12 Mar 12. Remote Fire Detection and Perimeter Security Thermal Imaging Camera. The new EyeSec line of thermal imaging cameras is the world’s first camera system that can provide both fire safety and security in the same package. Utilising a high performance thermal camera combined with a wide variety of lens options and the powerful fire detection feature allows deployments from monitoring internal generation plant to protecting very wide areas outdoors. With the fire detection capability enabled, the camera can detect a 75 cm x 75 cm fire as far away as 840 meters within 5 seconds, with detection ranges increasing for larger-sized fires up to 6 m x 6 m at distances up to 6.5 km, day or night. Setting up a temperature for industrial equipment temperature threshold, the camera again will send an alarm if any object in its field of view reaches this critical temperature; for example, when machinery bearings reach dangerous temperatures. Once fires are identified, the camera utilises multiple alarm systems, including the transmission of the fire’s X and Y coordinates, to communicate the fire’s position. It reduces false alarms to a minimum by using sophisticated algorithms scrutinizing each hotspot in the observed area to ascertain whether there are flames or just simple temperature changes. The video stream can also be fed to other video analytics to provide people tracking, counting, etc. In both fire detection and fire risk assessment, much attention has been given to operator alerts. Upon determining that a fire or risk exists, the camera adds a visual alarm overlay to the outgoing video signal, and generates an alert using a standard dry contact relay and/or serial or IP communication. The EyeSec Fire Detection solution provides unique value to customers in areas of high risk of fire. Facilities with flammable materials, transportation tunnels, combustible storage areas, and perimeter sites located near flammable forest and bush are all sensitive to fire danger, requiring this unique fire detection solution.
15 Mar 12. Aviators from the U.S. Marine Corps completed the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation phase of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) program, firing rounds against stationary and moving targets. The APKWS – the U.S. government’s only program of record for the semi-active laser-guided 2.75-inch rocket – is expected to be operational in Afghanistan in March. In the final series of test shots, the laser-guided rockets were fired from a variety of distances from Marine AH-1W and UH-1Y helicopters in scenarios that are expected to be encountered in theater. The APKWS is a low-cost, low-yield weapon alternative to other air-launched munitions currently in the inventory. The system transforms a standard 2.75-inch unguided rocket into a smart, highly precise laser-guided missile that is effective against soft and lightly armored targets while causing minimal collateral damage. The APKWS is an “unpack and shoot” system, Watkins said. Because it uses standard rocket launchers, APKWS requires no platform integration or aircraft modifications, and because it is loaded and fired just like a standard 2.75-inch rocket, very little aviator or ordnance crew training is required. Its design enables the use of existing warheads, fuzes, and rocket motors that currently exist in the inventory. The APKWS has been demonstrated off Marine AH-1W and UH-1Y helos as well as Army Kiowa and light fixed-wing attack aircraft. It can be fired from any rotary-wing aircraft that can launch 2.75-inch rockets, to include the UH-1 Huey and AH-64 Apache. The Navy is also looking to integrate the APKWS – in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force – on fixed-wing AV-8B and A-10 aircraft, as well as the Fire Scout UAS. The Navy assumed acquisition executive oversight of the program in 2008 and has fully funded it for production. BAE Systems has achieved its monthly delivery rate and more than 400 production systems have been accepted