Organizations searching for the best AI-powered X-ray baggage scanner often compare Evolv Technology Evolv eXpedite and Athena Security Athena AI X-Ray Baggage Scanner. Both systems are designed for modern high-throughput entryway security screening. Both platforms support conveyor speeds around 0.75 m/s and can process up to approximately 2,000 bags per hour in high-volume environments.
The biggest difference between Evolv eXpedite and Athena AI X-Ray is not speed.
The difference is the amount of data available to the AI system and the security operator.
Athena AI assisted X-Ray Baggage Scanner allows you to control the dual-energy X-ray imaging technology data that is capture which significantly gives operators more material composition and density information than traditional object-detection-focused AI screening systems and allow you to switch between the modes. More data options allow Athena’s AI models and security operators to make better threat detection decisions.
For organizations looking for more control and the best AI X-ray system for hospitals, schools, courthouses, stadiums, airports, government facilities, and critical infrastructure, this difference matters.
Evolv eXpedite is an AI-based autonomous bag screening platform designed for fast visitor throughput and frictionless security screening.
Evolv eXpedite focuses on:
High-speed bag screening
Autonomous threat detection
Frictionless visitor flow
Venue and event security
Streamlined checkpoint operations
The platform is designed to reduce bottlenecks and improve entry speed in high-traffic environments.
Athena Security offers an AI-powered dual-energy X-ray baggage scanner which you can control and was designed to combine high throughput with deeper security intelligence and operational visibility.
Athena AI X-Ray Baggage Scanner includes:
Customizable Dual-Energy X-Ray Imaging Capabilities
AI-assisted threat detection
Material composition analysis
Density analysis
Human-in-the-loop workflows
Centralized remote “Second Look” review
DHS-aligned screening workflows
Visitor management integration
Multi-site analytics
Custom AI model support
Athena’s platform is designed for organizations that want control, speed and richer threat intelligence.
Both Athena and Evolv publicly support approximately:
0.75 m/s conveyor speeds
Up to roughly 2,000 bags per hour
However, Athena also supports configurable conveyor speeds ranging from:
0.30 m/s
Up to 0.75 m/s
This allows organizations to optimize:
Throughput
Threat sensitivity
Screening workflows
Operational efficiency
Security posture
Athena’s key advantage is that it captures more material data during screening.
Instead of relying primarily on object shape recognition, Athena’s dual-energy imaging analyzes:
Atomic composition
Material density
Organic vs inorganic materials
Metallic vs non-metallic objects
Mixed-density threats
This gives both the AI system and the operator significantly more contextual information and controls.
More data leads to better AI-assisted decisions.
More data also helps security operators make faster and more accurate threat assessments.
Athena’s dual-energy X-ray platform allows AI-assisted identification:
Firearms
Knives
Dense metallic threats
Non-ferrous weapons
Electronics anomalies
Suspicious organic materials
Alcohol containers
Improvised threats
For example, some schools use Athena’s AI X-Ray system to identify prohibited alcohol containers concealed inside backpacks during student screening.
Instead of only identifying suspicious shapes, Athena’s AI platform analyzes what objects are likely made of.
This richer material intelligence can improve:
Threat classification
Operator confidence
Secondary screening workflows
Security response speed
Screening accuracy
One of Athena’s largest differentiators is its ability to support custom AI detection models.
Because Athena’s dual-energy imaging captures detailed material composition and density information, organizations can train AI models for specialized security applications beyond traditional weapons detection.
Athena publicly announced AI-powered drone detection models designed to identify:
Drone motors
Propellers
Batteries
Electronics modules
Structural drone components
Partially assembled drones hidden in bags or cargo
According to Athena, these models were developed for government and critical infrastructure security use cases.
This expands Athena AI X-Ray into:
Counter-drone screening
Critical infrastructure protection
Government security
Transportation hub screening
Cargo inspection
Enterprise security operations
This flexibility allows Athena’s platform to evolve alongside emerging security threats.
Another major difference between Athena and Evolv is workflow philosophy.
Athena emphasizes human-in-the-loop AI-assisted security operations with control.
Athena’s centralized “Second Look” platform allows:
Remote alert review
Multi-site monitoring
Escalation workflows
Centralized command oversight
Operator accountability
Incident reporting
Athena positions AI as a tool that improves operator awareness and decision-making rather than removing operator visibility.
The system also includes:
iPad-based workflows
Pinch-to-zoom controls
Integrated WDS + X-ray alerts
Simplified operator training
DHS-aligned auditing workflows
| Feature | Athena AI X-Ray Baggage Scanner | Evolv eXpedite |
|---|---|---|
| Conveyor Speed | Up to 0.75 m/s | Up to ~0.75 m/s |
| Throughput | Up to ~2,000 bags/hr | Up to ~2,000 bags/hr |
| Imaging Technology | Dual-energy AI X-ray | AI autonomous screening |
| Material Analysis | Atomic composition + density analysis + Object/Shape | AI autonomous screening |
| AI Data Depth | High | Moderate |
| Operator Threat Context | Extensive | More limited |
| Human-in-the-Loop AI | Yes | Less emphasized |
| Custom AI Models | Yes | Not publicly emphasized |
| Drone Detection Models | Yes | Not publicly emphasized |
| Centralized Remote Review | Yes (“Second Look”) | Not publicly emphasized |
| Visitor Management Integration | Native integration | Limited public emphasis |
| Hospital Security Focus | Strong | Moderate |
| School Security Focus | Strong | Moderate |
Evolv eXpedite uses AI-powered X-ray detection combined with a red light / green light workflow to identify suspicious bags. When a potential threat is detected, the system automatically stops the conveyor belt and highlights the suspicious bag for the operator. However, in Evolv’s workflow, the bag has already exited the X-ray tunnel and remains accessible to the visitor. This means the individual could potentially grab the bag before security personnel have fully assessed or responded to the threat. The system identifies which bag contains the threat, but the bag itself is no longer physically secured inside the scanner at the moment of alarm.
Athena Security takes a different operational approach by giving customers configurable security workflows depending on whether the priority is maximum containment or maximum throughput. Customers can configure the system to automatically stop the conveyor belt when a threat is detected while the suspicious bag remains secured inside the X-ray tunnel, preventing the visitor from accessing the bag until security personnel can respond. This creates a safer and more controlled threat resolution process for environments that require higher levels of security.
For customers prioritizing speed and continuous visitor flow, Athena can also be configured to keep the conveyor moving instead of stopping the line when a threat is detected. In this mode, Athena associates the suspicious bag with the individual carrying it by displaying both an image of the person and an image of the bag containing the threat on the operator screen. This allows security personnel to quickly identify who the bag belongs to without interrupting throughput. In high-volume environments processing up to 2,000 bags per hour, simply highlighting a suspicious bag without identifying the individual can make it extremely difficult for operators to understand what is happening once multiple bags are moving rapidly through the system. By linking the threat, the bag, and the person together, Athena provides operators with significantly greater situational awareness while allowing customers to choose whether or not they want the conveyor to stop during alarm events.
Organizations prioritizing:
may initially consider Evolv eXpedite.
However, Athena Security also delivers these same high-throughput screening capabilities — while adding significantly more intelligence, visibility, and operational control.
Organizations looking for:
will find Athena Security to be the more complete solution.
Athena’s advantage is simple:
Athena delivers the same fast, frictionless screening experience as Evolv — but with flexibility, and substantially more intelligence behind every security decision.
Instead of limiting operators to simplified autonomous workflows, Athena provides both AI systems and human operators with richer scan data, deeper threat context, and greater visibility into what is happening inside every screening lane.
That means security teams can:
Athena combines high-speed AI screening with advanced X-ray intelligence, centralized oversight, and flexible deployment capabilities — making it better suited for schools, hospitals, events, government facilities, transportation hubs, and enterprise security operations where both speed and decision quality matter.
In short:
Evolv focuses primarily on throughput. Athena delivers the same throughput plus significantly more intelligence, visibility, flexibility, and security capability.
