Beyond the Wand: Imaging Radar Redefines Secondary Security Screening

AUSTIN, TX – June 02, 2026 – For anyone who has ever been pulled aside at a security checkpoint, the process is universally familiar and frustrating: the manual rummaging through a bag, the intrusive sweep of a handheld wand, the request to remove shoes or boots. This secondary screening process, a critical but often clunky component of security, has long been a source of operational bottlenecks and public friction. Now, Austin-based Athena Security aims to overhaul this experience with the launch of its Secondary Screening WDS™, a system that leverages advanced imaging radar to make these checks faster, more efficient, and significantly less invasive.

Announced today, the new system is designed to resolve alarms from primary screening checkpoints without interrupting the main flow of traffic. It represents a significant step forward in a market hungry for smarter, more streamlined security solutions that don't compromise on safety.

The Persistent Bottleneck of Security

In high-traffic environments like hospitals, stadiums, schools, and corporate headquarters, maintaining both robust security and efficient throughput is a constant balancing act. Primary screening systems, such as walkthrough metal detectors, have become faster and more intelligent. However, the secondary screening process—triggered whenever a primary system flags a potential concern—has largely remained a manual, time-consuming affair. This chokepoint not only slows down entry for everyone but can also create a negative experience for visitors and place a heavy burden on security staff.

"How organizations handle secondary screening is becoming just as important as primary screening,” said Chris Ciabarra, CTO and Co-Founder of Athena Security, in the announcement. “Many security environments still rely heavily on manual searches, handheld wands, or pulling every item out of a bag. Athena Secondary Screening WDS™ was designed to give officers faster visibility into concealed areas while improving operational flow and reducing unnecessary invasive searches.”

The need for such innovation is underscored by a rapidly growing global security screening market, which analysts project will more than double to over $22 billion by 2034. This growth is fueled by a demand for technologies that can offer enhanced threat detection without creating friction in public life. The challenge is to find solutions that are effective, efficient, and respectful of personal space—a gap Athena’s new system is precisely engineered to fill.

A Technological Leap in Threat Resolution

At the heart of the Secondary Screening WDS™ is non-ionizing imaging radar technology. While radar-based screening is not entirely new—the millimeter-wave technology used in full-body scanners at airports operates on a similar principle—Athena's claim to a "first-of-its-kind" solution lies in its specific application. It's not designed for mass primary screening, but as a dedicated, downstream tool for surgically resolving specific alerts.

The technology, which builds on the architecture of the company's Ambulance Bay Weapons Detection System, uses safe, non-ionizing radio waves to generate a live, real-time image of the area or item being screened. When a person is directed to the secondary station, they can simply walk between the system's panels. To inspect a bag, an officer can place it next to the unit, rotating it to give the sensors multiple viewing angles of its contents. This imaging data is instantly displayed on an iPad interface and a larger monitor for the officer's review.

This workflow allows security personnel to quickly visualize concealed metallic objects, dense anomalies, items hidden in footwear, or suspicious contents in a bag, all without physical contact. It provides a layer of data-rich inspection that a simple wand cannot, giving officers more context to make informed decisions while maintaining situational awareness of their surroundings.

Forging a Stronger Link in the Security Chain

Modern security philosophy is built on the concept of a layered defense, where multiple technologies and protocols work in concert to mitigate threats. The Secondary Screening WDS™ is positioned as a crucial link in this chain, bridging the gap between a primary alert and its final resolution. In a typical deployment, a primary walkthrough detector like Athena's Apollo system might flag a concern. Instead of stopping the entire line, the individual is seamlessly directed to the adjacent WDS station for a quick, non-invasive scan.

This integrated approach allows the main entry to continue flowing, a critical advantage for venues processing thousands of people per hour. The system is designed to work alongside both walkthrough detectors and AI-assisted X-ray baggage scanners, feeding into a unified security ecosystem. It also incorporates DHS-informed workflow guidance to help standardize procedures and ensure operational consistency.

“Our vision is human-in-the-loop security enhanced by advanced sensing technologies and AI-assisted workflows,” added Ciabarra. “Athena Secondary Screening WDS™ gives officers another tool to make faster and more informed security decisions while maintaining operational efficiency.” This vision reflects a broader industry shift toward empowering human operators with advanced technology rather than attempting to replace them entirely.

Balancing Throughput, Experience, and Privacy

Beyond its technical capabilities, the system's greatest promise may lie in its potential to transform the human side of security screening. By reducing the need for invasive manual searches and unnecessary shoe removal, it aims to create a more dignified and professional atmosphere—a key consideration for healthcare facilities, corporate offices, and schools.

Naturally, any technology that can 'see' through objects raises questions about privacy. Athena emphasizes that the system uses non-ionizing radar, which is considered safe for repeated use and is inherently more privacy-preserving than standard optical cameras, as it does not capture detailed anatomical images. The output is typically a data-driven representation, highlighting anomalies rather than personal features. The company states that privacy considerations are "engineered into the system."

However, as with any surveillance technology, transparency will be key to public acceptance. While the technology itself is privacy-conscious, clear and publicly available policies on data handling, storage, and retention for the imaging data will be critical for building trust. Ensuring that the data is used solely for its intended security purpose, without risk of misuse or 'function creep,' remains a paramount responsibility for any provider in this space.

With plans to showcase the system at industry events throughout 2026, Athena Security is betting that the market is ready for a smarter approach to an age-old security problem. By focusing on the often-neglected secondary screening stage, the company is not just launching a new product, but is proposing a more intelligent and humane future for how we secure our public spaces.