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Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
Tragic events such as the recent Brussels Airport bombing have enlightened the need for stronger security measures and improved technologies. This is one of the applications the MIRPHAB project team had in mind, as they unveiled a chemical sensor capable of detecting the likes of drugs and explosives from a distance of 30m.
[...] The new sensor harnesses new photonics technology and uses the MIR wavelength band (3 + 12 μm) for greater performance. In this so-called 'fingerprint region', chemicals exhibit intense absorption features that allow for 'unmatched detection of capabilities and unambiguous identification'.
The device can detect chemicals at a rate of 1 200 per hour – over six times more than standard portal scanners - and is also incredibly small. 'We want to shrink current technology down to the size of a mobile phone', says Nicoletti. To achieve this, the R&D process taps into project partners' expertise in the field of spectroscopy, MIR optolelectronics, sensing systems and applications.
(Score: 3, Informative) by VLM on Monday August 29 2016, @08:41PM
Here's your 200 things per hour portal scanner that its being compared against, or at least google things its a 200 things per hour portal scanner.
http://as-e.com/products-solutions/cargo-vehicle-inspection/drive-through/product/sentry-portal/ [as-e.com]
Pretty vicious xray source. My guess is they currently shove baggage carts thru a somewhat downsized version of the above link.
The bad part about abandoning xray is you can put like swords and stuff in there as long as there's no interesting chemicals.
My guess with respect to moving parts is they'll be a big green light and a big red light and entire baggage carts that fail will get the special human touch.
I predict that between computer databases, and NFC, and expensive fuel, and PITA security, the days of aircraft carrying luggage are about over. You'll mail a box of clothes and stuff to the hotel a week or two before you leave, it'll get there "however" completely asynchronous to your travel, and you'll meet up at the hotel. Some conference material is already done that way. Hotels get pissed if you ship them stuff without telling them or without paying for storage; eventually they'll have to work out how to stockpile visitors luggage for them. Shouldn't be that hard?