Home > News Centre > Airports could soon be protected by Frequency Selective Screens currently being developed by QinetiQ
19 July 04
Airports could soon be protected by Frequency Selective Screens currently being developed by QinetiQ
Wallpaper that blocks out unwanted mobile phone and RF signals
Preventing people from using mobile phones within certain areas of an airport or other buildings including schools, hospitals, prisons and theatres offers significant security and operational advantages, so QinetiQ has developed a low cost manufacturing process to make Frequency Selective 'wallpaper' Screens (FSS) to do just this.
"Phones can not only be disruptive or annoying but on occasions pose a real security threat as they could be used to set off a device," explained Michael Burns, Director of Aviation Markets at QinetiQ. "It's also important to keep WiFi enabled signals contained and restrict unauthorised access. The wallpaper allows certain wavelengths to pass through them whilst preventing others, so mobile phone or WiFi signals are effectively blocked out but two-way radio, as used by the emergency services, and other similar systems are totally unaffected."
"Until now it's only been practical to manufacture small areas of Frequency Selective Screens, so they have been predominantly used as the protective screening for microwave oven doors or used in various radar applications. With our QinetiQ Metal Printing (QMP) process, it's now both practical and economic to produce large sheets of the material."
Typical areas that could be screened within an airport include the arrival halls or sections of the departure lounges to produce 'quiet zones'. Explosive containment areas, where suspicious packages are held awaiting investigation could also be protected using FSS which means a mobile phone could not be used to trigger off a device.
Preventing people from using mobile phones within certain areas of an airport or other buildings including schools, hospitals, prisons and theatres offers significant security and operational advantages, so QinetiQ has developed a low cost manufacturing process to make Frequency Selective 'wallpaper' Screens (FSS) to do just this.
"Phones can not only be disruptive or annoying but on occasions pose a real security threat as they could be used to set off a device," explained Michael Burns, Director of Aviation Markets at QinetiQ. "It's also important to keep WiFi enabled signals contained and restrict unauthorised access. The wallpaper allows certain wavelengths to pass through them whilst preventing others, so mobile phone or WiFi signals are effectively blocked out but two-way radio, as used by the emergency services, and other similar systems are totally unaffected."
"Until now it's only been practical to manufacture small areas of Frequency Selective Screens, so they have been predominantly used as the protective screening for microwave oven doors or used in various radar applications. With our QinetiQ Metal Printing (QMP) process, it's now both practical and economic to produce large sheets of the material."
Typical areas that could be screened within an airport include the arrival halls or sections of the departure lounges to produce 'quiet zones'. Explosive containment areas, where suspicious packages are held awaiting investigation could also be protected using FSS which means a mobile phone could not be used to trigger off a device.
A frequency Selective Screen
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(63kB )
Airlines are also increasingly using wireless LANs but where several may be working in close proximity to each other, they still want to ensure the integrity of their information. A growing number of security devices like X-ray machines are also being wireless enabled and the FSS can be used to prevent then interfering or interacting with other similar devices in the same area.
The frequency selective screens (FSS) are produced using the QinetiQ Metal Printing process, which is based on printing a desired pattern on to either a flexible or rigid substrate using industry standard printing processes. Fully densified metal is then "grown" where required by immersion into electroless baths. With significantly fewer production stages than current techniques, the process produces negligible waste, is a highly scalable production process, is exceptionally cost effective and flexible plus has better "green" credentials.
Michael Burns concluded, "This technology could easily be applied to hospitals, schools, public areas or indeed any building that wants to prevent mobile use, establish a secure WiFi network or prevent unauthorised external 'electronic' entry. We are also exploring wider commercial applications both within and outside the aviation sector, but our technology is already providing sound commercial advantages."
In addition to frequency selective screens, other applications identified for this process include the mass production of RFID tags at very low unit cost, the application of metallic finishes to plastic components and shielding in plastic enclosures for high frequency assemblies.
The QinetiQ Metal Printing process was originally conceived in 2001 because QinetiQ needed large 'sheets' (up to 2m2) of Frequency Selective Surfaces for use in radar applications and as part of its development of its MillimetreWave security screening device.
The frequency selective screens (FSS) are produced using the QinetiQ Metal Printing process, which is based on printing a desired pattern on to either a flexible or rigid substrate using industry standard printing processes. Fully densified metal is then "grown" where required by immersion into electroless baths. With significantly fewer production stages than current techniques, the process produces negligible waste, is a highly scalable production process, is exceptionally cost effective and flexible plus has better "green" credentials.
Michael Burns concluded, "This technology could easily be applied to hospitals, schools, public areas or indeed any building that wants to prevent mobile use, establish a secure WiFi network or prevent unauthorised external 'electronic' entry. We are also exploring wider commercial applications both within and outside the aviation sector, but our technology is already providing sound commercial advantages."
In addition to frequency selective screens, other applications identified for this process include the mass production of RFID tags at very low unit cost, the application of metallic finishes to plastic components and shielding in plastic enclosures for high frequency assemblies.
The QinetiQ Metal Printing process was originally conceived in 2001 because QinetiQ needed large 'sheets' (up to 2m2) of Frequency Selective Surfaces for use in radar applications and as part of its development of its MillimetreWave security screening device.
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