General Electric Company
Trace Detection Products
Exit side
GE EntryScan
Explosives and narcotics detector
Robert DeFelice & Associates created multiple trace detection products and systems for Ion Track Instruments (ITI) from 1994 to 2002 when General Electric Company bought ITI.
EntryScan is a walk-through trace detection system that senses explosives and narcotics particles that may be on a person at security check points including airports, prisons, embassies, and nuclear power plants. Emitted vapor from a person standing in EntryScan is analyzed in a spectrometer above the person. After standing in EntryScan for about 10 seconds, the person exits.
The exit side of EntryScan includes a security agent's controls, ergonomically designed in a handsome, pressure formed bezel where he/she can monitor the inspection.
Ion Track Instruments (purchased by General Electric after 9-11) asked Robert DeFelice & Associates to create a sleek, high visibility detection system that would be (1) structurally sound, (2) easy and low cost to manufacture and maintain, (3) pleasant for scanned persons to experience and (4) convenient for security personnel to monitor each person in EntryScan. Both sides of the spectrometer housing above the person hinge open for easy spectrometer filter changes.
Our sleek EntryScan solution includes a vertical, sheet aluminum cabinet with identical, sculpted, pressure formed bezels above the entry and exit portals. The left side of the cabinet includes a hinged panel that reveals a small ladder for accessing the spectrometer's filters for easy, periodic maintenance. Virtually all assembly hardware is hidden which enhances appearance and easy cleaning.
We provided a complete package of handsome styling, efficient mechanical engineering for the low cost structure, panels, molded bezels, all packaging of the electronics, minimum fasteners, all DFMA 3D and 2D documentation, and vendor recommendations.
"When Bob DeFelice and his team did the design and engineering, everything was done pretty well and fast. When our engineers got involved, things got screwed up," said Ion Track Instruments VP R&D.
Ion Track Instruments asked Robert DeFelice & Associates to create a sleek, high visibility, battery-powered, portable explosives and narcotics analyzer with a folding LCD and printer. Small samples collected on fibrous material are inserted into a slot on the front of the instrument where any explosives or narcotics chemicals are analyzed by the on-board spectrometer. Chemical analysis is displayed on the LCD and printed.
Our sleek Itemizer3 solution resembles a typical laptop computer with folding LCD and integrated, comfortable handle that flows with the sculpted, curved front. Its injection molded, high impact polycarbonate housing was designed for easy, low cost manufacturing.
We provided an industrial design package of handsome styling, ergonomic design of the portability features, initial mechanical engineering concepts for molded parts and packaging of the internal components, preliminary 3D and 2D documentation, and vendor recommendations. Final engineering data was prepared by ITI staff,
GE Itemizer3
Explosives and narcotics analyzer
Ion Track Instruments (purchased by General Electric after 9-11) asked Robert DeFelice & Associates to create a sleek, high visibility, portable, battery-powered explosives and narcotics trace detector. Vaportracer sniffs through its (front) nose and processes chemical analysis with its on-board spectrometer and displays results on its LCD.
Our Vaportracer initiated with a low cost, sheet metal prototype enclosure and COTS handle. After trace detection testing proved successful, the sheet metal was abandoned in favor of a cast urethane, more stylish housing and handle. With increasing Vaportracer sales, we transformed the costly urethane parts to injection molded, polycarbonate parts that dramatically reduced piece part costs, reduced weight, and improved appearance.
We provided a complete package of handsome styling, ergonomic design of the portability features and locations of user interface display and controls, all mechanical engineering for the sheet metal and molded parts, packaging of the internal components, all DFMA 3D and 2D documentation, and vendor recommendations.
GE Vaportracer
Explosives Detector
