Devices and methods for detecting hazardous materials

A container screening system for detecting hazardous materials in a container, comprising:

• a universal product code (UPC) reader that reads a UPC barcode from said container;
• a first sensor that detects materials inside said container using a first detection technology;
• a second sensor that detects materials inside said container using a second detection technology, wherein said second detection technology is different from said first detection technology;
• a third sensor that detects materials inside said container using a third detection technology, wherein said third detection technology is different from said first detection technology and said second detection technology, and
• a data processing unit that processes data from said first sensor and said second sensor, and identifies a material inside said container based on the UPC barcode and data from said first sensor and said second sensor,
• wherein said UPC reader is used as a queuing device for the first and second sensor and wherein said third detection technology is neutron activation analysis.

A method of screening a container for hazardous materials, comprising:

• scanning said container with a UPC reader and generating UPC data;
• subjecting the container to a first inspection with a first sensor using a first detection technology and generating first sensor data;
• subjecting the container to a second inspection with a second sensor using a second detection technology and generating second sensor data, and
• producing a screening result based on said UPC data, said first sensor data and said second sensor data,
• wherein said UPC data is used to queue said first inspection and said second inspection and wherein said first detection technology is different from said second detection technology and wherein said first detection technology is ultrasonics and said second detection technology is Raman spectroscopy.

A method of screening a container for hazardous materials, comprising:

• scanning said container for UPC barcode with a UPC reader and generating UPC data as a queuing device;
• subjecting said container to a first inspection with a first sensor using a first detection technology and generating first sensor data;
• subjecting said container to a second inspection with a second sensor using a second detection technology and generating second sensor data;
• identifying materials inside said container based on said UPC data said first sensor data and said second sensor data;
• if all materials inside said container are identified as non-hazardous materials, allowing said container to pass inspection;
• if one or more materials inside said container is identified as hazardous material, transporting the container to a storage device;
• if one or more materials inside the container cannot be identified by the first detection technology and the second detection technology, subjecting said container to inspection with a third sensor using a third detection technology and generating a third sensor data, and
• identifying said one of more materials that cannot be identified by the first detection technology and the second detection technology based on said third sensor data.