The world might soon be a much safer place thanks to Manchester Metropolitan University who have developed a sophisticated weapons scanner that could change the face of security forever.
The scanner is aimed at finding hidden weapons such as knives, bombs and guns, and will detect them through a radar system linked to a computer programme.
Professor Bowring, leader of the team that developed this system, has high hopes for the scanner.
“It will make the world a safer place – there is a significant amount of gun crime that could be stopped, for example. We know that this technology works and has done very well in trials,” he said.
Rather than individually searching and scanning people, the team say that the scanner is capable of detecting weapons at a distance of up to 25 metres which enables it to work effectively with crowds of people.
It works by emitting low-power millimetre-waves which will bounce back off concealed weapons, yet everyday items such as keys and belts are distinguishable to the artificial intelligence and the computer programme.
The scanner poses no health risks, and there are no invasions of privacy. This is a significant step forward due to the controversy of full body scanners that have been used.
Interest in the scanner has been high and ranges from homeland security and law enforcement to corporate companies.
“We have significant interest around the world, in particular from the US, UK and the Middle East, but we expect it to widen and deepen in the next six months,” the professor said.
Image courtesy of las – initially, with thanks
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