Seeing in the dark
The FLIR (forward-looking infrared) technology that helps police helicopters follow criminals and stolen vehicles in the dark is now available to safety-conscious plant operators.
Brigade Electronics have introduced PathFindIR, which uses this sophisticated infrared technology to detect and identify objects at a distance of up to half-a-mile – equivalent to five times the range of most headlights.
The equipment features 24/7 all-weather FLIR capabilities and has a 36º field of view, displaying sharp images on an on-board monitor so the operator can take safe action when necessary. The system’s camera aperture is 18mm, while the body measures 58mm x 56mm x 71mm and weighs 113 grams.
The housing, which includes a built-in wash unit, is 175mm x 90mm, which means the system is easy to fit on many vehicles, regardless of space, weight and power limitations.
PathFindIR can be mounted behind the grill, on the bumper or, for optimum performance, at the corner of the windshield, where the camera is close to eye level and safe from stones and road debris. For rough terrain, an aerodynamic roof-mount is available.
The camera output is NTSC or PAL (depending on the country) so that it can be ported into a navigation system or be used in conjunction with any Brigade monitor from the compact 3.5in BE-835 up to the 7in widescreen BE-870 model.
As accident prevention and site security are paramount in quarries and opencast mines, Brigade recommend PathFindIR for use in all service vehicles, including wheel loaders, graders and dumptrucks.
