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RFID in Airport Screening Technology

The recent foiled United Kingdom terrorist plot made the Transportation Security Administration take some steps to increase security following, such as to ban on airplane passengers taking liquids on board. The TSA will revisit screening processes for passengers and their luggage, and also the cargo packed into the belly of airplanes. Amy Kudwa, spokeswoman for the department, said Tuesday the TSA will continue to work with manufacturers to perfect various technologies, from screening for chemicals in liquids, to full-body scanning machines, to new uses for RFID technologies.

New security technologies are tested by TSA engineers in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate. Although there already are technologies to screen for chemicals in liquids, they`re not ready for use. There are several concerns, such as the device screens one bottle at a time, significantly slowing security lines.

The new technologies are backscatter and milometer wave. Backscatter works very similar to an x-ray. Although they are technologies that can detect explosives and weapons, the machines are too big and could create privacy issues because images are generated that eliminate clothing. RFID has been tested at the McCarran airport in Las Vegas, Nev. to track luggage. Although RFID can`t detect weapons, or chemicals in liquids, it could assist to prevent the chaos Heathrow has endured in recent days.