Bob Kirkaldie

Southwest Microwave, a leading global supplier of perimeter intrusion detection systems, has announced the introduction of the advanced Model 420 Passive Infrared (PIR) Sensor for specialised outdoor intrusion detection applications. With detection capability to 122 meters (400 feet), Model 420 provides a four-zone, continuous and gap-free curtain sensing pattern that detects intruders by identifying the temperature (heat radiation) difference between background scene and intruder. The pattern includes long, medium and short range detection segments, plus a controllable Creep Field that protects the area surrounding the mounting pole. “This unique feature eliminates the detection ‘dead zone’ characteristic of traditional passive infrared sensors,” explained Bob Kirkaldie, Southwest Microwave’s Director of Sales. Features “Furthermore, minimal clear zone requirements for the detection pattern make this sensor ideal for intrusion detection in very narrow corridors.” The latest in detector and signal processing technology plus precision mirror optics enable Model 420 to operate in broad-ranging environmental conditions. The sensor offers Double Optical Filtering, Digital Signal Processing, Signal Shape Analysis and Adaptive Threshold Decoding, each of which contributes to ensuring reliable operation under changing climatic conditions. “Nuisance alarms from rain, snow, wind, and fog are virtually eliminated due to this product’s highly sophisticated feature set,” said Kirkaldie. Reinforcing Model 420’s performance reliability is the sensor’s ease of operation. Set-up and adjustment are achieved via user-friendly installation software with flexible controls to simplify alignment, signal check and routine maintenance. Model 420 electronics and optics are housed in a rugged IP65 heavy-duty plastic enclosure. An internally regulated heater connected to sensor electronics and operating from the supply voltage prevents the unit’s optical surface from fogging or frosting in cold weather. A universal mounting bracket allows mounting to flat surfaces or 100 mm (4 in) O.D. posts.       

Southwest Microwave has expanded the Software Development Kit (SDK) options for its INTREPID™ Series II perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDS) with the addition of the Remote Polling Module II (RPM II) SDK. The RPM II package, consisting of an IP-based application layer protocol and accompanying system control hardware module, provides simplified high-level interface between third-party physical security information management (PSIM) or surveillance systems and INTREPID™ detection technologies. The RPM II SDK addresses the PIDS integration requirements of network-based large or multi-site facilities, enabling plug-and-play deployment, control and monitoring of the INTREPID™ MicroPoint™ II fence detection system, MicroTrack™ II buried cable detection system and MicroWave 330 digital microwave link through a user’s security management or surveillance platform. “Southwest Microwave’s scalable SDK resources, and especially the new RPM II package, easily achieve the integration of our INTREPID™ intrusion detection technologies within an end-user’s preferred PSIM environment over local or wide area network”, explained Bob Kirkaldie, Southwest Microwave’s Director of Sales. To simplify interface, only the RPM II system controller is queried by the facility’s control or monitoring application. The RPM II serves as pollmaster, polling INTREPID™ sensors and auxiliary devices for status, and communicating this information to the head-end system via TCP/IP network connection. “By eliminating the need for direct polling of each INTREPID™ device by the head-end system, our RPM II SDK reduces interface development time, cost and complexity, which is a win for both developer and end user,” outlined Kirkaldie. “And as new sites are added to a facility’s security program, it’s simply a matter of connecting these to an RPM II controller, which then handles the heavy lifting where the integration is concerned.” The RPM II SDK enables extensive control and monitoring functionality for the INTREPID™ detection suite, including real-time notification of intrusion attempts, tamper and service alarms, tie-in of camera setting and position presets to detection zones, visual assessment of intrusion attempts or tampering, and storage of events in alarm history. Device configuration and maintenance are conveniently achieved either locally or remotely via TCP/IP network with Southwest Microwave’s intuitive universal installation service tool, which features sensor auto-discovery, guided navigation and forward propagation for single step, multi-sensor zone configuration. Since sensor set-up and alarm reporting are handled either locally or over the network, enterprise-level facility administrators, who often manage multiple or remote sites, can view or modify system parameters and monitor alarm activity from anywhere at any time. “Just as we are committed to developing perimeter security solutions that integrate seamlessly with one another, we are similarly focused on ensuring that our technologies interface easily with our customers’ overall security management systems and networks. The RPM II SDK definitely achieves this goal. ”