Smiths Detection Develops NBCerberus
14 March 2003
14 March 2003 – Watford, England - Smiths Detection announces the launch of a new mobile Nuclear, Biological and Chemical detection system called NBCerberus. This is a new concept in stand-alone detection and identification technologies that are combined into one package, to monitor the atmosphere constantly around a site or at a single location.
Available immediately, NBCerberus is designed to be fitted to a truck and moved around to provide protection at large public events. Its launch coincides with reports of growing interest being shown by the UK Government in a system of air detectors, to monitor possible biological attacks.
About NBCerberus: Named after Cerberus, the three-headed dog from Greek mythology who sat at the gates of Hades and sniffed the atmosphere, NBCerberus is designed to detect the presence of NBC agents in the atmosphere. NBCerberus builds on the expertise that Smiths Detection has brought to the provision of biological/chemical agent detection for Ministries of Defence, police and civil defence agencies around the world.
NBCerberus assimilates the results of its various instruments and relays details back to a command centre or central co-ordinating facility. Data can be sent from the NBCerberus by any one of a number of data links such as radio, microwave, hard wire or fibre cable. The whole system can be fitted into an environmental container or a small van or trailer. The stand-alone variant, based on a trailer or the environmental cabinet, is self sufficient for 24 hours and can be left unattended.
The design of NBCerberus recognises that technology, particularly in the biological field, is developing very quickly, so provision must be made for new instruments to be incorporated to boost the effectiveness of the system. The whole system is therefore based on the “plug and play” principle. NBCerberus incorporates facilities for aerosol sample collection, meteorological sensors and GPS. Liquid / solid biological agent detection facilities are available should these be required.
Based on tried and tested technologies, NBCerberus detects chemical warfare agents including toxic industrial chemicals, toxins, biological agents - viruses and bacterium (including spores), radiation and radioactive particles.
