See the unseen: When airport security meets pharma packaging or how to check in on Schrödinger’s cat

How curiosity turns proven millimeter-wave imaging technology from Rohde & Schwarz into new applications across industries – in pharma, food, logistics, or materials.
Let’s imagine being a superhero for a moment. What if you could see through closed containers or sealed packages – without actually opening any of them? What if you could verify what’s in there, find out what’s missing, or even detect hidden threats in seconds – without damaging the box?

Metaphorically, millimeter-wave imaging technology is a reality check on Schrödinger’s Paradox. The non-invasive imaging technology is already a game-changer in airport security scanners around the world. Now, curiosity drives Rohde & Schwarz engineers to ask a simple yet powerful question: “What’s next?”

In this episode, we’ll take a closer listen to one of their answers and check in with an industry expert on phar-maceutical quality control.

Explore with us

• Airport security 2.0: How 100+ images/second enable real-time threat detection in walk-through scanners now certified in Europe.

• The “first image” moment: Why every new scan is a live experiment and each sample reveals new, real-time data, inspiring innovation.

• X-Ray vs. millimeter-wave: Why the latter is a solution to verify drug packaging integrity without damaging sensitive biologics.

• Speed meets precision: Innovations like inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) to process 160 packages/minute in pharma lines.

• Future-proof tech: From submarine glass to logistics, how mm-wave imaging tech is able to adapt to diverse industries.

Our guest

• Kaspar Widmer-Cantz, industry expert and co-founder of pharma inspection specialist Obviotec, reveals the potential to bridge critical gaps in end-of-line pharmaceutical checks.

• Andreas von Lösecke, a Rohde & Schwarz expert for millimeter-wave imaging, breaks down the engineering behind the technology, and explores its potential for future applications across industries.

Our hosts

• Markus Haller, Rohde & Schwarz, blends his expertise as a physicist, former tech journalist, and corporate communications professional to make scientific insights and technological innovations accessible.

• Inga Müller-Siedentopp, Rohde & Schwarz, combines a background in economics and political science with experiences in journalism and a passion for corporate storytelling to translate complex technology into stories that stick.

Our topics

mm-wave imaging, pharma quality control, airport security, non-invasive inspection, ISAR technology, Obvi-otec, Rohde & Schwarz, AI, end-of-line testing, material penetration, industrial applications

Join the conversation

Do you have suggestions? What topics are you interested in? We look forward to your email at pod-cast@rohde-schwarz.com

Deep dive

Find out everything about the R&S Imager and its limitless possibilities (rohde-schwarz.com/de/loesungen/security/securi…)

Follow the Rohde & Schwarz Automotive channel on LinkedIn to stay up to date on all things imag-ing (linkedin.com/posts/rohde-schwarz_teaser-rs-mmw…)

Discover Swiss-based pharma inspection specialist Obviotec (obviotec.com)

Take a deep dive on security screening solutions and watch the Youtube playlist (youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKxVoO5jUTlsICJLGT2…)

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About us

Rohde & Schwarz is striving for a safer and connected world with its leading-edge solutions. Committed to innovation for more than 90 years, the independent technology group acts long-term and sustainably, making it a reliable partner to its industry and government customers worldwide.

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