The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has selected Vanderlande’s self-screening passenger security checkpoint solution for airports for further design, development, and operational testing.
The trials will be carried out as part of the DHS Science and Technology Directorates (S&T) Screening at Speed Program to improve screening efficiency and the experience of passengers.
“Developing self-screening stations at checkpoints, through the Passenger Self-Screening Project, will allow passengers to complete screening activities by themselves, similar to self-checkout at grocery stores,” said Kathryn Coulter Mitchell, the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology. “The Screening at Speed Program pursues transformative research and development (R&D) to increase aviation security effectiveness from curb to gate, while reducing wait times and improving the passenger experience. Screening at Speed is enabling this vision by developing passenger automation solutions to transform TSA PreCheck’s concept of operations.”
Vanderlande and its partners, Rohde & Schwarz and dormakaba Group, will deliver a fully integrated and self-screening passenger checkpoint concept, as well as an operational prototype for assessment by the US DHS.
During the project, Vanderlande will design and build a prototype automated checkpoint that will combine its PAX Advanced MX2 Automated Screening Lane (ASL) with off-the-shelf passenger screening systems to create four integrated screening stations for one screening lane. Combining ASL with the passenger screening stations will simplify the process of X-ray screening of personal property and on-person screening from two steps to one. The system will provide continuous screening for prohibited and/or concealed items and give passengers near real-time feedback if additional screening is necessary.
Passenger screening automation and ASLs will create the next generation screening experience to improve security, decrease Transportation Security Officer (TSO) workload, decrease the amount of time passengers spend being screened, reduce the need for pat downs, reduce equipment lifecycle costs, and enhance the overall passenger experience.
“There has been a clear trend towards passenger self-service solutions at airports, allowing for more efficiency and independence for passengers,” says Vanderlande’s Executive Vice President Airport and Parcel Solutions and Board Member, Andrew Manship. “We are excited to explore the potential of self-service security checkpoint solutions together with our partners and the US Department of Homeland Security.”
