Eight airports were chosen by the Airport Authority Of India (AAI) to test the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence in baggage screening. Pune airport was among the eight where the ‘Baggage AI’ system was implemented. The AI-powered system looks to strengthen security efforts at the airport.
“Baggage AI is an artificial intelligence-based solution developed to enhance security at the airports. It is the first-of-its-kind threat detection system for security x-ray machines. This AI software technology can automatically detect various objects and other threats from the x-ray images produced during the screening of baggage and alert operatives”, commented Ajay Kumar, Director of Pune Airport.
Under the ‘Innovation for Airport Programme’, AAI selected eight start-ups from across the country to provide new methods and products for various processes at the airport. The start-ups were tasked with the development of technologies pertaining to air transport and logistics with the opportunity to test their innovations at selected airports. The start-ups, in their venture, would also receive help – in cash and kind, from the AAI.
Such a start-up is Mumbai-based Dimensionless Technologies which introduced ‘Baggage AI’. Exploring the potential and possibilities of Baggage AI, co-founder Himanshu Arora says, “There are many small things like a lighter, vaping machine and more which do not appear prominently on an x-ray scan. Baggage AI can detect these objects in the luggage and show them prominently with the help of shades and colour.”
The AAI believes that Baggage AI will function as a ‘second pair of eyes’ for the security personnel assisting them in bolstering security by detecting and effectively removing the minutest of threats.
