The Passenger Self Screening Project relates to DHS and TSA’s future vision of replacing the current conveyor belt design for the screening of passengers’ carry-on luggage with a bank of multiple ‘self-service’ security stations capable of scanning passengers and their carry-on luggage together. This concept is based on the idea of self-service checkouts at supermarkets, moving from a staffed conveyor system to a smaller and automated self-service system to increase throughput, improve staff efficiency, and improve passenger experience. This concept is enabled by Micro-X’s miniaturised CT technology.

Two existing DHS contracts – Miniature Scanner and Self Check-In Portal Design

In November 2020, Micro-X signed two contracts totalling US$4.0m with the DHS, each of which are now close to successful completion. The first contract for US$1.5m, later expanded to US$1.94m, was to design and manufacture two prototype miniaturised CT baggage scanners. These prototypes are due for delivery to the DHS in the coming months.

The second contract, for US$2.49m, was to design the overall security self-screening checkpoint system, incorporating Micro-X’s miniaturised CT scanner with other screening components and system design for passenger and operator use. Micro-X’s role, as Prime Contractor with overall design authority, has been to lead an international consortium to deliver the self-service module. The Micro-X led design team successfully passed the Critical Design review gate on 28 June, completing the design phase of the project.

DHS Contract Extension – moving to live airport testing

With the detailed design phase of the Self Screening Checkpoint project completed, DHS has awarded a contract extension to Micro-X as Prime Contractor and systems integrator worth up to A$21.0m (US$14.0m) across a 40-month period. The purpose of this contract extension is to enable Micro-X, together with its partners, to build and test fully integrated self‐screening stations in live US airport environments with travelling passengers.

This new project will involve Micro-X moving progressively, first fabricating a single self-screening station, then three stations, and finally a full six-station lane and testing each increment first in TSA laboratories and then in at least one live US airport. At each stage, Micro-X will receive feedback on the airport and passenger experience from the DHS and TSA to refine and improve the end design. The objective of the project is to have a fully integrated passenger self-screening security system that is ready to transform the passenger security experience across the United States’ 440 airports.

The project has eight phases in total, some of which run in parallel, with milestone payments ranging from A$3.0m to A$6.0m (US$2m to US$4m). DHS has committed A$7.25m (US$4.88m) to fund Phase 1 of the project over the next eighteen months for Micro-X start to build the first prototype of the fully integrated self-screening checkpoint station.

Contract extension

The contract extension is a significant step forward in Micro-X’s airport security strategy, providing continued opportunity to collaborate with global leaders in the field and develop the technology with direct feedback from the customer.

Micro-X Inc. Chief Executive Officer of Americas and Chief Scientist, Brian Gonzales, commented: “This contract extension fully funds us to build and test the design of a self-screening checkpoint in real airports, demonstrating the improvements and refining the design with real passenger and operator input."

"US airport security is a unique market, where the government is both the regulator and the customer. The partnership we have formed with DHS and TSA enables us to combine input from both the end-customer and the safety regulator to deliver a design that completely re-imagines security screening but is also grounded in the reality of airport operations and regulations. We are excited to continue our partnership with DHS and TSA as we build and then demonstrate this design in real airports," he concluded.