Trials for the world’s first walk-through security scanner have begun at Frankfurt Airport, Fraport, the company managing the airport, revealed in a statement. The aim of the walk-through scanner is to make security checks faster and more comfortable for passengers while maintaining the same high level of security.
The QPS Walk2000 scanner, from Rohde & Schwarz (R&S), is designed to speed up security checks. The first of these scanners is currently in use in Concourse A of Terminal 1. Passengers simply walk through the scanner at a normal pace without stopping. The test and evaluation phase is set to last up to six months and will provide Fraport and R&S with important information to help optimize the system.
The QPS Walk2000 is a 360° walk-through scanner that can detect all kinds of items quickly and contact-free. The scanner provides a more pleasant security experience, the airport said, as passengers do not have to stop to be scanned and can instead slowly walk through the device. The millimetre-wave technology can also penetrate multiple layers of clothing, making it unnecessary to remove jackets and coats, for example, making a significant difference in terms of comfort and personal privacy when going through security.
Moreover, AI based detection software automatically identifies metallic and non-metallic objects. Any anomalies detected on passengers are accurately displayed in real time on a unisex avatar, reducing the need for follow-up checks. If, however, a check is needed, security staff can focus on the areas that have triggered an alarm instead of patting down the passenger.
The evaluation of the device will be made jointly by the German Federal Police and Fraport. While Fraport acquired and set up the R&S QPS Walk2000, it is the German Federal Police who are responsible for all security-related tests and will ultimately grant approval for use in day-to-day operations. The checkpoints selected for the test phase are in the Schengen Concourse A of Terminal 1. The terminal was selected for the testing phase due to its high foot traffic of an average 15,000 passengers per day.
