Mara Winn, vice president of aviation at K2 Security Screening Group, discusses the two US patents behind her augmented reality screening technology, and how heads-up guidance could reshape officer performance and the future of checkpoint security
Can you walk us through how the AR heads-up interface actually works in practice? What does the officer actually see, and how is it different from just looking at a normal x-ray screen?
The key difference is that we’re bringing the information directly into the officer’s field of view instead of requiring them to mentally translate information from a separate monitor.
In a traditional screening environment, an officer receives an alarm notification and then has to determine where to focus attention based on limited information from a screening system. With the AR-enabled approach, the officer wears a headset or smart glasses that overlay relevant information directly onto the passenger or property being screened.
For example, if a scanner identifies an area of concern, the system can visually indicate the precise location that requires resolution. The interface can also provide step-by-step guidance on the appropriate screening procedure and display progress indicators as each required action is completed. Rather than looking back and forth between a person, a bag and multiple screens, the officer has the information available in context, where it’s needed most.
The goal is to improve situational awareness, reduce cognitive load and make the screening process more intuitive and consistent.
The patents describe “dynamic algorithmic walkthroughs” guiding compliance and safety checklists in real time. How adaptive is this guidance? Does it respond to what the system detects, or is it following a fixed decision tree?
The vision was never to create a static checklist displayed in a new format. The real value comes from making the guidance responsive to the situation.
The architecture allows the system to incorporate information from the screening technology, the type of alarm being resolved and the progress of the officer performing the procedure. As actions are completed, the system can update guidance and confirm that required protocol steps have been addressed.
In many ways, it’s similar to the evolution we’ve seen in navigation systems. Rather than handing someone a printed route, the system can present the next best action based on current conditions.
That adaptability has the potential to improve protocol compliance while helping officers manage increasingly complex screening environments. The objective is not to replace officer judgment, but to provide decision support that helps ensure procedures are executed consistently and correctly.
What specific security challenge were you trying to solve when you and your co-inventors developed this technology? Was there a particular gap in current screening protocols that prompted it?
One of the challenges we observed was the gap between detection and resolution, with a focus on officer support throughout the process.
Modern screening systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated at identifying potential threats, but once an alarm occurs, officers often receive limited information about exactly where to search or which resolution steps should be prioritized. That can lead to variation in outcomes based on experience levels, interpretation or operational tempo.
We asked ourselves a simple question: What if we could provide officers with more precise, contextual information at the moment they need it?
The concept grew from that idea. We wanted to create a way to connect advanced screening technologies with intuitive, real-time guidance that could help officers resolve alarms more efficiently, more consistently and with greater confidence.
Ultimately, the goal was to strengthen security while also improving the experience for both officers and travelers.
One of the ideas here is that officers don’t have to look away from the passenger or the screen to get guidance. What effect do you expect this to have on officer performance and error rates?
Whenever you’re asking someone to switch attention between multiple sources of information, you introduce additional workload.
By keeping guidance within the officer’s field of view, we’re attempting to reduce that burden. The officer can remain focused on the person or item being screened while simultaneously receiving relevant information and procedural guidance.
We believe that could lead to several benefits. First, it may reduce the likelihood of missed steps or procedural inconsistencies. Second, it can support less experienced officers by providing just-in-time guidance. Third, it allows experienced personnel to execute procedures more efficiently without needing to reference multiple systems and take their attention away from the passenger.
From a human factors perspective, reducing unnecessary task switching is generally associated with improved performance and greater consistency. Those are exactly the kinds of operational benefits we hoped to enable through this technology.
Looking ahead, where does this technology go next? Could AR-guided screening extend beyond checkpoint x-ray to other areas of aviation security, and what’s the realistic timeline for operational deployment?
I think the broader opportunity is much larger than a single checkpoint application.
Any environment where personnel need to interpret complex information and execute standardized security procedures could potentially benefit from augmented reality guidance. That could include passenger screening, checked baggage operations, access control environments, cargo screening, training applications, or even remote collaboration between front-line personnel and subject matter experts.
What’s exciting is that AR technology continues to mature, and we’re seeing increasing adoption across many industries. As those capabilities improve, the potential to integrate real-time data, computer vision and decision-support tools into operational workflows becomes even more compelling.
As for deployment timelines, technology transition is always a journey. The patent and proof-of-concept stages are important milestones, but operational adoption requires continued development, testing, evaluation and collaboration with industry partners. The next step would be the US Department of Homeland Security, as the patent owner, to initiate commercialization efforts, most likely through its Science and Technology Directorate.
What excites me most is not a specific deployment date. It’s the fact that we’re beginning to rethink what security screening could look like in the future. This invention reflects a broader mindset that innovation isn’t just about addressing today’s challenges. It’s about anticipating tomorrow’s needs and creating technologies that help security professionals perform their mission more effectively.
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