ESA - TTP2 - No chance for hidden guns

Technology Transfer Programme Office

Business with Technology Transfer

Technology Transfer Process Technology Transfer Broker Network National Technology Transfer Initiatives Technology Transfer Opportunities

Business with the Incubator

Mission Locations How to apply

Business with the Fund

Open Sky Technologies Fund

ESA intellectual property (IP)

IP for commercialisation

Business with European Commission Projects

FINANCE Space INVESaT CASTLE NAVOBS

Services

Subscribe Contact us

Article Images

No chance for hidden guns

19 May 2009

Back to article

Start-up company ThruVision, with the help of ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office, transferred space-based ESA developed terahertz imaging technology into their security device T5000 which makes it possible to screen people for concealed objects without them even noticing.

Credits: ThruVision

Terahertz imaging technology

Back to article

The StarTiger imager operates at two frequencies: 0.25 THz and 0.3 THz. It captures natural submillimetre waves and having responses at two frequencies provides a means for contrasting between materials with different transmission and reflection properties, effectively creating two colours. A hand is here seen captured by the StarTiger imager and the four images illustrated processing steps to extract the information. From left to right:

raw data shows pixillation and lines
bi-linear resampling reduces line structure
information is improved by change of dynamic range
using false colours based upon the image taken in two frequencies, brings out more subtle features

By change of image processing focus can be selected according to interest, e.g. the skin, the hand itself or maybe objects behind, i.e. hidden by the hand. It has been verified that objects can be captured through clothes and more solid objects like books.

Credits: ESA

Novel remote screening for concealed objects without invading privacy

Back to article

ThruVision transferred the terahertz imaging technology from ESA led project StarTiger to their passive security screening device T5000 for the commercial world. The device is composed of a camera unit linked to a laptop PC which displays the images of concealed objects on stationary and walking subjects at distances up to 25 metres.

Credits: ThruVision

Back to article

ThruVision is a UK start-up company developing compact passive imaging technology for airport security applications based on the TeraHertz camera technology developed for ESA's StarTiger-1 project. Images of concealed objects can be ‘seen’ by detecting terahertz waves naturally emitted by all objects and people.

Credits: ThruVision

Newsletter

'Space for Business'