The TSA is working on a cutting-edge device that might revolutionize airport security Pat-downs conducted with virtual reality equipment allowing officers to detect threats 'virtually'—without physically touching travelers.
The idea known as the Wearable Sensor for Contactless Physical Assessment (WSCPA) is currently in its initial stages of development.
If approved, this would permit officers to use VR headsets, haptic gloves, and touchless sensors to replicate the sensation of touch. assisting them in spotting concealed items without encroaching on a passenger's private area .
According to an overview from the Department of Homeland Security about this project, 'The innovation employs touchless sensors to capture the shape of objects and produce feedback for replicating the targeted item physically.' It adds, 'This allows for experiencing tactile sensations and conducting evaluations without making direct contact with the subject.'
This is how it operates: The WSCPA system examines the body through sophisticated scanning techniques such as millimeter wave technology, LiDAR, or backscatter X-rays.
This data gets transformed into a 'contour map' of the object or body part being inspected.
The map sends information to the glove, which provides haptic feedback—gentle vibrations or pressure—to simulate the feeling of contacting the mapped region in real-time.
'A user places the device over their hand. Once the touchless sensors in the gadget come into proximity with the intended object, they detect the shape and contours of the target object to generate sensor data,' as mentioned in the description. DHS said .
'The contour detection data runs through a mapping algorithm... then relayed to the back surface that contacts the user's hand through haptic feedback.'
The outcome is a digital screening process that enables an actual evaluation yet maintains privacy, eliminates physical touch, and upholds passenger dignity.
DHS describes several key advantages to the system, including the ability to 'preserve privacy during body scanning and pat-down screening,' 'elevate user safety when assessing a potentially dangerous object,' and 'enhance situational awareness for visually impaired individuals.'
Apart from enhancing transportation security, DHS proposes that this device might ultimately be repurposed for use in medical examinations, visual aid instruments, and engaging educational experiences.
The initiative is spearheaded by TSA researcher William Hastings, and the DHS’s Office of Industry Partnerships is presently looking for business collaborators to aid in advancing this technology.
It's available for licensing via the agency's Technology Transfer and Commercialization Branch (T2C).
According to DHS, the technology is presently at the 'conceptual' stage, yet it has been safeguarded under a U.S. Patent Application .
The illustrations within the patent depict a user securing the apparatus to their hand and positioning it close to a bodily area or an item for performing a non-contact evaluation—a procedure that might eventually substitute the conventional physical inspection conducted by TSA agents.
If completely implemented, the WSCPA system might provide a more dignified and efficient journey for travelers while keeping the integrity of airport safety measures intact.
Rather than undergoing physical searches, travelers could someday be examined by an officer employing something akin to digital touch – all driven by sensors and simulations.
Although it might seem like something out of science fiction, the TSA is currently investigating avenues to implement this technology, indicating a larger trend towards utilizing non-invasive, technologically advanced screening techniques.
As DHS states, the WSCPA might offer 'immersive realistic virtual reality' experience whilst staying 'portable and handheld for utilization in compact areas.'
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