The Department of Homeland Security‘s science and technology directorate and the Transportation Security Administration have begun to test touch-free fingerprint scanners at two airports with the goal to shorten the passenger identity verification process.
DHS said Tuesday the Advanced Optical Systems-built biometric fingerprint platforms are currently used in certain lanes at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and Denver International Airport for travelers registered under the TSA Precheck program.
The touch-free scanners allow Precheck members to use fingerprints as their boarding pass and identity document.
S&T will assess the non-contact technology’s usability and compare such platforms with traditional contact sensors to address potential use errors.
The new fingerprint scanners were introduced by TSA’s Innovation Task Force, which works to identify technologies that can optimize screening activities.
The test series will support TSA’s efforts to determine whether biometrics can replace boarding passes in the future.
