Airport Security and Passenger Flow Solutions

HRS’s entry, which provides face and iris recognition while on the move and from distance, was selected as the winning technology by an independent review panel, comprising industry, academia and OSCT, following the results of live trials and the TD2 Showcase event.

The TD2 project was focussed on identifying new technologies, systems and ideas to enhance aviation security and the passenger experience, while potentially helping to increase airport revenues. As a result of this competition, Thales has presented HRS with a prize of £30,000 to support them in further developing their innovative technologies to transform them into fully commercial offerings.

The second place prize of £15,000 – was awarded to Ipsotek, whose technology provides users with real-time behaviour analysis and detection. ICTS’s managed queuing system finished third with a prize of £5,000. The prize fund was provided by Thales.

Each of these technologies performed well against the key competition criteria especially the complementary aspects of increased aviation security and improved passenger experience, which led to them being selected as the winning three companies.

During the TD2 project more than 40 technologies were selected for demonstration at the TD2 Showcase event, held at Thales UK’s Crawley site in December 2010. Around 20 of the selected companies also carried out live trials at some of the UK’s busiest airports to show how their technologies could potentially be integrated into the airports of the future.

David Lockwood, head of Thales’s UK defence and security systems business, says: “One of the aims we set out for the TD2 project was to bring to light innovation and concepts from small enterprises and academia that would not normally be seen until much more mature. As a result of very strong competition from hundreds of entrants, the selection panel had a difficult job selecting the winning company.

“HRS’s iris ‘Recognition on the Move’ technology was trialled live at a UK airport and then demonstrated at the TD2 showcase where it attracted significant interest from the aviation industry and government agencies. We congratulate HRS on winning this prize and we hope that the relationships they have forged during the TD2 process will lead to this technology being deployed in the airports of the future.”

The UK Home Office INSTINCT Programme aims to identify and trial innovative technologies, solutions or ideas from any business or academic institution that could enhance security in the future. The December showcase (which was severely weather affected and has been re-run at the Home Office Scientific Development Branch exhibition during March 2011) is one of many that allows selected demonstrators to meet face to face with key decision makers and purchasers from across the security sector.

Support to develop technologies, solutions or ideas into real products that can be quickly implemented within the aviation security environment is a key deliverable for the INSTINCT-TD2 project, as is raising of the awareness of these technologies and their capabilities by the airport, airline and security authorities and companies worldwide.

Notes to editors
HRS’s system provides face and iris recognition while on the move and from distance. The technology enables passengers to have a more streamlined airport experience; the technology also enhances aviation security through use of biometrics. Once enrolled on the system passengers would walk through a series of archways during the transition from land side to air side, enabling security to monitor they’re movements.

Ipsotek’s technology provides users with real-time behaviour analysis and detection system that could be used in airports to unobtrusively monitor passenger behaviours

ICTS’s technology provides passengers with a managed queuing system that helps to improve passenger experience. The technology also enables security processes to be enhanced by managing where passengers are directed, ensuring low-risk passengers get a streamlined journey through airport security; high risk passengers are guided through a more rigorous checking process without being made aware it is happening.

For any questions about INSTINCT in general, please contact the Home Office press office on 020 7035 3848.

About HRS
Human Recognition Systems (HRS) is the UK’s market leader in biometrics and human behaviour analytic technology, developing and delivering innovative products to resolve clients' challenges with identity management.  HRS operates in a number of industries outside of aviation helping clients to manage operational challenges in access control, people flow, identity verification, monitoring behaviours and policy enforcement.

HRS
Tori Hywel-Davies
M: +44 7850 530006
E: Tori.hywel-davies@hrsltd.com