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Airport security has become stricter and stricter in recent times, with the constant threat of terrorist attacks. New security measures can mean longer queues to get through security, causing delays and frustration for passengers.
However, this might change with a cutting edge new security technology being developed by Irish company Farran Technology. Based in Ballincollig in Cork, Farran has been working on new technology to detect weapons and explosives which are hidden underneath people's clothing. The technology is called Tadar and it is based on radiation that our body naturally produces. Natural There are many types of electromagnetic radiation, (radiation that includes both magenetic and electrical forces). They include visible light, ultraviolet light, x-rays, gamma rays and radio waves. Together, all forms of this radiation make up the electromagnetic spectrum. The body's natural emissions, or natural energy, is at a certain point on the electromagnetic spectrum that can't be picked up by the human eye. But Tadar technology can detect it. The Tadar device looks at our body's natural radiation. When it does so clothes become transparent as they don't block the natural emissions from your body. However, dense objects like weapons, knives or metallic objects will block the natural radiation from the body. When security screeners see such a block, they can detect that there's a foreign or threat object there. One of the advantages of the system is that the security operator can pinpoint where on the body the object is, unlike standard metal detectors, which will give an alert if someone is carrying something metallic, but will not show where it is on the body. Safe radiation The x-rays used in traditional airport security systems are not good for us. However, Farran points out that Tadar is a safer system because it uses non-ionising radiation. There are two forms of radiation, ionising and non-ionising. Ionising is found in x-rays and can be harmful to the body by changing the molecules of which it is made. This is why there is such care taken when if you have an x-ray at the dentist or in a hospital. Tadar uses non-ionising radiation, which is considered much safer. "Non-ionising" means than unlike x-rays or gamma rays it cannot directly change molecules in our bodies. The Tadar system goes for regulator approval in mid-2006. The next stage is airport trials. After that, it might help get us from check in to our final holiday destination more safely and quickly. Learn more: Find out more about Tadar technology Get some tips on travelling on aircraft Visit Farran Technology on the web |
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