The FLIR Ranger R8SS-3D radar and the FLIR Ranger HDC MR (right)
Teledyne FLIR successfully completed an installation of a long-range drone detection system for a critical infrastructure site in Sweden.
As drones are becoming commercially available to a wider audience, effective drone detection and monitoring has become increasingly important, especially for critical infrastructures and sites, such as power plants, utility centres and airports.
However, effective and accurate drone detection is challenging. Today’s drones are fast and small, and they can demonstrate erratic flying behaviour. Visual detection systems have an additional challenge, in that they need to detect objects in variable sky and weather conditions.
DRONE DETECTION FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURES
A smart slew-to-cue system, combining radar, thermal imaging and visual sensors, makes sure no unmanned aircraft system goes undetected.
The FLIR Ranger HDC MR, a high-definition mid-range surveillance system, for the Swedish critical infrastructure customer uses thermal imaging technology to detect threats in all conditions, including night time, low-visibility, and poor weather such as fog, rain, and clouds.
The integrated drone detection system is based on the FLIR Ranger R8SS-3D radar and a combination of thermal and visible sensors.
The FLIR Ranger R8SS-3D radar can detect objects within a 3-km range and track up to 500 drone targets simultaneously while effectively filtering bird detections.
The radar will continuously scan the sky, detect the drones from a long distance and automatically point the FLIR PTZ camera to the exact position of the detected drone, whereupon the camera will continue to track the moving object using its pan/tilt mechanism.
It provides complete hemispherical detection and is able to monitor the coverage area four times per second, run 24/7, and detect all ground and aerial threats in virtually any climate, day and night.
Everything the system picks up is monitored through FLIR’s Cameleon software platform. This software enables operators to control the surveillance system and share all detector information with other agencies.
The project, completed early 2022, was also made possible by Teledyne FLIR’s long-time distributor and integration partner CCTV-Systems AB, a company which has been in the video surveillance systems business since 1982.
“Today, Teledyne FLIR is the only company that can provide a total, integrated solution for this application,” says Johan Eklund, Managing Director at CCTV-Systems AB.
“The company’s radar, dual thermal and visible PTZ system, and software platform are all seamlessly integrated to provide a high-performance surveillance system. And what’s more, all of the system’s components have been thoroughly tested and proven in the field.”
“We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated and skilful partner in CCTV Systems AB,” says William Turner, Northern European Sales Manager at Teledyne FLIR.
MAXIMUM DETECTION ACCURACY
From the project onset the end-user’s minimum requirement was to obtain 100 per cent accurate classification at 500 m.
Teledyne FLIR was able to far exceed this requirement thanks to thorough tuning and calibration, and to the system’s superior optics and high-performance radar capability.
Teledyne FLIR also ensures that the system can operate with maximum uptime, not considered a luxury for a critical infrastructure where 24/7 situational awareness is always needed.
“The system we installed in Sweden could also be used as a reliable, mid-range drone detection system for airports, refineries, nuclear plants, utilities and more,” says Eklund. –OGN