New shoe scanner technology planned for US airports

Passenger Terminal Today
Kylie Bielby
10 January 2025

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is planning to deploy new shoe scanning technology within the next few years in order to gather feedback from travellers and TSA officers.

The scanner, which has been in development for several years, uses millimeter waves that pass through the sole of the shoe and sends 3D data to a computer for review. Currently, the footwear scan takes approximately two seconds and data processing about five seconds. The shoe scanner could potentially be incorporated into the floor of passenger screening systems enabling passengers and their shoes to be screened at the same time.

The shoe scanner is part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate’s Screening at Speed program, which is working with the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to develop improved detection capabilities and a more user-friendly passenger experience.

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