Image reconstruction algorithms underpin Rapiscan Systems’ RTT110 baggage scanner, bring benefits to airports and generate over USD215M in sales

  • Lionheart, William (Participant)
  • Marta Betcke (Participant)
  • Nicola Wadeson (Participant)
  • William Thompson (Participant)

Impact: Economic, Technological

Narrative

Airports across the EU, Asia, Africa and USA have purchased ‘Real Time Tomography (RTT) 110’ scanners from Rapiscan Systems to screen cargo and hold baggage, resulting in at least USD215,000,000 revenue for Rapiscan since July 2015. University of Manchester researchers developed new image reconstruction algorithms, which made the RTT110 Computed Tomography scanner’s innovative no-moving-parts design possible. The RTT110 system benefits airports by saving them real-estate space, improving customer screening throughput by 300%, and reducing maintenance costs by 35-50%, whilst maintaining a leading 2% automated-decision rejection rate that lowers operator fatigue. The RTT110’s success allowed Rapiscan to maintain their research & development and manufacturing presence in the UK, employing approximately 200 people, and is being leveraged to expand into new areas of biosecurity and agriculture.
Impact date1 Aug 201331 Jul 2020
Category of impactEconomic, Technological
Impact levelAdoption