Improved detection of concealed objects on, and within the body of, persons

Research under this topic will increase the capabilities to detect objects concealed on persons, or hidden inside the body of persons. The proposed technology should be able to detect concealments on moving persons and should be based on non-ionising approaches that provide necessary safety and privacy. Proposed solutions should be harmless for users and operators (avoiding ionizing radiation, and include the assessment of the risk of any kind of toxic substances and/or potentially harmful techniques), provide fast detection and include easily deployable devices.

They should be able to detect weapons (including non-metallic weapons); explosives (combined or not with electronics), including homemade explosives (HMEs) and improvised explosive devices (IEDs); other threats and illicit goods such as drugs, tobacco or currency, concealed under or in the clothes or bags of individuals as well as within the individuals’ bodies. The need for such detection capabilities could be increasingly useful especially in contexts such as airports or ferry terminals where people board on foot or in vehicles, where a sufficient and efficient detection capacity will have to cope with substantial growth of passenger volume.

Proposed solutions must maximise respect of fundamental rights, including for dignity and privacy. In this sense, solutions should avoid explicit formation of images, physical contact or intrusive techniques. Solutions should also prove their potential to enable the quick scan of large flows of people, employing a minimum number of operators. Solutions should be systematically tested and validated in operational or real environments.

Research proposals should consider, build on if appropriate and not duplicate previous research, including but not limiting to research by other Framework Programmes projects such as on basic capabilities to detect concealed objects on individuals and in cargo or containers.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content should be addressed only if the consortium deems it relevant in relation to the objectives of the research effort.