Optex's new laser intruder detection system filters out unwanted elements

Using lasers to read distances or scan an area is not a new application, and in the security field it has been visualized as a kind of secondary tool for large areas. For example, LIDAR systems can detect movement even in inclement weather and direct security cameras to a specific location. Laser systems are also typically able to scan at a much larger distance than other systems due to its higher energy.

However, one issue that has been a problem in the industry is that while it is able to act as a very good wide area sensor in good weather, repeated exposure to the elements can cause the laser scanners to become less accurate. According to a new patent filing from Optex, however, it appears as though the company has been able to create a method by which the sensor can become self-correcting.

The system uses interpolation in order to filter out unwanted interference from environmental impacts. It rotates the scanner and creates a high-fidelity snapshot on a continuous basis. When the laser pulse reflects off a raindrop or snowflake – in short, any small object that wasn’t there when the weather was clear – the system uses its image recognition algorithms to remove it from the picture.

The reason this technology is particularly interesting is that it is one of the first public views of a technology that can – at least according to the patent – accurately detect and track an intruder who is partially obscured by a storm. This could drastically increase the reliability and decrease the false alarm rate for intrusion detection in bad weather, making it much more efficient.