UTM First In Southeast Asia To Develop AI-equipped Radiation And Cargo Scanners

JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 12 (Bernama) --  In a breakthrough for regional security technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has become the first in Southeast Asia to develop an AI-equipped Radiation Portal Monitor (RPM) and Multi-View Drive-Through Cargo Scanner to strengthen border control and safeguard national interests.

Project leader for Malaysia Laboratories for Academia–Business Collaboration (MyLAB) 2/2020, Prof Dr Suhairul Hashim, said the homegrown innovations are an early defence line against the smuggling of dangerous goods, such as weapons, explosives, and radioactive materials that could be used for terrorism.

He said the UTM research team developed a drive-through cargo scanner that uses high-powered X-rays and AI to penetrate steel containers and detect their actual contents, including prohibited items such as firearms, drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.

“This system integrates machine learning and an image database of prohibited items, enabling automatic identification without requiring customs officers to have specialised scientific expertise.

“It also stores images of objects such as bullets, rifles and cannons, which are automatically cross-referenced whenever a vehicle passes through the scanner,” he told Bernama on the sidelines of the 12th annual meeting of the ASEAN Network of Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy (ASEANTOM) here yesterday.

He said the RPM and cargo scanner can also be monitored in real time via smartphone, enabling remote surveillance of any attempts to smuggle in dangerous materials.

“In the RPM system, template matching is used to distinguish between safe radiation, such as that from ceramics, granite or medical radioisotopes, and dangerous radiation that may indicate the presence of radioactive materials.

“When cargo or vehicles are detected with suspicious radiation patterns, the system automatically triggers an alarm and alerts customs officers for further inspection,” he explained.

Suhairul, who is with UTM’s Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, said the RPM and cargo scanner play a critical role in inspections at ports, border crossings and major checkpoints to prevent security threats and curb revenue leakage.

He added that the idea for the technology emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when imported scanners could not be serviced due to the absence of foreign technicians, leading to a rise in smuggling cases.

Ten researchers from the Faculty of Science and Computing were involved in the project, with two patents and one trademark filed with MyIPO to support future commercialisation efforts.

Since its commercial rollout, the technology has been deployed at several national entry points, including Kuantan, Pasir Gudang, Westport and Bukit Kayu Hitam. Eleven units have also been sold to Indonesia. 

“UTM is also the only R&D centre for security scanning technology in Southeast Asia, with 70 percent of its workforce comprising the university’s graduates,” he said.

Meanwhile, Billion Prima Sdn Bhd general manager Lee Yuh Jiunn said the strategic collaboration enables the country to combat smuggling and radiological threats more effectively by leveraging local expertise in AI and security technology.

The product, which has passed ANSI N42.35-2016 and IEC 61000-6-2:2019 standards to pave the way for entry into the international market, was first developed in 2022 with RM1.06 million in funding from the Higher Education Ministry, followed by an additional RM551,000 from industry partner Billion Prima. 

The company will provide an additional RM1.3 million over four years for the next phase of research, further strengthening UTM’s expertise in AI and border security.

-- BERNAMA