Massive New CT Scanner Assesses Car Crash Data

cartechboy writes "If you've ever been in a serious car accident, you've probably had a CT scan to give doctors a clearer idea of your injuries. Soon, your car might get a CT scan, too. Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute have developed a giant new CT scanner (dubbed, yes, XXL CT) that can scan very large objects, like cars. It Turns out a CT scan of a post-crash vehicle offers an unprecedented precision look at the internal damage details, without disturbing the wreckage further. A crashed car is hoisted onto a turntable, and as it turns, two X-ray detectors on either side scan it. Then multiple images are merged into a single, three-dimensional CT scan. The scanner also can handle airplane wings and shipping containers, which means there may be possible anti-terrorism uses in the future."

Re:And by "anti-terrorism" uses

[NoNonAlphaCharsHere]

Really? That's a "Troll"? Looks like somebody doesn't like admitting they're living in a police state.

Shipping container anti terrorism

[OzPeter]

Currently around 10 million shipping containers arrive in the USA every year. So how many of these devices do you think you need in order to make an impact? Not only do you have that volume to deal with, but given the throughput at a multi-modal shipping port, you'll need to be scanning a container pretty damn quick in order not to impeded operations.

In addition the gubmint is already behind in scanning all shipping containers for radio-active materials. They are supposed to be checking 100% of inbound containers, but that has been costed in the order of $16 billion (with a pinkie finger, and a B), and there doesn't seem to be money for it.

Port security: U.S. fails to meet deadline for scanning of cargo containers [washingtonpost.com]

How much will one of these scans cost...

[rnturn]

... and how high a mucky-muck will you have to be to warrant one of these scans? Is the the intent to find some kind of hidden damage that an insurance adjuster missed? And who pays for the CT scan? Just how valuable would the car need to be to deserve this kind of post-accident analysis?

The shipping container scan sounds like a good idea but the cost of these things would have to come way, way down before they got widespread use. If they aren't used at every port (because of the cost) the terrorists will just change their shipping destinations to ports that aren't equipped with these scanners.

Re:How much will one of these scans cost...

[techno-vampire]

I'm only guessing, here, but it sounds like the main use for this is during crash testing of new designs. That way you can see just what happened deep inside of the car's body without having to cut your way in. And, while you're at it, you can also investigate what condition those parts that you'd otherwise have to cut are in, which just might tell you something important. I doubt that something like this would ever become part of routine accident investigation, both because of the cost of using it and because in most cases you don't need that detailed an examination.