Heathrow Airport (LHR) has selected the Rohde & Schwarz Quick Personnel Security (QPS) scanners to improve its security checkpoints and minimise passengers’ waiting time.

R&S QPS201 scanners will be deployed across Heathrow Airport and will scan all travellers, staff and contractors moving towards airside locations on entry.

With the help of machine-trained software algorithms, the R&S QPS201 scanner can spot all kinds of potentially unsafe substances.

Rohde & Schwarz Europe sales vice-president Frank Mackel said: “Heathrow Airport is the latest leading international airport to adopt the R&S QPS201, reinforcing our position as the go-to solution for airports around the world.

“This scanner addresses the three key airport requirements, high accuracy of threat detection, low frequency of false alarms to minimise time-consuming manual pat-downs and fast throughput to reduce passenger wait times even at busy periods.”

The airport was looking for a comprehensive solution that was able to meet existing security and throughput needs and could also be upgraded according to future requirements.

Rohde & Schwarz’s QPS201 scanner was selected because of its ability to be enhanced with new algorithms after installation.

Enabling a hands-down posture, these scanners carry out a full-body scan within seconds, indicating suspicious items on an image for passenger privacy.

These scanners are equipped with technology that enhances threat detection while minimising processing time and false alarms.

Through these performance gains, the QPS201 scanners reduce post-alarm manual checks, ensuring social distancing during the pandemic.

In addition, these scanners help evade excessive queueing, restoring parity to baggage and personnel-scanning times.

The aim is to provide a positive passenger experience while maintaining safety and security at the airport.

Earlier this year, Rohde & Schwarz announced that the QPS201 scanner was deployed at Kerry Airport (KIR), which is in Farranfore, Ireland.