Image for illustrative purposes only
Chinese researchers are testing a full-body scanner using space radar technology that can see through 30 layers of clothing with extremely high definition.
The scanner achieves super high resolution by combining multiple small antennas instead of using a conventional large antenna.
With its high resolution, this type of scanner can easily detect prohibited objects such as concealed weapons at security checkpoints.
Testing the scanner’s ability to capture images through different fabrics and thicknesses – Photo: National Laboratory of Optoelectronics in Wuhan.
Tests show that this scanner can even clearly see the logo on a person’s underwear if it is close enough.
The team at Huazhong University of Science and Technology conducted an experiment. They placed a thumb-sized “S” piece of paper underneath five types of clothing made from a variety of natural and synthetic fabrics.
The scanner showed a clear “S” on all 5 clothes. When increasing the number of fabric layers to 30, the image of the letter S fades but is still visible.
The high-resolution scanner could be used at airports and borders to “easily detect prohibited objects such as weapons concealed in clothing”.