Feature: Avionics


be needed to protect security staff against excessive exposure to X-rays. People screening with millimetre wave equipment has been shown


to be effective in situations such as airport security checking. Te low energy waves can detect all objects including non-metallic materials hidden beneath clothing. Scanning is non-invasive and protects privacy, no body images are collected or seen. Pose-and-go scanning is fast and easy, allowing rapid throughput, and the waves are non-ionising and therefore harmless to organic tissue. Millimetre-wave scanners can be used to detect all sorts of small


items that are otherwise easily hidden. Businesses can now expect a faster return aſter investing in millimetre-wave equipment, particularly when protecting high-value items, as the technology has matured, and various differentiated systems have arrived in the market. Te R&S QPS201 (Quick Personnel Security) and more recently developed R&S QPS Walk2000 scanners from Rohde & Schwarz provide an example. Tese systems comprise a static transceiver array, embedded in a


large panel, that is equipped with many individual emitters and receivers distributed across the surface area. Te panel can be plain or any colour, or digitally printed, and the person to be scanned needs to stand in front for just a few seconds. Te transceiver array performs the scan quickly and there are no moving parts. During the scan, the transceivers emit millimetre waves and collect the reflected signals. Te received signals are then subjected to extensive conditioning and analysis using high- performance digital signal processors with embedded edge AI.


Privacy protected Besides the highly effective, fast and automated screening that systems like these now make possible, a further major advantage of millimetre-wave scanning is that no images of the person are captured or constructed as the result of a scan. All data exists only in the digital domain and are discarded as the scan result gets displayed. If the system detects an anomalous pattern in the captured waves, signal processing calculates its whereabouts and pinpoints the location on an avatar.


Security staff can then perform a targeted manual check, guided by this illustration. By extensively automating the checking process, millimetre-wave


equipment overcomes disadvantages typically associated with human- centric security scanning. Te machine is unbiased, invulnerable to intimidation and can maintain its work rate indefinitely without fatigue or loss of attention. Tese types of security scanners are now routinely used for airport


security checks, offering a combination of high throughput, high accuracy with a high detection rate and minimal false alarms, and tremendous ease of use. Te systems have been a big hit with security staff, helping them work with impartiality while also helping them maintain consistent vigilance throughout their shiſts. Tey have also been used at the entrances to public buildings and entertainment venues, and at exhibitions to protect people attending events.


Easy to install and use Advanced millimetre-wave security scanners such as the R&S QPS series offer a safe and effective solution for stock loss prevention and can be installed in factories, warehouses and offices with no special services required. Tey are straightforward and easy to use aſter minimal technical training, enabling security staff to quickly become proficient and start getting great results. With these systems, companies including manufacturing businesses,


distributors, wholesalers and retailers can now significantly reduce expensive losses. Rohde & Schwarz Managing Director, Gary Mackay comments,


“Employee theſt is a significant issue that affects businesses across various industries. At Rohde & Schwarz, we recognise the importance of protecting our customers' assets and have developed advanced security technology to help tackle this problem. Our millimetre-wave scanners offer an affordable, effective and non-invasive solution for detecting stolen items before they leave the premises.”


www.electronicsworld.co.uk April 2025 11


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