The HEXWAVE system, developed by MIT Lincoln Laboratory, features advanced 3D microwave imaging, and enables seamless, on-the-move screening, promising a faster and less invasive experience for travelers nationwide.
Reimagining the Security Process
Conventional security checkpoints often slow down travel, requiring passengers to pause, adjust their belongings, and maintain awkward poses. HEXWAVE fundamentally changes this model by integrating high-resolution microwave imaging technology into a walk-through process.
This innovation allows for real-time detection of concealed items, both metallic and nonmetallic, as people pass through the scanner. The system streamlines operations with features such as:
- Continuous Flow: Passengers are scanned while walking, reducing lines and wait times in airports, stadiums, and transit centers.
- Advanced 3D Imaging: Low-energy radio waves, even gentler than those from a cellphone, create precise 3D images of objects hidden under clothing.
- Instant Analysis: Proprietary algorithms process images at video speed, ensuring each traveler is screened in milliseconds.
From Research to Real-World Impact
The HEXWAVE journey began with support from the Department of Homeland Security, which sought new ways to protect public venues. After successful demonstrations, Liberty Defense licensed the technology and partnered with MIT to transition it into a market-ready product. This collaboration spurred hardware redesigns, improved RF antennas, and ensured compliance with strict indoor and outdoor regulatory standards.
This effort highlights how federally funded research can address urgent security challenges and the project’s success was recognized with a Federal Laboratory Consortium award for excellence in technology transfer in 2019.
Testing, Adoption, and Expansion
By 2021, HEXWAVE prototypes were piloted at sports venues, shopping malls, and airports, proving their efficiency and accuracy. Liberty Defense secured a TSA contract to enhance employee screening, and in 2023, the TSA began evaluating HEXWAVE as a potential replacement for metal detectors at PreCheck lanes.
With a new mandate in 2024, U.S. airports started deploying the system for employee screening, aiming for nationwide coverage by April 2026.
- Diverse Applications: HEXWAVE systems have also been installed in national labs, government buildings, correctional institutions, and courthouses, reflecting their flexibility and reliability.
- Robust Partnerships: Close cooperation between MIT and Liberty Defense ensured that the technology met practical demands and accelerated its deployment where it’s needed most.
The Future of Security: Speed, Comfort, and Safety
HEXWAVE represents a pivotal advancement in security screening delivering faster, less intrusive checks while boosting the ability to identify concealed threats. The system’s journey from the laboratory to airports across the country demonstrates the power of innovation and collaboration between academia and industry. As the rollout continues, travelers and employees can look forward to smoother and safer passages through airports and other public spaces.
MIT's Walk-Through Screening Systems Are Changing Airport Security