Fibre optic security system
1 min read
QinetiQ has unveiled OptaSense, a buried cable fibre optic sensor solution that detects multiple, simultaneous disturbances every 10m over a 40km length of existing or installed optical fibre.
In border and perimeter security applications, anyone climbing, cutting or digging near the perimeter disturbs the fibre and generates an alarm. The OptaSense system then classifies the disturbance, provides the coordinates and cues other sensors, such as cameras, to ensure the operator instigates the appropriate response.
In cable and pipeline protection applications, any activity – such as the approach of a digger or the lifting of a manhole cover – generates an alarm. The system’s acoustic sensitivity can also be used to listen to the flow through a pipe, so that blockages and leaks can be located.
“OptaSense is an excellent addition to QinetiQ's portfolio of sensor solutions,” said Mike O'Connor, managing director of QinetiQ Ventures. “It is equally applicable to detecting intruders in perimeter security applications as it is to monitoring mechanical failure in critical underwater infrastructure.”
