For many, seeing a self-service line at the grocery store leads to a sigh of relief, knowing that they might be able to get their shopping done faster. Next month, travelers at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nev., will be able to try out a similar self-service feature, said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
According to a press release, PreCheck travelers will have the first chance to use the new feature. Officers for the Transportation Security Administration are already trained and ready to help people navigate their way through the self-screening process.
There will also be a “virtual reality walkthrough of a Micro-X self-screening system at… booths at the Consumer Electronics Show also in Las Vegas in January,” said the press release.
Self-service TSA options have been one way the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has been looking at to accommodate increased traveler streams rising to pre COVID-19 pandemic levels. The directorate has been aiming to increase screening efficiency and improve passenger experience while also keeping a stable number of TSA personnel.
“Like self-ordering kiosks at fast food and sit-down restaurants, self-service screening allows passengers in the Trusted Traveler Program to complete the security screening process on their own,” said Screening at Speed Program Manager Dr. John Fortune. “Travelers will use passenger and carry-on screening systems at individual consoles or screening lanes themselves, reducing the number of pat downs and bag inspections TSOs need to perform and freeing their time to be reallocated to the busier aspects of screening operations.”
In 2021, the directorate’s Screening at Speed initiative began the process to create an airport self-service screening concept design and prototype. Other partners have since joined the project.
“Vanderlande’s prototype, the PAX MX2, combines the company’s Automated Screening Lane carry-on bag conveyance system with new and existing Transportation Security Equipment to create four integrated stations for one checkpoint lane,” said the Department of Homeland Security. “Each station includes a video monitor with multi-step instructions and a help button that connects to a live TSO for assistance as needed. This prototype also includes a screening portal with automated entry and exit doors. If a passenger doesn’t pass initial screening due to an item left in their pocket or similar issue, the entry door reopens so passengers can remove items before being re-screened in the passenger portal. After travelers successfully pass screening, the automatic exit door will open and usher them out to gather their personal belongings and head to their flights.”
This March, the prototype was installed at the TSA Transportation Systems Integration Facility (TSIF) at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. Since then, TSA has evaluated how well it functions in real-world conditions.
In June, S&T Under Secretary Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov also visited the Vanderlande prototype.
“S&T is pushing the envelope to develop new technologies and concepts to enable the airport of the future,” said S&T Under Secretary Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov. “Self-service screening is a step toward building that future.”
Fortune said feedback from both passengers and the TSA has been positive so far.
“We’re privileged to partner with TSA to reimagine airport security by building new ground-breaking technology and solutions while being passenger focused and forward leaning,” he said of the upcoming installation.
“Self-service screening is a big step toward creating novel, innovative solutions to build the airport of the future. The team expects to receive passenger and TSO feedback on the first self-service prototype once it is piloted in Las Vegas.”