"Passing Security Checks with Shoes On" ETRI Implements Security Screening System Using Terahertz Waves

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) of Korea announced on the 20th that it will collaborate with Daemyung TS to develop technology that enables one-stop security screening without removing shoes using terahertz waves.

Terahertz waves are electromagnetic waves that vibrate one trillion times per second. They can penetrate clothing and shoes while having low electromagnetic energy, making them harmless to the human body, which is why they are called the "dream electromagnetic waves." ETRI plans to utilize the characteristics of terahertz waves, which have a higher frequency than the radio waves used in full-body scanners at airports, to inspect for concealed hazardous materials with higher resolution.

The research team integrates terahertz band devices to acquire three-dimensional security screening images, enabling more precise and faster security checks compared to existing technologies.

It can detect hazardous materials made of not only metal but also non-metallic substances. The security screening system will apply artificial intelligence image recognition technology to quickly determine the presence of hazardous materials without human verification.

Advanced data processing and interpretation technologies will be applied to ensure that individual privacy is not violated during research and development. The system allows for contactless and non-face-to-face check-in with high accuracy and speed, enabling the detection of potential threats, thereby contributing to the safety of air passengers and the maintenance of security systems.

The research team expects to develop a prototype in 2024, conduct pilot operations with Incheon International Airport Corporation, and obtain domestic certification by 2025, after which it will be introduced to the general public.

In the future, the research team plans to expand the technology into a walk-through system that automatically completes full-body screening when a person passes through a tunnel by developing core technologies.

Kyung-Hyun Park, Director of the Future Core Research Division at ETRI, said, "By consolidating the achievements of ETRI's terahertz technology research and development over the past decade and succeeding in developing a security screening system, Korea will proudly establish itself as an exporter of advanced aviation security screening equipment."

This research project is being conducted as part of the "Next-Generation Personal Security Screening Technology Development" under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Agency for Infrastructure Technology Advancement’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport R&D program. Led by ETRI, it involves a total of 11 domestic industry-academia-research institutions, including Daemyung TS, Incheon International Airport Corporation, and QSI.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.