Rutgers-led study WiFi can detect weapons in bags

A study led by Rutgers University-New Brunswick has found that WiFi can detect weapons, bombs and explosive chemicals in bags at public venues.A study led by Rutgers University-New Brunswick has found that WiFi can detect weapons, bombs and explosive chemicals in bags at public venues.

Rutgers researchers’ Suspicious Object Detection System could reduce security screening costs and avoid invading privacy through human screeners inspecting luggage.

The researchers received a Best Paper Award at the recent 2018 IEEE Conference on Communications and Network Security. The study was led by researchers at the Wireless Information Network Laboratory in the School of Engineering and also included engineers at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and Binghamton University.

They determined that WiFi signals in most public places can penetrate bags to get the dimensions of dangerous metal objects and identify them, including weapons, aluminum cans, laptops and batteries for bombs.