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Chapter 2
AIRPORT SECURITY WITH METAL DETECTOR

2.1. Type of Metal Detector

There are three kinds of metal detector to choose from. It is crucial to
recognize the variety prior to buying one. Choose the model that best fits expertise
level, budget, and the kind of pursuit want to take up; whether want to go searching
for relics, or go for the gold. Once pick a metal detector that contains all of the
features need, will be more successful in endeavors. The following are the types of
metal detectors need to know.

2.1.1. Beat-Frequency Oscillation

The beat-frequency oscillator, or BFO, is generally the simplest type of metal
detector and is a good starting point for learning how metal detectors work. The beat
frequency oscillator (BFO) metal detector is one of the most rudimentary metal
detection systems. It is one of the most commonly found metal detectors. It can easily
be found at an electrical store. Just like all the other metal detectors, the Beat
Frequency Oscillation detector consists of a copper coil rolled around a ring made of
iron or steel. There are two rings, a larger one installed at the base while the smaller
one is attached slightly above the other ring. Both the coils are connected to the
oscillator for frequency generation.
Both these coils, however, work separately at a different frequency. The metal
detector detects the difference in the frequency of both the coils and a pulse of a radio
wave is generated, which is received through a speaker attached to the device. Metal
detectors also come with headphones that can be used to hear the beeping sound in the
presence of metal nearby. Thus, when the base coil is placed near a metallic object, it
distorts the stable hum being created by the presence of electromagnetism between the
coils. This interference in the frequency transmission indicates the presence of a
metallic object.
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The simplicity of this device makes it a cheap option. Despite low accuracy, it
can be considered an excellent device for beginner level metal detection. Best
frequency oscillation is capable of locating objects at a distance of 2 feet under the
ground.

2.1.2. Very Low Frequency (VLF)

This one is currently the most popular among the metal detector users or
experienced treasure seekers. Very-low Frequency Detectors offer greater accuracy
and sensitivity. The detector consists of two spherical coils as well, where the first one
works as a transmitter while the second one works as a receiver. Strong electric
current, produced through the transmitter, is received by the receiver which amplifies
them. Consequently, a magnetic field is created around the coils, which extends about
two feet underground.
This metal detector can distinguish between different metals by generating
varying frequencies. A stronger field is produced in the presence of steel or iron,
which these detectors can differentiate from other metals. This helps in saving up time
one have wasted in digging up a useless piece of junk. Furthermore, due to its high
sensitivity, it can sense objects that have a feeble magnetic pulse. Such metals include
gold, which is extremely valuable. This is why this type of detector is a better choice
when it comes to searching for valuables.

2.1.3. Pulse Induction (PI)

The pulse induction kind is specifically employed to look deep into the surface
for relics, gold, and treasure. The larger-sized models are employed at checkpoints
that need security for firearm/weapon detection. Pulse Induction detector is the latest
technology when it comes to metal detectors. This type is used for security purposes
for the detection of any concealed weapons. It sends short bursts of powerful current
through the coils, however, as soon as this current end the magnetic field reverses.
The presence of any metallic object is detected as soon they come under the influence
of the magnetic field. This helps filter out the noise of the other objects that might
help a preexisting magnetic field.
Furthermore, this type of detector is pricier compared to the others. The
industrial kind is employed mainly for security purposes. One of the most widely-
used examples of an industrial detector is the doorframe detector. This type is
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normally found in a majority of well-secured buildings and airports It is also very

efficient when it comes to preventing criminals from going inside buildings with
hidden weapons. The common gold metal detector makes use of VLF, mentioned
earlier, to distinguish gold buried under the ground. The search for relics by means of
metal detectors can range from antiquated coins, down to artifacts from the Civil War
and other historical events. This is a pursuit that is mostly popular in the United
States, Australia and Europe.
For relic metal detecting, one of the most crucial factors that seekers have to
consider is the kind of ground they will be searching on. Soil or ground with hefty
mineralization may require a metal detector that has ground balance control so users
can strain out intrusions from minerals, yet still possess enough sensitivity for a good
selection of relics. The frequency of the detector is important; since plenty of relics
are built from brass, iron, and steel material. This will only happen if put the time in
and learn the different programs and features of machine. Lastly, a model with
pinpointing control is also a must in order to allow users to zoom in on an item more
quickly.

2.2. Working principle of Airport Security

All public access to an airport is channeled through the terminal, where every
person must walk through a metal detector and all items must go through an X-ray
machine. If a metal object passes through the metal detector, the pulse creates an
opposite magnetic field in the object. When the pulse's magnetic field collapses,
causing the reflected pulse, the magnetic field of the object makes it take longer for
the reflected pulse to completely disappear. Travelers are screened by metal detectors
and/or millimeter wave scanners. Explosive detection machines used include X-ray
machines and explosives trace-detection portal machines. In the United States, the
Transportation Security Administration is working on new scanning machines that are
still effective searching for objects that are not allowed in the airplanes but that do not
depict the passengers in a state of undress that some find embarrassing. Computed
tomography and walk-through body scanning may also be used. In the future, it may
also be used in conjunction with CT machines and THz radiation detectors.
Alternately, the passengers step fully shoed onto a device which scans in under 1.2
seconds for objects as small as a razor blade. In some countries, specially trained
individuals may engage passengers in a conversation to detect threats rather than
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solely relying on equipment to find threats. A single backscatter scan exposes the
target to between 0.05 and 0.1 micro Sievert of radiation. In comparison, the exposure
from a standard chest x-ray is almost 100 times higher.
Almost all airport metal detectors are based on pulse induction (PI). Typical PI
systems use a coil of wire on one side of the arch as the transmitter and receiver. This
technology sends powerful, short bursts (pulses) of current through the coil of wire.
Each pulse generates a brief magnetic field. When the pulse ends, the magnetic field
reverses polarity and collapses very suddenly, resulting in a sharp electrical spike.
This spike lasts a few microseconds (millionths of a second) and causes another
current to run through the coil. This subsequent current is called the reflected pulse
and lasts only about 30 microseconds. Another pulse is then sent and the process
repeats. A typical PI-based metal detector can vary greatly based on the manufacturer
and model. If a metal object passes through the metal detector, the pulse creates an
opposite magnetic field in the object. When the pulse's magnetic field collapses,
causing the reflected pulse, the magnetic field of the object makes it take longer for
the reflected pulse to completely disappear.
A sampling circuit in the metal detector is set to monitor the length of the
reflected pulse. By comparing it to the expected length, the circuit can determine if
another magnetic field has caused the reflected pulse to take longer to decay. If the
decay of the reflected pulse takes more than a few microseconds longer than normal,
there is probably a metal object interfering with it.

2.3. Application of Metal Detector

There are four types of application of Metal Detector. They are;

 Security for Buildings
 Search for Lost

2.3.1. Security for Buildings

Metal detector is very useful to screen people entering a particular building or
place, such as airport, office, school, prison, etc. Mounted detectors (unmovable)
usually use some variation of Pulse Induction (PI) technology. The portable handheld
metal detectors usually use Best Frequency Oscillation (BFO) technology.
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Figure 2.1.Walk through metal detector

2.3.2. Search for Lost

If someone search for a lost item, such as precious piece of jewelry, thanks to
metal detector that can help them searching their metal lost items. Thus, people will
not spend so much time in searching their metal lost items because of metal detector.
Since the ability of metal detector to detect the metal objects, it can use to
detect the antiquities that made of metal, such as a Greek gold crown, or an iron
tempered war-clothes from China. Therefore the archaeologist can found the
antiquities in the certain historical places easily.
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2.4. Advantages of Security System with Metal Detector

The metal detector consists of the oscillator producing the alternating current
which passes through a coil producing the alternating magnetic field, if the piece of
electrically conductive metal is close to the coil, eddy currents will be induced in the
metal and this produces the magnetic field of its own.
The metal detector uses the principles of the electromagnetic induction; the
detection of the possible dangerous metallic object is notified with the alarm. It is
more convenient and more efficient in terms of functionality and application. So, the
walk through and the handheld metal detector will give the best security.
The handheld detector is primarily used by security personnel to physically
examine if the person is concealing a metallic object. The walk-through detector alerts
the security personnel when the person passing through the arch is carrying metallic
objects. The hand held metal detectors are more affordable & they are still able to
identify metallic objects that are considered to be dangerous, while walk though
models are more convenient and more efficient. The security personnel can physically
detect if the person is carrying the metallic object, while walk through metal detectors
are much quicker and they alert the security personnel of dangerous objects such as
the knives or the weapons.
The active detector is a device which generates the energy for illuminating the
portal region of the detector. The generated energy for the walk-through metal
detector is in the form of the magnetic field. The interaction of the generated magnetic
field with some types of objects in the portal region of the detector and walk-through
metal detectors has the ability to detect this interaction.
It can feel safety in the airport, the college, the office building or any other
area where these detectors are being used, the people that are using them can control
who enters a specific area and what he brings inside it. Metal detectors can deter
potential criminals because the criminal will think twice before walking through a
security check point, they offer alarm indication. The signal warns of the detection
metal object. The indication can be visual and/or auditory and the alarm indication is
off until a metal object is detected.
The alarm indication is proportional to the size, proximity, orientation and
material of an object. The device used to generate the alarm indication can be a light
bulb, lamp, light emitting diode, etc. Generating device can be a horn, siren, buzzer or
similar item for the auditory indication.
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2.5. Disadvantages of Security System with Metal Detector

The main drawback in using the metal detectors is the privacy concern; many
individual finds it uncomfortable to undergo thorough physical examination of their
bodies for potential metallic objects. The people are concern about the radiation
which is emitted and released by the security metal detectors that might probably
cause danger to their health and their person. The metal detector creates the
electromagnetic field that can cause the electrical interference to the electronic
devices. So, it may harm the pacemakers and it can be fatal for those people. So, it is
advised that they avoid passing through them. The metal detectors can give a false
alarm if the people are wearing some kind of jewellery, watch, phone, and loose
change or similar, some people can feel embarrassed and it can cause panic for no
reason. The false alarm caused by the detectors can be inconvenient both for the
security personnel and the person to whom the alarm turned on.
The first disadvantage of a metal detector is that it may give a false alarm.
This may happen if someone is carrying any sort of metal object on them (watch,
phone, toy, jewellery). This may cause panic for no reason and cause the person to be
embarrassed. This is seen as a major inconvenience for both the person and staff.
Another disadvantage is that the metal detector isn’t really effective with people who
have had to get a pacemaker or other types of replacements such as a knee
replacement. It may also be unsafe for these people. In most cases, these people avoid
going through metal detectors.
The final disadvantage of a metal detector is that it may interfere with certain
personal devices. For example, it may interfere with a magnetic recording device. An
example of this is a cassette or CD. It also interferes with other things such as a cell
phone, forcing people to turn it off before walking through.

2.6. History of Arduino

Over the years Arduino has been the brain of thousands of program, from
every object to complex scientific instruments. A worldwide community of makers,
student, hobbyists, artists, programmers, and professionals that has gathered around
this open-source platform, their contributions have added up to an incredible amount
of accessible knowledge that can be of great help to novices and experts alike.
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Arduino was born interaction design institute at the Lvrea as an easy tool for
fast prototyping, aimed at students without a background in electronics and
programming. As soon as it reached a wider community, the Arduino board started
changing to adapt to new needs and challenges, differentiating its offer form simple8-
bit boards to products for IOT applications, wearable, 3D printing and embedded
environments.
The Arduino software is easy-to-use for beginners, yet flexible enough for
advanced users. It runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Teachers and students use it to
build low cost scientific instruments, to prove chemistry and physics, or to get started
with programming and robotics. Designers and architects build interactive prototypes,
musicians and artists use it for installations and to experiment with new musical
instruments.
Makers, of course, use it to build many of this type of machine exhibited at the
maker faire, for example. Arduino is a key tool to learn new things. Anyone that
children, hobbyists, artists, programmers are sharing ideas by online with other
members of the Arduino community.

2.6.1. Basic Types of Microcontroller

There are many other microcontrollers and microcontroller platforms available
for physical computing. Parallax basic stamp, net media’s BX-24, phi digits, MIT’s
handy board, and many others offer similar functionality. All of these tools take the
messy details of microcontroller programming and warp if up in easy-to use package.
Arduino also simplifies the process of working with microcontrollers, but it offers
some advantage for teachers, students, and interested amateurs over other systems.
 Inexpensive-Arduino boards are relatively inexpensive compared to other
microcontroller platforms. The least expensive version of the Arduino module
can be assembled by hand, and even the pre-assembled the Arduino software
(IDE) runs on windows, Macintosh OSX, and Linux operating systems. Most
of the microcontroller systems are the limited microcontroller to windows.
 Simple, clear programming environment- The Arduino software (IDE) is easy-
to-use for beginners, yet flexible enough for advanced users to take advantage
of as well. For teachers, it’s conveniently based on the process programming
environment will be familiar with the Arduino.
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 Open source and extensible software- the Arduino software is published as

open source tools, available for extension by experienced programmers. The
language can be expanded through C++ libraries, and people wanting to
understand the technical details can make the leap from Arduino to the AVR C
programming language on which it’s based.
 Open source and extensible hardware- The plans of the Arduino boards are
published under a creative commons license, so experienced circuit designers
can make their own version of the module, extending it and improving it. Even
relatively inexperienced users can build the breadboard version of the module
in order to understand how it works and save money.

2.6.2. Power (USB/ Barrel Jack)

Every Arduino board needs a way to be connected to a power source. The
Arduino UNO can be power from a USB cable coming from computer or a wall
power supply (like this) that is terminated in a barrel jack. In the picture above the
USB connection is labelled and the barrel jack is labelled. The USB connection is also
how will load code Arduino board. The pins on Arduino are places where connect
wires to construct a circuit probably in conjunction with a breadboard and some wire.
They usually have black plastic’ headers’ that allows to just plugging a wire right into
the board. The Arduino has several different kinds of pins, each of which is labelled
on the board and used for functions.
 GND ; Short for ‘Ground’, There are several GND pins on the Arduino, any of
which can be used to ground circuit.5V & 3.3V, As might guess, the 5V pin
supplies 5 volts of power, and the 3.3V pin supplies 3.3 volts of power. Most
of the simple components used with the Arduino run happily off of 5 or 3.3
volts.
 Analog; the area of pins under the ‘Analog In’ label (A0 through A5 on the
UNO) is analog in pins. These pins can read the signal from an analog.
 Digital; Across from the analog pins are the digital pins (0 through 13 on the
UNO). These pin can be used for both digital input (like telling if a button is
pushed) and digital output (like powering an LED).
 PWM; these pins act as digital pins, but can also be used for pulse-width
modulation (PWM). Having a tutorial on PWM, but for now, these pins as
being able to simulate analog output.
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 AREF; Stands for Analog Reference. Most of the time can leave this pin
alone. It is sometimes used to set an external reference voltage (between 0 and
5 Volts) as the upper limit for the analog input pins.

2.6.3. Reset Button

Just like the original Nintendo, the Arduino has a reset button. Pushing it will
temporarily connect the reset pin to ground and restart any code that is loaded on the
Arduino. This can be very useful if code doesn’t repeat, but want to test if multiple
times. Unlike the original Nintendo however, blowing on the Arduino doesn’t usually
fix any problems.

2.6.4. Power LED Indicator

Just beneath and to the right of the word “UNO” on circuit board, there’s a
tiny LED next to the word ‘ON’, LED should light up whenever plug Arduino into a
power source. If this light doesn’t turn on, there’s a good chance something is wrong.

2.6.5. Main IC
The black thing with all the metal legs is an IC or integrated circuit. It is the
brains of Arduino. The main IC on the Arduino is slightly different from board type,
but is usually from the AT mega line of IC’s from the ATMEL Company. This can
be important, as may need to know the IC type (along board type) before loading up a
new program from the Arduino software. This information can usually be founding
writing on the top side of the IC. If want to know more about the difference between
various IC’s, reading the datasheets is often a good idea.

2.6.6. Voltage Regulator of Arduino

The voltage regulator is not actually something can do or should interact with
Arduino. But it potentially useful to know that it is there and what it’s for. The voltage
regular does exactly; it says it can control the amount of the voltage that is let into the
Arduino board. Think of it as a kind of gatekeeper; it will turn away an extra voltage
that might harm the circuit. Of course, it has its limits, so don’t hook up Arduino to
anything greater than 20 volts.