QinetiQ is showing the stand-off threat detection system SPO-7R in Australia for the first time at the Security in Government (SIG) 2015 conference and exhibition.
The SPO series of Passive Millimetre Wave (PMMW) scanners are used to identify security threats in densely populated locations, such as bus, ferry, rail or airport terminals. Each scanning unit works passively by sensing naturally occurring energy from individuals and the objects they are carrying. This signature information is processed to detect suspicious items around their person. Suspicious objects trigger a red threat bar response on the user display, prompting the operator to search the individual or initiate further security protocols.
QinetiQ Australia General Manager for Government, Technology and Industry Will Taylor said "we believe SPO has many potential applications in the security market here because it requires no special infrastructure, can be deployed virtually anywhere and set-up by one operator in less than five minutes and it does not impede or slow the flow pedestrian traffic. SPO can screen a moving person in less than two to three seconds”.
Technical project lead for the SPO series of sensors Colin Cameron said “the SPO system is passive, doesn’t emit any radiation and never creates or displays an image of bodily characteristics beneath a person’s clothing alleviating privacy concerns. What the operator sees on the screen is real-time video footage with a red-to-green overlay. Green is when no threat is present and red indicates where a potential threat might be concealed”.