High-Definition Millimeter-Wave Body Scanner

In an airport, the scanner could eliminate the need for passengers to remove shoes at the checkpoint, speeding the screening process.

Taking shoes off and placing them in a bin has been part of the flying experience since 2006. But soon, even those without pre-check status may be able to keep their shoes on, step on a shoe scanner, walk through a body scanner, and proceed to their boarding gates.

The original holographic millimeter-wave scanning technology — now used at airports worldwide — can detect a variety of potential weapons or threats concealed under clothing. The capabilities of the original scanners have been expanded with an eye to improving the passenger experience. The result is a next-generation, high-definition scanner that can identify even smaller threats with fewer false positives. In the process, a similar technology was developed that can screen a passenger’s footwear while on their feet.

A shoe scan involves the traveler pausing on a low-profile imaging platform for about two seconds. Electromagnetic waves are used to generate an image of the shoe, which is evaluated to determine if an object may constitute a threat.

The updated HD-Advanced Imaging Technology scanner offers much higher resolution, which improves potential threat detection while dramatically reducing false alarms compared to the first-generation technology. Reducing false alarms and the secondary screenings they trigger means less direct contact between travelers and security personnel.

The new system design includes improved antennas and significantly reduces imaging irregularities. With this advancement, airline passengers or people attending large public events may be scanned while wearing light sweaters or jackets, instead of having to take them off before walking through the scanner portal.

The HD Advanced Imaging Technology system will be able to incorporate the latest threat detection algorithms that may be developed by third parties. Its open architecture will provide operators the flexibility to select and use best-in-class threat detection algorithms instead of being limited to one specific type.

For more information, contact Susan Bauer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; 509-372-6083.