Scientists develop new motion sensor that enables window panes and glass doors to detect movements via a special coating
Posted 03.23.2009 at 12:34 pm
11 Comments
Burglar
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Professional thieves beware! In addition to motion sensors, security cameras, flood lights, rent-a-cops and Doberman pinchers, there’s a new piece of technology designed specifically to ruin your day. And to make matters worse, it’s invisible. Well, not exactly invisible, but stare right at it and you won’t realize it’s there. Worried? Thanks to a novel new motion sensor developed by the Fraunhofer Institutes for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam-Golm, Germany, you should be.
It seems the beaker-tweakers at Frounhofer have figured out a way to turn regular glass doors and windows into high tech security devices. The glass itself is coated with a fluorescent material containing nanoparticles that convert light into fluorescent radiation. When the invisible light of a UV lamp “illuminates” the glass panes, the fluorescent radiation generated is channeled to the edges of the window, where it is detected by sensors. For example, if someone (The Hamburglar) steps into the light of the lamp, less light reaches the coating and less radiation is produced. When sensors are installed on all four sides of the window or door frame, statistical conclusions can be drawn from the data as to how large, how fast and in what direction the object d’ crime is moving (toward the burgers). In other words, a hummingbird won’t trip the alarm.
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Science, Joel Barnard, future tech, glass panel, motion sensors, security softwareThe software, designed by Computer Architecture and Software Technology FIRST in Berlin, is so smart it can even interpret different light signals. This enables the system to easily distinguish between the frequency of the UV lamp and the slowly changing light from a passing car’s headlamp.
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I'm going to assume that this isn't the cheapest product. The people that are at high risk of break and entry are the people that can't afford it. This is cool, don't get me wrong. But the people that can afford it probably don't live in a neighborhood where they need to worry about being robbed.
Very interesting and promising technology which probably has more applications than we realize. I wonder what the costs will be?
http://nobosh.com/news-on-technology/
B
** You have to love the invisible light!
I guess this would work on burglars who peep in the windows before kicking down the front door. This would likely be a good supplement to an overall security system, but a good Doberman is less expensive.
Adam
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Allow me to tickle your brain!
www.ThisHoldsMyAttention.com
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I assume that there can be no shrubs or trees nearby. If this is a straight coating, hard to see how you can do much signal processing to differentiate between a moving human being (intruder) versus a tree in a breeze.
www.trezora.com
I suppose the neighbor's cat might set it off too. With dogs and cats at different heights, it would be hard to filter them out without making it easier for a crook to get at the lower half of the glass.
http://beecherbowers.com
Really nice post. Thank you for letting us know.
www.emailextractor14.com
This has the potential for a number of applications. I look forward to viewing results once in the market place. This may actually transform some of the need to cover our home glass with those terrible screens and often curtain coverings.
Rob
www.ellinghamglass.co.uk
I like the concept and have seen prototypes. Though the sensor must be set so as not to respond to the smallest movement, such as falling leaves, cats, and dogs. Also when the sensor does react the alarm must be readily accessed should it be a false alarm.
Norman
www.alertelectrical.com
Yes, this glass has received loads of publicity. I am look forward to seeing how it survives in the market place.
www.stoett.com
Astounding (as are so many things in PopSci!) Now reverse engineer this based on the principles of an LED screen and theoretically your windows could become giant cameras. Talk about room with a view! Anything on wither side of the glass could be recorded, zoomed, or even just give a true reflection (those are creepy).
www.eurocell.co.uk
An interesting concept for security systems, however I can see problems with false alarms caused by all sorts of things. What happens if you have a window cleaner for example, this is likely to set the alarm off, builders working on the property would also cause the same problem.
James
www.questfireandsecurity.co.uk