AUSTIN, Texas – Artificial intelligence-enabled physical security solutions provider Athena Security recently announced its Ambulance Bay Weapons Detection System.
Powered by a new Ambulance Bay AI Agent, the system “automates weapons screening for patients arriving via stretcher or wheelchair—removing the need for hand-wanding and closing one of healthcare’s most critical security gaps,” according to the company announcement.
“The ambulance bay has always been one of the hardest areas in healthcare to secure,” says Lisa Falzone, co-founder and president of Athena Security, in the company announcement. “Security teams are forced to choose between speed and safety. With our new Ambulance Bay AI Agent, they no longer have to. Our system brings automation, precision, and accountability to a part of the hospital that has historically been left exposed.”
How Does Athena’s Weapons Detection System Work?
Instead of stopping to manually scan a patient, staff can simply wheel the patient through the Ambulance Bay Weapons Detection system, allowing the AI Agent to conduct a full-body scan in seconds—reducing screening time by up to 30 to 60 seconds per patient while improving accuracy and consistency.
Key features and benefits of the Ambulance Bay Weapons Detection System include:
-
Automated weapons detection (no hand-wanding required). Eliminates reliance on manual screening and reduces human error
-
Fast, frictionless screening. Full-body scan completed in seconds as patients are wheeled under the scanner
-
Built for gurney-based screening. Accurately detects objects on patients lying on fully metal stretchers without interference
-
RedBox location-based alerts. Pinpoints the exact location of potential threats on the body for rapid response
-
Improved throughput. Reduces screening time by 30 to 60 seconds per patient, helping maintain speed of care
-
Consistent, repeatable process. Removes variability caused by rushed or incomplete manual screening
Athena’s Ambulance Bay WDS is “purpose-built to operate in high-pressure medical environments, delivering reliable performance without slowing down emergency workflows,” according to the company announcement.
“Our job is to detect and show exactly where the object is,” says Chris Ciabarra, co-founder and chief technology officer of Athena Security, in the company announcement. “From there, each hospital follows its own policies on how to handle the situation, but we eliminate the guesswork.”
The Ambulance Bay AI Agent replaces the need for manual hand-wanding, automating a process that “has historically been inconsistent due to time constraints, human error and the urgency of emergency care,” according to the Athena Security announcement.
Athena Security’s Ambulance Bay WDS “combines real-time detection with image capture, incident logging, and documentation within a single, unified workflow,” the announcement says. The system performs the scan, generates alerts, and automatically logs each event, delivering improved speed, accuracy and accountability.
It also includes chain-of-custody tracking for confiscated items, “ensuring that every screening event is fully documented, auditable and supportive of both compliance and operational oversight.”
The Ambulance Bay Weapons Detection System also integrates with Athena’s broader entryway security platform, including visitor management, weapons detection and AI-assisted X-ray, “delivering a unified approach to facility-wide security,” according to the company announcement.
