QinetiQ have issued a press release which states the advantages of the Tarsier system during snow conditions (clearly in response to the recent UK weather). They mention runway lights being dislodged by snow ploughs, and state how the elevated position of the Tarsier sensors give them an advantage, these statements are clearly targeted at the FODetect system which is located on runway lights.
There is an image included in the press release, but it’s just a generic image of some snow being cleared from a runway. Given that the Tarsier installation at Vancouver includes cameras, it would have been useful to see some actual images taken with these cameras of FOD detected during snow conditions.
There is also no mention of any reduction in the detection performance of the Tarsier radar during snow, if the radar can detect snow on the ground, then clearly its performance must degrade due to the snowfall between the radar and the runway surface. FODetect would also suffer from this, but the FODetect system has the advantage that it is located much closer to any potential FOD, and therefore any reduction in detection performance would be minimised. (more…)
Xsight is exhibiting at Gate XXI with the Israel-Italy Chamber of Commerce and Industry, being held from January 21st to 24th 2010, in Rome, ItalyGate XXI is the first international exhibition organization in Italy devoted to the aerospace industry, from ultralight aircraft to satellite development.
This edition will focus on all aspects of the airport sectors, from handling systems to baggage processing, from ATC to security access, from the passenger line to cargo management.
This exhibition will offer the chance to examine the latest technological advances from both a cultural and professional perspective and to propose new medium long range destination scenarios for the development of air transportation in the future.
Heathrow has this week gone live with a sophisticated debris detection system fitted with day/night cameras that can detect an object the size of a suitcase wheel anywhere on the runways of the world’s busiest international airport.
The installation of day/night cameras enhanced with infra red technology is an innovation to the existing Tarsier system, supplied by UK based technology company QinetiQ. The system works using radars which scan the airport’s runways 24 hours a day for material which could be drawn into engines or damage aircraft systems. Specialised cameras with night vision technology are fitted to each radar allowing the airport’s airfield safety unit to view detected debris immediately and react accordingly. The infra red technology incorporated into the system ensures the cameras can work in low light conditions. (more…)
Singapore Exchange Mainboard-listed Stratech Systems Limited (“Stratech”) today announced that it has received a purchase order for the deployment of its iFerret™ intelligent Airfield/Runway Surveillance and Foreign Object and Debris (FOD) Detection System at an airport in Europe.
iFerret™ will be implemented at an airport in Europe to monitor FOD on the taxiway and apron – the world’s first apron deployment for FOD detection. The apron is the area where aircraft are parked, loaded/unloaded, refueled or boarded by passengers, while the taxiway links the runway to different areas of the airport.
Dr. David K.M. Chew, Executive Chairman of Stratech, said: “FOD events do not occur only on runways. According to the UK Civil Aviation Administration, FOD events occur mostly on the apron (55%), followed by taxiway (30%) and runway (15%). Although fatality of FOD incidents is acknowledged on the runway, there is a need to manage occurrences on the apron and taxiway where FOD is much more frequent.”
Thales announced the formation of a strategic partnership with Xsight Systems Ltd. under which Thales will globally market Xsight’s FODetect® debris detection systems. FODetect is an advanced sensor and processing system which detects and characterizes foreign objects found on airport movement surfaces enabling the proactive removal of debris which poses a threat to aircraft, operations personnel and passengers. FOD, or Foreign Object Debris, includes aircraft parts, rocks, pavement pieces, garbage, ash, tools, catering items, luggage wheels and wildlife among many other objects. FOD are most commonly found at the airplane stand but occur on taxiways and runways as well. (more…)
YVR (Vancouver Airport Authority) demonstrates how they detect and remove foreign object debris – better known as FOD – using QinetiQ’s Tarsier radar system.
Richmond, B.C. (July 29, 2009): Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is the first commercial airport in the world to install a day and night camera to its existing Tarsier Foreign Object Debris (FOD) radar detection system. The new camera will upgrade YVR’s 24-hour automated runway debris detection system in all weather conditions by providing visual confirmation of any potentially dangerous objects on the runway.
Tarsier’s high-resolution radar and advanced day and night camera work in tandem to provide continuous runway monitoring and safety. The camera’s innovative illuminator helps produce FOD images in all light levels, turning night into day and giving operators greater confidence and certainty. (more…)
June 25, 2009. The Tarsier™ automatic foreign object debris (FOD) detection system has received significant praise and recognition for its contribution to British engineering innovation at the 200 Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Awards.
The MacRobert Award is one of the country’s most prestigious engineering prizes and represents the very best in current British engineering achievements. This year the theme was ‘Celebrating Innovators in Engineering’.
From a vast number of entrants, Tarsier was awarded a place as one of the final four entrants after the judges were suitably impressed with the innovation behind the system and the benefits it creates for airports.
The MacRobert Award judging panel was taken to the QinetiQ-managed site at Boscombe Down to experience a live demonstration of Tarsier in operation. The demonstration captured Tarsier identifying FOD on the runway, visually confirming the FOD and sending GPS coordinates to the operator for a safe and prompt retrieval.
The award was won by Arup Group Ltd for the Water Cube at the Beijing National Aquatics Centre built for the 2008 Olympics.
Singapore, 22 June 2009 – The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Singapore Exchange Mainboard-listed Stratech Systems Limited (“Stratech”) today announced that Stratech’s iFerret™ intelligent Airfield/Runway Surveillance and Foreign Object and Debris (FOD) Detection System has been commissioned at Singapore Changi Airport – paving the way for improving safety at airports globally. (more…)
Bayanat Airports to promote, sell and implement QinetiQ’s Foreign Object Debris (FOD) detection system – Tarsier in the UAE.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 20, 2009: Bayanat Airports Engineering & Supplies, the leading airport systems integration provider, today announced that they have signed a distributor agreement with QinetiQ, a leading international defence and security technology company at the Airport Show 2009 in Dubai. As per the agreement, Bayanat Airports will represent, sell and implement QinetiQ’s state-of-the-art Foreign Object Debris (FOD) detection system, Tarsier, in the UAE. (more…)
Singapore, 22 June 2009 – The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Singapore Exchange Mainboard-listed Stratech Systems Limited (“Stratech”) today announced that Stratech’s iFerret™ intelligent Airfield/Runway Surveillance and Foreign Object and Debris (FOD) Detection System has been commissioned at Singapore Changi Airport – paving the way for improving safety at airports globally. 
