In the weeks following the 21 December 1988 terrorist attack on Pan Am flight 103, a design team of four individuals in Dallas, Texas undertook the development of a prototype machine that would detect destructive devices that have since come to be referred to as Lockerbie type devices.

"Lockerbie type devices" as commonly referred to, are altitude initiated timing devices wherein the electric timing circuit for the firing and fusing mechanism is activated once the airplane reaches a pre-determined altitude.

A Dallas Police Officer originated the concept for this detector. A FBI-trained bomb technician, he was assigned to the City of Dallas Explosive Ordnance Unit. The design effort was a success and a proof-of-concept, pre-production engineering model was produced.

The detector is used to check suspect items found in checked luggage. It was designed for use in conjunction with x-ray machines and explosive sniffers.

The detector detects a Lockerbie type device in the following manner:

1. A suspect item to be checked is placed into a blast-certified steel containment vessel containing an extremely sensitive antenna array.
2. The detector door is closed to seal the vessel at normal atmospheric pressure.
3. The object is scanned, while at normal atmospheric pressure, to determine if there are any electrical emissions from the item being checked.
4. The air in the vessel is evacuated or reduced to duplicate the conditions of an aircraft cargo hold at altitude.
5. The item is continually scanned, while the vessel is being evacuated, for changes in the electrical signature from the item which are the result of the item being subjected to the change in atmospheric pressure.
6. If there are any changes in the electrical emissions of the suspect item between normal atmospheric pressure and a simulated altitude, then a Lockerbie type device has been indicated within the suspect item.
7. Since the machine detects the electrical emissions of the firing and fusing mechanism while activated by the change in atmospheric pressure, it is not dependent upon the type or quantity of the explosive used.

The proof of concept prototype machine was demonstrated to members of the FBI Bomb Data Center in Washington on 15 December 1989.

The device was awarded U.S. and international patents in 1992. The proof of concept engineering model is currently located at an established engineering and manufacturing facility in the Dallas / Ft Worth area near DFW airport. The technology is being demonstrated to the local media and was featured on a KDFW FOX 4 news broadcast on December 29, 2001. The engineering model is available for viewing upon request.