Miller Talon
as an explosives detection payload for EOD applications in both Iraq and Afghanistan
. Fido has won the U.S. Army Greatest Invention Award twice since the year 2005.
Lemelson-MIT Prize
The Lemelson Foundation awards several prizes yearly to inventors in United States. The largest is the Lemelson-MIT Prize which was endowed in 1994 by Jerome H. Lemelson, and is administered through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology...
winner Professor Timothy Swager and adapted for use in the Fido explosives detector to detect trace levels of explosive materials. The product is so named because its level of detection is comparable to highly trained explosives detection dogs, the gold standard
Gold standard (test)
In medicine and statistics, gold standard test refers to a diagnostic test or benchmark that is the best available under reasonable conditions. It does not have to be necessarily the best possible test for the condition in absolute terms...
in explosives detection
Explosive detection
Explosive detection is a non-destructive inspection process to determine whether a container contains explosive material. Explosive detection is commonly used at airports, ports and for border control.-Dogs:...
technology.
Fido is designed for operation in either handheld, desktop or robot-mounted configurations, and has recently been integrated on to the iRobot Packbot
PackBot
PackBot is a series of military robots by iRobot. More than 2000 PackBots are currently on station in Iraq and Afghanistan, with hundreds more on the way.-Current PackBot 510 variants:...
and Foster-Miller Talon
Foster-Miller TALON
The Foster-Miller TALON robot is a small, tracked military robot designed for missions ranging from reconnaissance to combat. Over 3000 TALON robots have been deployed to combat theaters. -Overview:...
as an explosives detection payload for EOD applications in both Iraq and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Fido has won the U.S. Army Greatest Invention Award twice since the year 2005.