French defence tech firm Thales has developed an airport scanner that removes the need for passengers to unpack items from their luggage while going through airport security checks. The new system, called HELIXVIEW, will cut queues at airport security, and reduce one of the main bottlenecks causing delays within airports and for flights.

HELIXVIEW is based on Thales expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybersecurity. It is a stationary and compact lightweight scanner which is compliant with EDS CB C3, the next standard applied to the certification for EDS CB. It combines X-ray nanotechnology-based electronic scanning and 3D imaging reconstruction.

According to Thales, with this scanner installed in checkpoints, passengers will no longer need to remove their items from luggage.

The company says the technology is fine-tuned to detect all forms of prohibited items, whether explosives, knives, or even weapons that have been dismantled and positioned in separate parts across several bags. Artificial Intelligence capabilities are leveraged to detect and interpret threats. The system then instantly provides the operator with a threat/no threat instruction for the bag.

With a reduced size, weight and overall footprint, HELIXVIEW will enable airports to optimise the space at their disposal. Instead of heavy and cumbersome parts that require two people to lift them out of the machine for repair, the mechanics of this system are simple and motionless; there are no moving parts or vibrations. Anything that needs to be replaced can be done quickly, easily and no physically demanding.

“I am very pleased to present HELIXVIEW, our new airport scanner” said Ms Yannick Assouad, Executive Vice-President Avionics, Thales. “I am sure that passengers will appreciate this new smoother and faster security checks using attractively and ergonomically-designed systems. This new technology will bring higher security and comfort with an optimal cost-performance ratio”.

The HELIXVIEW product is aiming for certification by the end of 2023.