Public Funding for LHR Airports Limited

Existing Airport-type security screening is currently provided by metal detectors; explosives and non-metal objects are undetected. CCLRC and ThruVision in 2003 and early 2004 showed that passive THz sensor imaging (PTSI) technology could image concealed plastic explosives, guns, drugs and other objects. This is a 12 month applied research project starting Nov 04 to take existing lab based kit forward to integrate PTSI with THz optical imagery techniques to produce a rugged security screening demonstrator to image objects concealed in clothing within 1 second in ''real world'' environments . The project combines: i) ''market pull'' from airport security end users (BAA); ii) system integration expertise from ThruVision Ltd (an SME start-up); iii) THz test and optical know-how from CCLRC (a public sector research establishment) with; iv) SME component providers (Flann Microwave Ltd). The project will design and integrate sensor arrays into a technology product demonstrator that will be used to image the travelling public at Heathrow airport. The Heathrow field trials will be coordinated by BAA.