Xsight have announced the launch of a “new” product, named FODetect-intersections, here’s a quote from the press release:

Following demand from the world’s largest airports, Xsight Systems announces FODetect-Intersections; the first and only product offering low cost coverage for a single or small number of locations.

The current FODetect system uses a high number of short range sensors to cover a runway, while iFerret uses around 10, and Tarsier just 2 or 3. It’s clear to see that this “new” product from Xsight is trying to play to their strengths, it’s economically viable to deploy a single Xsight sensor (low-cost, short range) to cover a small intersection, it might even be practical to use an iFerret sensor, but a Tarsier sensor? with it’s greater than 1km range? One advantage of the Tarsier system is the fact that it can cover an entire runway with just 2-3 sensors, greatly minimising disruption to the airfield, but this makes the system quite impractical (well, uneconomical) for covering small areas, such as intersections. It’s clear to see why Xsight are now concentrating on these areas. But let’s be clear, this is not the only reason Xsight have diversified, FODetect is the only system so far to have not made a single sale, if FODetect were selling well I doubt very much they would be diversifying with this new Intersections product.

It’s not dissimilar to the direction in which Stratech are taking their iFerret system, they have been emphasising the fact that their system can be deployed on aprons, while the QinetiQ team and their Tariser system continue to concentrate on runways. It’s interesting to see this fragmentation occur, could we one day see all three systems deployed at a single airport? Tarsier covering the runways, iFerret the taxiways and aprons, and FODetect-Intersenctions, the intersections? God I hope not, at least not yet, these systems all have their proprietary data formats, and would all require an extra console in the ops centre. The fact that the current systems on the market do not share a common data format is something I will write about at a later date. As the guy behind the Tarsier Toolbox I have very strong feelings regarding FOD data, and how it could (should) be recorded in a common format, and even shared with the rest of the aviation industry, in much the same way as bird strike data is, but more on that at a later date.

Press release:

New FODetect-Intersections from Xsight Systems Provides Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Detection and Ascription for Airport’s Critical Areas

FODetect-Intersections is a unique scalable system developed by Xsight Systems that can be implemented immediately for airports’ critical areas – intersections and other FOD hot-spots, and can easily be expanded to cover full runways, taxiways, or to cover all hot-spots and intersections throughout the airport. Following demand from the world’s largest airports, Xsight Systems announces FODetect-Intersections; the first and only product offering low cost coverage for a single or small number of locations.

Intersections are more prone to FOD occurrences due to the diverse nature of crossing taxiways; including luggage trains, cleaning vehicles, catering vehicles, and maintenance vehicles. FOD dropped at intersections can be picked up by an aircraft causing immediate damage or get dropped further along on the runway.

FODetect-Intersections is based on Xsight’s leading FAA endorsed FOD detection solution, FODetect, and in addition to offering scalable configuration, is the only multi-sensor system utilizing both radar and camera for FOD detection, proving to be the most effective technology to detect even the smallest FOD in the fastest time.

In addition to protecting airports from the risks of FOD, FODetect-Intersections provides its patent pending FOD source ascription, the unique ability to identify the source of the FOD, allowing the airport to notify aircraft and its airline of any lost mechanical parts or to otherwise identify the source causing the debris, including providing video documentation of the event. FODetect-Intersections also provides air and ground controllers with continuous awareness of intersection condition, allowing them to remotely view the actual intersection activity through the system cameras during routine operation as well as during maintenance and harsh weather.

“We are pleased to implement the FODetect ascription technology and method as it offers the airport the ability not only to rapidly detect FOD but also to identify the vehicle or aircraft that dropped the FOD and to take the appropriate preventive action” said Alon Nitzan President and CEO of Xsight Systems.

Source

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 10:25 am and is filed under FODetect, press releases. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.