Fraport has made an announcement that it will begin testing the first security scanner for passengers in the world at Frankfurt Airport (FRA).

The airport took to issuing a recent statement in which it talked about the R&S QPS Walk2000 from Rohde & Schwarz.

The statement revealed that the scanner will speed up security screenings, which are currently operational in Terminal 1, Concourse A.

It allows passengers to simply wall through it without any obstacles or manual security screenings.

The test

As per Fraport and Rohde & Schwarz, the testing and evaluation phase will provide valuable insights into the performance of the security scanner.

At the end of the six-month trial period, the company will assess feedback and performance to ascertain whether any improvements need to be made to the system.

When talking about the features of the security scanner, it was revealed that it scans from all sides and has the power to detect various kinds of items.

Furthermore, it does not require any kind of contact to check for any dangerous items and is a pleasant security experience.

It was further reiterated that passengers do not have to stand in order to undergo scans. The scanner can easily clear them if they slowly walk through it.

Transit scanner

According to Fraport, the primary objective of the transit scanner is to boost the convenience and efficiency of security checks.

It also ensures that the same level of high-security standards are maintained for passengers and the overall safety of the airport.

As per the airport authority, the checkpoints for the test phase have been placed in the Schengen Concourse A of the first Terminal.

Fraport said that it chose to put the security scanner in this location during the testing phase due to the high passenger traffic that it consistently receives.

The statistics provided for passenger foot traffic revealed that, on average, around 15,000 people use the terminal on a daily basis.

In addition, with the use of millimeter wave technology, the scanner will penetrate multiple layers of clothing and eliminate the requirement to remove outer clothing, like coats and jackets.

Consequently, this will preserve the privacy and personal comfort of the passengers at the time of undergoing security checks.

The use of AI

With the help of the most advanced AI detection software, Fraport will be able to distinguish between non-metallic and metallic objects being carried by visitors.

It will be able to send real-time alerts, in case of any abnormalities, to the authorities by displaying a gender-neutral avatar.

As a result, the need for any subsequent and detailed inspections will be reduced. In case an individual does require further investigation, personnel will be able to focus on specific areas.

These areas can be determined by taking a look at the gender-neutral avatar and where the AI identified the issue. This will spare passengers from undergoing full body checks.

Moreover, the FRA has been experiencing substantial success with its automated baggage drop function.

It has further increased the ease and convenience of passengers, as well as the airlines.