Terrorism

Saab has developed its Sea Wasp underwater ROV for neutralizing terrorist IEDs planted in confined harbor areas.

To help prevent a midair tragedy from occurring again, a European consortium, including the University of Sheffield, is developing Fly-Bag; a flexible fabric and composite liner capable of containing explosions inside an aircraft to improve its chances of survival.

A team from Northwestern University has developed a new material capable of neutralizing nerve gases. The zirconium-based NU-1000 is not only useful not only disposing of stockpiles of such toxins, but also for use in gas masks and protective suits for soldiers and rescue workers.

With more goods passing through the world's shipping terminals and airports than ever before, hunting explosives is a bottleneck. To help US counterterrorism efforts, GE has developed RFID stickers that act as wireless, battery-free explosives detectors that can be placed almost anywhere.

The United States Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR) is developing a fleet of robotic patrol boats that can not only act as escorts for larger warships or merchant vessels, but can also autonomously swarm around a threatening craft and destroy it.

Avon Protection showcased a new respirator-helmet combination at this week's Counter Terror Expo. The HMK150 provides chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) protection. It is designed for use in situations such as riot control, where there may be both violence and toxic gases present.

A prototype explosives-detecting boarding gate promises not to interrupt the flow of passengers boarding a plane.

The Semi Autonomous Pipe Bomb End-cap Remover (SAPBER) is a device that disables pipe bombs, while leaving their components intact for forensic analysis.

Homeland Security is developing a wallet-sized dosimeter, which could be used to detect dangerous levels of ionizing radiation.

A CCTV surveillance system is being developed, which will detect unattended baggage and locate its owner.

The US military has developed a non-toxic set of ultra-strength cleaners for use in the aftermath of terrorist attacks.

An initiative from America's Homeland Security could see smartphones equipped with toxic chemical-detecting sensors.