New from Cobalt Light Systems is Resolve, a handheld product, pictured, that can identify hazardous materials through sealed containers. The UK-based firm says that applications include hazmat incident management, military EOD, first response, search and law enforcement, and screening at ports and borders.
Resolve uses Cobalt’s proprietary spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) to detect and identify chemicals through opaque non-metallic barriers such as coloured and non-transparent plastics, paper, card, sacks, fabric and glass. Measured spectra are matched to on-board spectral libraries. The system is capable of identifying materials including; explosives and precursors, hazardous and toxic materials, chemical agents, narcotics and new psychoactive substances, plus thousands of benign chemicals, according to the company. Resolve’s matching algorithm identifies individual chemicals as well as mixtures.
The product requires less than one minute for positive ID (or less in some modes of operation), with no sample preparation or consumables needed. The system is ruggedized for use in tough environments and has been designed for use when wearing protective gear. Removing the need to open or move potentially hazardous containers can significantly improve the safety and efficiency of operations, the firm adds. Hazards are contained, reducing the risk to operators and the public, and less time spent in protective gear. Evidence is preserved.
Cobalt Light Systems’ CEO, Dr Paul Loeffen, said: “Resolve enables Cobalt’s unique SORS technology to be deployed into new fields such as Hazmat response, EOD and law enforcement, delivering a truly game-changing new capability. The system has been developed with significant input from professionals in this field, and we are confident it will help improve the safety and efficiency of operators.”
