The scientific paper “Optimization of a multi-source rectangular x-ray CT geometry for inline inspection” presents a solution to the challenge of efficiently and accurately inspecting container traffic in fast-paced logistics environments such as ports and airports. Conventional X-ray CT with a rotating gantry is not capable of meeting the high throughput required for this task, so the paper proposes the use of a static CT approach, which utilizes multiple stationary X-ray sources to create high-quality images without the need for gantry rotation.

To evaluate the potential of static CT for container inspection, the authors of the paper developed a simulation framework using the ASTRA Toolbox. This allowed them to study the performance of a static, rectangular CT geometry that utilizes multiple stationary X-ray sources to capture images of the objects being inspected. In addition, the authors optimized the configuration (i.e. positions and orientation of the X-ray sources) to achieve enhanced image quality for region of interest imaging. The study suggests that static CT has the potential to be an effective tool for high throughput container inspection and that optimization of the geometry may significantly improve reconstruction quality.