FLIR Systems says that the market for electro-optical sensors is increasingly looking for smarter systems, not just the highest resolution.
Speaking to Flightglobal, Andrew Saxton, vertical marketing director for surveillance with FLIR, says that the focus for the company’s development programme is on making sensors that are able to reduce the workload of crew operating in a law enforcement or search and rescue.
“Gone are the days where a beautiful picture is all that is sufficient to the end user. They want additional capabilities that make their job easier, help them to perform new tasks,” he says.
“There is so much going on in the modern cockpit right now, they need ways to reduce that workload rather than add to it.”
As well as its array of Star Safire sensors, the company is demonstrating its Merlin intelligence suite at the Paris air show. The system features automatic motion or object detection, with adjustable mission parameters.
Saxton says that proves particularly useful in overwater search and rescue operations, allowing for a greater area to be searched, or a more efficient mission.
“It is those kind of additional technological capabiltiies could make a huge difference to the mission,” he adds.
Source: Flight Daily News
