UK technology company QinetiQ (Stand A19, Hall 1) is showing a device that helps to screen off designated airport areas against unauthorised cellphone use. The company's frequency-selective screens technology is one of several that promise to revolutionise airport security.
Preventing the use of mobile phones within certain areas of an airport offers significant security and operational advantages. "Phones can not only be disruptive but on occasions can pose a real security threat as potential triggers for bombs," explains Michael Burns, director of aviation markets at QinetiQ. "It's also important to keep WiFi signals contained and to prevent unauthorised access to these wireless LANs."
Wavelengths
QinetiQ has developed a low-cost way of making frequency-selective wallpaper screens that allow certain wavelengths to pass through while blocking others. Typically, mobile phone and WiFi signals are blocked while two-way radio and other similar systems are unaffected.
"Until now it's been practical to manufacture only small areas of frequency-selective screening," says Burns. "Our QinetiQ Metal Printing (QMP) process, it's now both practical and economic to produce large sheets of the material."
Flagship of the QinetiQ security programme is its millimetre-wave imaging system. First demonstrated last year, the millimetre-wave imager is designed to detect hidden metallic and non-metallic weapons and other concealed threats. The system produces moving images of people in complete safety and allows airport operators to accurately locate threats and take appropriate action.
"We foresee millimetre-wave technology becoming to people screening what X-ray is now to baggage screening," says QinetiQ transport sector MD Duncan Valentine.
QinetiQ also offers wide-area communications security with its satID, which locates and identifies sources of interference to satellites, typically to within 10km and in a matter of minutes. The company's geolocation service is already helping to protect broadcasters and other satellite users from loss of service. The US Defence Department has bought geolocation systems and another has been sold to Eutelsat.
BRENDAN GALLAGHER
Source: Flight Daily News
