Work starts on design of self screening portal for airport passengers

Elenium Automation is to partner with an X-ray technology company to design and test a self-screening security portal for airports.

The Australian based firm is currently best known for its touchless technology that allows passenger to check in and drop off luggage without having to touch a boarding pass, bag tag or screen.

Its partner in the project is Micro-X, which in September 2021, executed two contracts with the US government’s Department of Homeland Security to firstly design and manufacture a miniature X-ray baggage scanner and secondly, to integrate this into a self-screening security portal for airport passengers.

Elenium has been selected as a key contractor to Micro-X, Inc with other relevant industry experts, to design and test the self-screening security portal.

The prototype for a new, miniature CT baggage scanner detects hidden threats concealed within passenger carry-on luggage.

According to Elenium, the voice-controlled booth eliminates the traditional, multi-step screening process, ensures passengers are never separated from their baggage and allows passengers to take control over their own security screening through an intuitive, self-service workflow, similar to an automated passport control gate or checkout at the grocery store.

A single portal will be approximately 1/20 the total footprint of a conventional sequential lane, enabling many different deployments to the checkpoint to best utilise the area.

Once the security portal trial is underway, Elenium’s HealthGate technology, a scanning system that detects potential symptoms of infectious illness, can be integrated with Micro-X’s security screening technology.

Brian Gonzalez, chief scientist and general manager at Micro-X’s US Business Unit, said: “It is exciting that this innovative international team is now positioned to improve future air travel for all.

“Elenium’s expertise in developing automation tools for aviation across all areas of passenger processing – from health screening, to check-in, bag drop and boarding – has played a key role in securing the DHS trial. We look forward to seeing the technology deployed and working together to create a better customer experience.”

While Elenium Automation CEO and co-founder, Aaron Hornlimann, said: “The aviation industry now has a unique opportunity to modernise its infrastructure and make the passenger experience seamless, safe and enjoyable, giving back confidence to the travelling public impacted by the global pandemic.

“We are thrilled to be working with Micro-X to implement efficient, touchless and confidence-building automation tools for airports.”

Elenium’s products can be found in airports of all sizes, from Queenstown in New Zealand, Abu Dhabi in the UAE and Avalon in Australia to Hong Kong International Airport.