Electronic Bomb "Sniffer" Has Added Canine Mobility
ICx Nomadics, a developer of advanced technology solutions for homeland and military security, announces today the robot-integration capability of its Fido® Explosives Detector. By incorporating this technology onto a mobile, robotic platform, the Fido moves one step closer to the overall detection capability of a dog. The combined Fido-robot systems now available are capable of searching for explosive devices, then disarming those devices by utilizing the robot's on-board capabilities.
Due to the dramatic impact the threat of explosive devices has on the public, and the related media attention, explosives continue to be a favored weapon of terror and destruction used by criminals and terrorists. In many remediation scenarios, a person is required to come in close proximity with a potential explosive device before accurate detection and verification can take place. The sensitivity of the Fido explosives "sniffer" is comparable to that of highly trained bomb dogs. Enhancing a robot with this detection capability will help keep personnel out of harms way.
Kip Schultz, a canine trainer/instructor with ICx Nomadics said, "It is truly amazing to see these robots maneuver and search for scent using the Fido sensor; they really look like high tech dogs working to find explosive devices."
The Fido can be either fully or partially integrated onto a robotic platform in which the Fido detection results will appear on the robot's OCU. When fully integrated, only the Fido sensor head and a separate communications box are attached to the robot. In a partial integration, the entire handheld configuration of the Fido is inserted as a payload. In both scenarios, the Fido sensor can be removed and utilized for general handheld detection operations.
The Fido detector has been successfully integrated onto numerous robotic platforms, including the Talon from Foster-Miller, Inc., the PackBot® from iRobot Corp. and the MARCbot from Exponent, Inc. The robot-integrated Fido has been utilized by forward-deployed military personnel for IED detection and disruption.
The Fido-robot integration is on display this week at the ASIS Seminar and Exhibits in San Diego, CA.
About FLIR Systems
FLIR Systems, Inc. is a world leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of sensor systems that enhance perception and awareness. The Company’s advanced thermal imaging and threat detection systems are used for a wide variety of imaging, thermography, and security applications, including airborne and ground-based surveillance, condition monitoring, research and development, manufacturing process control, search and rescue, drug interdiction, navigation, transportation safety, border and maritime patrol, environmental monitoring, and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (CBRNE) detection. Visit the Company's web site at www.FLIR.com.
The statements in this release by Earl R. Lewis, and the other statements in this release about the award described above, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including the following: the ability to manufacture and deliver the systems referenced in this release, changes in demand for the Company's products, product mix, the timing of deliveries under the award discussed above, the impact of competitive products and pricing, constraints on supplies of critical components, excess or shortage of production capacity, the ability of the Company to manufacture and ship products in the time period required, actual purchases under agreements, the Company's continuing compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations, the timely receipt of export licenses for international shipments, the continuing eligibility of the Company to act as a federal contractor, and other risks discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports. In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, and general domestic and international economic conditions. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release, or for changes made to this document by wire services or Internet service providers.
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Media Contacts
Angel Bennett
FLIR, Systems, Inc.
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Arlington, VA 22202
angel.bennett@flir.com