Operators in critical roles such as law enforcement, customs officers, or bomb squad technicians cannot make mistakes when assessing a potential threatening situation. For these users, response resolution time is absolutely critical. With that said, we come to question how such a device can also help understanding a specific situation, while helping the operator see the big picture in the limited time available? This is typically done by extending the existing knowledge at a particular incident. In many cases, deep and expanded knowledge means changing location, removing samples from the scene, and waiting for the final complete answer.
The ResQ and ResQ CQL have unique innovative features that take reliable chemical identification to the next level - showing the big picture. Its on-board 4C Technology can actually “foresee” and provide a prediction of a potential bigger threat picture based on two factors:
- the power of the 1064nm laser engine and its ability to analyze more real-life mixtures
- embedded recipes of different precursors that make up dangerous explosive, chemical weapon and narcotic products
4C Technology looks to see whether the identified samples within a specified amount of time are connected in a way that they represent the recipe of a possible final product – such as synthesized homemade explosives (HMEs) or narcotics. This application is very innovative because now the user has access to a bigger picture immediately after the samples have been analyzed, without having to download, process and send the data to external data bases or to an off-site chemist. The whole prediction process is embedded on the device and automated.
"Foresee" the Threat
There are many materials that can be legally acquired and then used as precursors for HMEs. Those materials can be imported without any restriction, because when they exist as a single component, they are not controlled or suspicious. A combination of commercial substances that can be found at your local drugstore can be used for manufacturing explosives. The operator might not be aware of this dangerous combination, but the Rigaku device is!
Examples of fast response resolution made possible with 4C Technology can range anywhere from use by customs officials analyzing materials found in a ship container or border officers analyzing smaller quantities inside private vehicles crossing a border check point. Identification of precursor #1 may not be considered dangerous on its own and not cause suspicion. However, if the second shipment or inspection identifies precursor #2 right behind it or is destined for the same location, the Rigaku device will issue a warning that these two materials could possibly be used to make a more dangerous threat.
As with the introduction of the 1064nm technology, Rigaku continues to pioneer better tools for situational analysis to give the user a more immediate response and resolution by understanding the day-to-day challenges operators are facing.
ResQ and ResQ CQL Handheld 1064 nm Raman
