Imagine if going through airport security was just a matter of walking past a stretch of wall . No pat-downs , no X-rays , no metal detectors , and no need to remove any clothing . The harsh reality of today 's air travel is at strong odds with such a fantasy , but a new type of body scanner bears the promise to make every frequent traveler 's dream come true . It 's called `` Alfa3 '' and it 's based on the established technology of `` millimeter wave imaging '' , which is used in hundreds of scanners currently deployed in airports the world over . But unlike those , Alfa3 does not require you to enter a chamber , raise your arms and stand still while the machine analyzes your body : it is able , instead , to do its job as you simply walk by . `` It 's a type of thermal imaging '' , explains Dr. Naomi Alexander , the Madrid-based physicist who invented the Alfa3 , `` so we see the difference in temperature between the body and objects that are n't part of the body . '' Current systems return a detailed image of the person being scanned -- passengers can in fact opt out and receive a pat-down instead -- but Alfa3 uses a passive technology that can detect objects underneath clothing without revealing any anatomical details . And compared to standard metal detectors , it has the ability to spot non-metallic objects as well , such as liquids and gels . One of the problems with current scanners using the same technology is the high rate of false positives , sometimes greater than 50 percent . The Alfa3 uses a significantly higher resolution that promises excellent accuracy and automatic detection of threats , according to its inventor . Further advantages include the possibility to deploy the system outdoors and in a covert manner , which would make it an interesting option for military installations : Dr. Alexander has traveled to Kandahar , Afghanistan , to test one of the four prototypes in existence at a NATO military base . But the main appeal of the scanner is surely its high throughput , over 400 people per hour . This could mean the end of security lines at the airport . The problem is to now make potential customers aware of the new technology : `` It 's not like selling sunglasses , '' says Dr. Alexander , `` somebody already knows they want sunglasses , so they go and buy them , whereas with this system you have to explain the advantages with respect to what else is available on the market . '' `` It takes some time to sort of educate , I guess , the customer in that respect . So , it 's a process that needs to be gone through . '' Read more from Make , Create , Innovate : . Smart a la carte : 11 hi-tech gadgets for your food . Turn your kitchen into an orchestra with this magical device . Superbooks : High-tech reading puts you inside the story .
The Alfa3 scanner is able to detect suspicious objects on all paths . There is no need to cooperate or even collaborate to be effective . It can detect drugs , liquids , and other non - metallic objects . Privacy is respected as no anatomical details are shown .