-
In its commercial version, OPSENE does not use a laser, and actually does not need it at all. In its military version a medium-power laser could be used, mostly because it is difficult to get LED arrays with a power of some tens of Watts.
-
Power consumption is noticeable smaller in OPSENE. The version which detects feeble smoke at 3 km in full daylight uses 15 W at 12Vdc, which is far lower than LIDAR systems, including in these 15 W the light emitting, movement, data processing, telecommunications, video-camera, etc. The maximum optical power emitted in the commercial version is only of 4.5 W peak (just for a short time), and 3 W peak and 1.5 W average power in standard mode.
-
It works from 10-18 Vdc, and everywhere within the equipment the voltage is low. It is classified as a Low Voltage Equipment, and it has no special safety requirements regarding voltage or power.
-
OPSENE technology is eye-safe, even at short range.
-
Unattended operation: the system is autonomous and automatic. It does not require human attention, except when a new target is detected.
-
The system is designed to be left by itself in the field, scanning its territory in the search for plumes. It works 24 hr/day, 365 days/year.
-
OPSENE is quite fast at detecting plumes: with the standard number of repeats and with an integration time of 0.7 s, it detects a feeble smoke plume at 3 km. The system spends around 1 s on each scanning position (2 degrees wide), and during this time it performs all the operations: PRMB emission, data integration, detection algorithm and movement to next scanning position. A full 360 degrees scan takes some 3 minutes.
-
OPSENE has a proprietary detection algorithm, which allows for an outstanding signal to background sunlight ratio better than -110 dB.
-
It has been endowed with a Target Tracking software which greatly reduces the false alarm rate. The user is only disturbed when a new target appears over the horizon.
-
OPSENE technology has far lower maintenance than LIDAR systems.
-
OPSENE can raise its sensitivity by increasing emitted power, increasing the number of repeats, increasing the sampling rate, or a combination thereof.
-
OPSENE can increase the detection range by decreasing the scanning speed, by increasing the emitted power, or a combination thereof. LIDAR can only do the second.
-
OPSENE's price is much lower than LIDAR.