Bird and Drone Early Detection Tech to Solve Acute Airport Problem
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עברית (Hebrew)
Flight safety solutions available today, such as radars for early detection, are not sufficiently effective in preventing collisions with birds, due to their technological limitations. A major air safety technology will help keep airports secure.
Unique, advanced flight safety measures, the SPEED-BIRD systems, were provided to Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport for bird, wildlife, and drone early detection. The Dallas City Council has approved the purchase of this system for the Dallas Love Field Airport in Texas, with installation expected to take place in late 2018. The system was developed by CONTROP Precision Technologies, specializing in electro-optics and IR defense and homeland security solutions,
Ben Gurion Airport installed two systems following a lengthy and intensive evaluation process. One system will focus on the ground and will locate objects near the runways and taxiways. The second will focus on the airspace and will detect birds and drones. The systems will operate 24/7 and will significantly increase safety during takeoffs and landings, according to the company’s announcement.
The SPEED-BIRD is based on the successful SPIDER system, with highly sensitive panoramic scanning technology that automatically detects birds during scanning. Along with advanced algorithms developed specifically for this application, this system will be integrated as a key component of Pharovision’s SENTINEL system.
The SENTINEL is an EO/IR-based automatic detection and tracking system. It helps prevent collisions between aircraft and birds or flocks of birds or other wildlife, whether in the sky, on the ground, or near the runway.
It can also detect people who trespass on airport property, as well as drones that fly into the airport’s airspace. The system automatically determines what an object is, tracks it, and alerts airport personnel.
The extensively proven system, developed specifically to overcome the drawbacks of radar-based systems, was designed based on continuous cooperation with, and feedback from, customers in Israel and the US.
The system integrates a thermal imaging camera with advanced electro-optics, and a day camera. The combination of the continuous zoom lens of the IR camera, and the full-color live video cameras, allows the system to automatically perform wide-area surveillance, providing highly accurate real-time day and night detection and tracking.
Another development offered by the company for other sectors is the A-DSMS surveillance solution for maritime air patrol and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) protection, which was installed on various models of helicopters and fixed-wing light aircraft. This maritime patrol solution was specially designed for converting commercial rotary-wing and fixed-wing platforms into military, law enforcement, and government aircraft for advanced EO/IR surveillance missions.
