FLIR Partners with Video Analytics Firm VideoIQ
FLIR Systems, Inc. [FLIR] has partnered with the small video analytics firm VideoIQ to incorporate the analytics into its thermal cameras to create a cost-effective solution with technology that has low false alarm rates. FLIR says the combination of the analytics, about $1,500, and the thermal camera, about $3,000, drives a price point for wider adoption of the integrated analytics technology. The system can be networked, encoded for certain types of detection, and alarming, and send notification emails as well. The system can be deployed on the edge or in a central solution, FLIR says. VideoIQ’s Mark Gally, vice president of Marketing, tells reporters at the 2011 ASIS International conference in Orlando, Fla., that his company’s analytics has a large library of over 200,000 profiles and does classification, not just motion, so that they can distinguish a deer from a person, or a person from a vehicle, and do so from different angles, lighting conditions and other changing environmental factors. The system won’t alarm for small animals, just people and vehicles, Gally says. The principal application is intrusion detection on a perimeter, FLIR says. The technology isn’t for things like object left behind. FLIR says a thermal camera and video analytics encoder can cover about 250-feet of fence line.
Smiths Detection Launches Wireless Comms for CWA/TIC Sensors
Smiths Detection has introduced Sensa-LINX, a new wireless communication system that links its chemical warfare agent (CWA) and toxic industrial chemical (TIC) sensors that are used in military and emergency response applications. Company officials say the wireless communications system, which sends sensor data to responders to a command and control base station, was developed in response to customer demand. RAE Systems [RAE], which also makes CWA/TIC detectors, has a similar wireless area monitoring network it sells to the military, first responders and certain commercial entities. “The release of Sensa-LINX is a milestone for Smiths Detection’s range of military and emergency response solutions,” says Andrew Lee, vice president of Sales for Integrated Systems at Smiths Detection. “Integrating wireless communications with threat detection improves situational awareness, concepts of operation, and communications. It simultaneously helps provide a timely response while minimizing risks and loss associated with changing threats.” The wireless communications can be integrated with the LCD-NEXUS and LCD 3.3 chemical detectors.
…Company Expects to Begin Lab Testing Soon of Eqo AIT System
Smiths Detection continues to develop its automated target recognition (ATR) software to be integrated with its Eqo Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) system, which the company hopes to shortly submit to the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Laboratory for testing. Smiths expects its millimeter wave-based Eqo system can be ready for the next round of AIT purchases by the Transportation Security Administration, which would be sometime next year using FY ’12 funding. Congress is debating whether to provide funding for 275 AIT systems as TSA is requesting. The Eqo features a smaller footprint than either L-3 Communications’ [LLL] ProVision millimeter wave AIT system or OSI Systems’ [OSIS] Secure 1000 backscatter X-Ray AIT system currently deployed by TSA to some of the nation’s airports. The Eqo also has no moving parts and is lighter than the current systems.
Implant Sciences Granted Patent for Trace Detection Technology
Implant Sciences Corp. [IMSC] has received a U.S. patent titled “Flash Heating for Tubing” that describes a method for cleaning the sample tube of a chemical detection system, which is important for obtaining accurate analysis results. “This innovation will result in faster sampling throughput, improving overall system efficiency,” says Todd Sylvestri, vice president of Technology at Implant.
Tyco to Acquire Wireless Security Technology Firm Visonic
Tyco International [TYC] has agreed to acquire Israel’s Visonic Ltd., a developer and manufacturer of electronic security systems and components, for $100 million in cash. Tyco says the acquisition will strengthen the wireless product and technology portfolio and market presence of its Tyco Security Products business in the intrusion security market. Visonic recently introduced PowerG wireless communication technology that offers increased communications range and superior 128-bit encryption to secure communication between wireless sensors, detectors and panels. The company has more than $75 million in annual sales.