Abstract: For various political, commercial and humanitarian reasons there is a desire to detect intrusion of stowaways into lorries and other freight vehicles. Many traditional intrusion detectors operate on the bases of detecting an increase in carbon dioxide within a space as indicator of presence of a human. A problem arises when the freight vehicle is carrying perishable goods such as fruits and vegetables which give off CO2 as they perish which makes it difficult to reliably attribute the cause of an elevation in CO2 concentration. An embodiment of the invention overcomes this problem by detecting a sudden decrease in CO2 concentration within the freight vehicle from a concentration that is much elevated from a background atmospheric concentration of around 400 ppm. This sudden decrease can be attributed to opening of a door of a trailer allowing the escape of CO2 that has built up as the freight perishes.

Abstract: According to an aspect of intrusion detectors for lorries, there is provided a method of detecting intrusion of one or more persons into cargo hold of a vehicle carrying goods that emit carbon dioxide the method comprising identifying an intrusion event by detecting a decrease in concentration of carbon dioxide within the cargo hold. For example, the intrusion evident may be identified by detecting a decrease in concentration of carbon dioxide within the cargo hold of at least 400 ppm. A decrease in CO2 can be attributed to unauthorised access being made into the cargo hold as cargo holds typically remain closed during a journey.

Abstract: For various political, commercial and humanitarian reasons there is a desire to detect intrusion of stowaways into lorries and other freight vehicles. Many traditional intrusion detectors operate on the bases of detecting an increase in carbon dioxide within a space as indicator of presence of a human. A problem arises when the freight vehicle is carrying perishable goods such as fruits and vegetables which give off CO2 as they perish which makes it difficult to reliably attribute the cause of an elevation in CO2 concentration. An embodiment of the invention overcomes this problem by detecting a sudden decrease in CO2 concentration within the freight vehicle from a concentration that is much elevated from a background atmospheric concentration of around 400 ppm. This sudden decrease can be attributed to opening of a door of a trailer allowing the escape of CO2 that has built up as the freight perishes.

Abstract: According to an aspect of intrusion detectors for lorries, there is provided a method of detecting intrusion of one or more persons into cargo hold of a vehicle carrying goods that emit carbon dioxide the method comprising identifying an intrusion event by detecting a decrease in concentration of carbon dioxide within the cargo hold. For example, the intrusion evident may be identified by detecting a decrease in concentration of carbon dioxide within the cargo hold of at least 400 ppm. A decrease in CO2 can be attributed to unauthorised access being made into the cargo hold as cargo holds typically remain closed during a journey.