QinetiQ press release

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…)

QinetiQ press release

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.

QinetiQ press release

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…)

QinetiQ’s Tarsier system is one of 4 finalists in Britian’s biggest engineering prize, the Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award. It shares this top slot with, Arup Group Ltd for the Beijing National Aquatics Centre, Orthomimetics Ltd for novel medical implants enabling the natural regeneration of bone and soft tissue,and Rolls-Royce plc for the Trent 900 gas turbine aero engine, as used in the A380.

The fact that an automatic FOD detection system has made it to this final is evidence that FOD detection is not a trivial task, it requires some cutting edge technology, and novel engineering to build a successful system.