Cardiff Airport trials new ‘super-sensitive’ passenger scanner
A NEW super-sensitive passenger scanner that reveals hidden security threats is being trialled at Cardiff Airport.
And researchers from Cardiff University claim it has the potential to rapidly reduce security waiting times.
The walk-through scanner employs sensors originally designed to detect astronomical activity in deep space, but now uses the human body as a “light source” to spot hidden objects.
Those objects show up as shadows against the body and its heat signal, with the system also able to learn the difference between everyday items such as mobile phones and others which are prohibited on flights.
Scientists from Cardiff University and QMC Instruments said the new scanner, which will be trialled privately by invitation only at Cardiff Airport until December 7, would also no longer require passengers to remove jackets or items from their pockets at security.
The scanner itself looks like a small camera inside a cabinet.
Ken Wood, sales and marketing director of Sequestim, the joint venture between the university and QMC Instruments, said: “Passenger numbers are expected to double in 20 years, putting airport security facilities under immense pressure.
“Our scanner combines a number of world-leading technologies developed by our team here in the UK. It uses the human body as a source of ‘light’, in contrast with existing scanners which process reflected and scattered millimetre-waves while the passenger is required to strike a pose.
“Our system only needs a few seconds to do its work. Passengers walking normally through security would no longer need to take off coats and jackets or remove personal items such as phones.”
The project is one of eight to have received funding from £1.8m made available by the Government through a defence and security accelerator competition.
The purpose of the trial is for key members of industry, the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure, the Civil Aviation Authority and other government bodies including BorderForce to see the technology in action.
Cardiff Airport was bought by the Welsh Government for £52m in 2013. Nearly 1.5m passengers through the airport in 2017.
First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “Welsh Government and Cardiff Airport are delighted to be hosting the proof-of-concept trial of Sequestim’s innovative technology. passed
“This cutting-edge security camera not only promises a huge improvement in our experience of air travel, but also brings with it the prospect of job creation, as Sequestim aims to manufacture future scanners here in Wales.”