DHS S&T awards funds for aviation self-screening prototype

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Screening at Speed Program announced Tuesday it had awarded more than $2.5 million to Vanderlande Industries to develop a passenger self-screening concept design and prototype to streamline TSA PreCheck operations.

The $2,527,907.76 was awarded through the Screening at Speed Broad Agency Announcement, which aims to speed up the Screening at Speed’s and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Innovation Task Force’s efforts to enhance automation at airport security checkpoints.

“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.”

As part of the project, Vanderlande will design and build a prototype of an automated checkpoint that will combine the company’s PAX Advanced MX2 Automated Screening Lane (ASL) with off-the-shelf passenger screening systems, creating four integrated screening stations for one screening lane. The combination of ASL and passenger screening stations will simplify the process of X-ray screening from two steps to one, providing continuous screening for prohibited and/or concealed items while giving passengers near real-time feedback with regard to additional screening.

“Automated passenger screening stations will keep travelers and TSOs safer in pandemic situations like the one we face today, as well as create a faster, more convenient experience for airline passengers. Screening at Speed continues to work across our portfolio of projects to meet TSA’s short-, mid-, and long-term capability needs and innovate for the future,” said John Fortune, Screening at Speed program manager.