NW Pro, a family company based in Bedfordshire, has transformed from designing, installing and maintaining security systems, to creating cutting-edge AI solutions for high-end security.
- NW Pro developed Deeper Scan, an AI-powered electronic device screening system for airport security, through DASA's Future Aviation Security Solutions competition funding - and specialist technical support from Dstl.
- The DASA support enabled critical laboratory testing with real explosives, stakeholder connections, and market credibility that accelerated the technology from concept to commercial trials.
- The company won the ADS Security Innovation Award for their AI-powered CCTV system NexuSec, demonstrating how MOD investment drives British innovation in defence and security technologies.
Through the Defence and Security Accelerator's Future Aviation Security Solutions (FASS) programme, NW Pro developed Deeper Scan, an innovative electronic device screening technology that is revolutionising airport security.
Deeper Scan addresses a critical vulnerability in current airport security screening. Traditional methods for detecting threats in electronic devices rely heavily on human operators making rapid judgements about complex X-ray images, leading to inconsistencies and potential security gaps.
"We started by supplying and maintaining off-the shelf products, but over time, we found what customers wanted didn't exist. We evolved by listening closely to end-user needs," explains founder and director Jay Richards. "The DASA experience enabled us to find ways to meet customer demands that we didn't know how to achieve at that stage".
The Technology Behind Deeper Scan
The system uses AI algorithms to automatically scan electronic devices and compare them against a trusted database of known devices. When scanning a laptop, tablet, or phone, the technology can identify any modifications or anomalies that might indicate concealed threats. Unlike conventional scanners that simply highlight areas with suspicious chemical compositions, Deeper Scan provides fully automated analysis without requiring constant human intervention.
The portable cabinet-based system provides a secure, automated screening process that significantly reduces operator workload whilst improving threat detection accuracy. The technology can process devices in seconds, with scans automatically sent to a secure control room
