The Little intruder catchers

The Little intruder catchers

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Illustration
Illustration

They are small and well hidden and they can detect an invasion. You can find them along the borders of more than 30 countries, including some that neighbor Russia.

These are small wireless cameras triggered by movement, which operate as sentries, watching for intruders. In case Russian forces, rebels or militants try to sneak into Estonia or any number of other countries, small wireless motion sensors hidden in the brush could detect them long before human border guards do.

These devices, developed and built by Defendec, a small Estonian tech firm with only 30 employees resemble home security system and motion detectors. According to Defense One, when linked together, the equipment, which is camouflaged to blend into the wilderness, can provide situational awareness over hundreds or even thousands of miles of an unguarded border.

Countries across Eastern Europe, South America, Southeast Asia and Latin America already use the system. While the firm does not name all of its 35 customers, its growing list includes Estonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Montenegro and Kurdistan. The United States does not use the unit, but does buys them for foreign militaries. This, according to company employees.

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Two cameras – one for daytime, the other for nighttime – snap pictures when a motion alarm is triggered. The images are then relayed wirelessly back to a command center or laptop.

These sensors are battery-powered and hold their charge for 400 days. This means no wires or power infrastructure is needed. When the batteries die, they are recharged and good for another 400 days of use. According to the developer, this lifespan is unique to their system.

All of the wirelessly transmitted data is encrypted, which is key feature, as numerous military forces often use equipment that jams or intercepts unsecure data. Pro-Russian forces fighting in eastern Ukraine are believed to be using this type of equipment to eavesdrop on Kiev’s soldiers. An Android-based smartphone with a special encrypted app can configure each unit.

The wireless units are rapidly deployable too. From the time a check is cut, the company can cover a 1,000-mile border with the system in six to nine months and that includes training the operators. Smaller surveillance areas could be set up in a matter of weeks. Wired detection systems, conversely, can take years set up.