Spherical Test Objects for Hand-held Metal Detector Characterization

Published

September 12, 2018

Author(s)

Nicholas G. Paulter Jr., Donald R. Larson, John A. Ely

Abstract

Measuring the detection performance of metal detectors (hand-worn, hand-held, and walk-through models) is based on the observation of an alarm indication (light, sound, vibration) given by the metal detector when a threat or test object is present. These test objects are typically actual threat items or simulated threat items. The orientation of these test objects relative to the magnetic field generated by the metal detectors will affect the detectability of these test objects. More importantly, small misorientations of a threat object or simulated threat object may cause the operator to incorrectly attribute to the metal detector a higher performance than it is capable of providing. Consequently, to support accurate and reproducible characterization of the performance of a metal detector, orientation effects should be minimized or eliminated. To eliminate these effects for hand-held metal detector and hand-worn metal detectors, we discuss the use of spherical test objects.

Citation

Journal of Testing and Evaluation

Volume

48

Issue

2

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1520/JTE20170339

Local Download

Keywords

detection performance standard, detection response, hand-held metal detector, hand-worn metal detector, magnetic field, minimally acceptable performance, object orientation, test objects

Citation

Paulter Jr., N. , Larson, D. and Ely, J. (2018), Spherical Test Objects for Hand-held Metal Detector Characterization, Journal of Testing and Evaluation, [online], https://doi.org/10.1520/JTE20170339, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=923340 (Accessed October 27, 2025)