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Bottled Liquid Scanners

Innovation & Technology

Bottled liquids scanners are explosive detection systems that differentiate liquid explosives from common, benign liquids. This technology is capable of analyzing substances within a bottle by aiming sensors at the bottle opening and analyzing the intake of certain vapors.

TSA has piloted two handheld explosive detection systems in the airport environment: the Nomadics, Inc. Fido PaxPoint and the Smiths SABRE. TSA worked with the manufacturers, DHS Science & Technology Directorate, and the national science labs to modify the Fido PaxPoint to scan bottled liquids.

The challenges of screening bottles for concealed explosives or flammable liquids have been explored for a decade plus, but previous technology was not operationally viable due to commonalities in materials and high alarm rates. The challenge has been two-fold: the range of physical properties of liquid explosives and potential flammable liquids, and the broad range of benign, common liquids with which people travel.