Plextek has made a first public demonstration of its BLightER 200 series radar. The makers claim this makes radar an affordable option for security systems.
Developed using commercial technology and design techniques the radar uses an electronic beam-scanning antenna to detect moving people and vehicles at ranges between 20m and 8km without having to physically rotate. It is suitable, the makers claim, for ‘homeland security’ applications including area intrusion monitoring and border surveillance. Pre-production units of the 200 series will be available from October.
BLightER was developed following market research at defence and security exhibitions that identified the need for a covert, movement detection system that could be networked with other sensors including cameras, according to the firm. The BLightER 200 series is part of a broader family of radars, ranging from a ruggedised full-specification version to a commercial version; it can also be tailored, Plextek adds, to meet specific customer requirements.
BlightER consists of a single unit containing the integrated electronics and e-scan antennas. The entire radar with in-built GPS and compass can be easily carried and set up by one person, it is claimed. An external 12V-battery pack and wireless enabled laptop or PDA allow the radar to be operated in almost any land-based location, according to the firm. Various power saving modes allow it to ‘sleep’ between scans, thus extending battery life. For fixed installations, such as airfield perimeter monitoring, the radar can be networked with other radars and camera systems, providing a 24-hour automatic surveillance system. A user-display screen indicates when movement has been detected by placing a marker at the target co-ordinates superimposed on a map of the area. The radar can provide additional assistance with identification by providing the target Doppler signature as an audio output, the makers add.
The BLightER 200 series radar will be displayed on the Plextek stand (number I14/2, hall 2B) at the Paris Air Show, le Bourget, France, June 13 to 19 2005.
About the firm
The electronics and communications design consultancy was started in 1989 and is based in Cambridge.
