RAPIDLY DEPLOYABLE DETECTION AND SECURITY ALARM SYSTEMS.
ZVEZHINSKY Stanislav Sigismundovich,
Candidate of Technical Sciences
RAPIDLY DEPLOYABLE DETECTION MEANS AND SECURITY ALARM SYSTEMS
Perimeter alarm systems (PAS), designed to detect intruders on the ground, are an important part of automated physical protection systems for facilities and approaches to them. Without such systems, at the current stage of increasing global threats, it is impossible to ensure the security of the state and the individual in the long run. The most important part of the PAS are perimeter detection devices (PDD), which generate detection signals. Although such systems and detection devices are named for their main application – protecting the perimeters of facilities, this is not all they are intended for [1].
Perimeter SOS and SO can be divided into two large categories: stationary and rapidly deployable. The former are more widespread, many domestic and foreign products are available, there is technical literature describing and classifying them [2, 3]. The latter are less known and less widespread due to the specificity of the tasks being solved, the real market in our country is only just forming, but obviously one-sidedly [4]. This is mainly hindered by the lack of understanding of their role in modern conditions by potential customers, which causes low, but increasing demand, as well as a lack of affordable modern products, due to their certain “secrecy”.
Abroad (primarily in the USA), rapidly deployable systems began to be developed and used in the mid-1960s (Vietnam). In Russia, their development began about 15 years later (Afghanistan), and due to technological backwardness and economic decline, did not lead to the creation of competitive products (with rare exceptions). Since rapidly deployable SOS are often classified as a type of military equipment, technical information about them is limited, but thanks to the capabilities of the Internet and materials from specialized scientific and technical conferences such as ICCST [5], it can still be analyzed. Rapidly deployable systems and detection means have not yet received a systematic description, and there is a certain amount of terminological confusion. Below, an attempt is made to systematize and classify them.
The main tactical and technical characteristics (TTC) of a SOS, determining its signaling reliability, are the probability of detecting an intruder and the average time between false alarms (alarms). Other important characteristics are usually determined by their category affiliation.
Stationary SOS are designed for long-term (at least 5 years) signal blocking of closed boundaries of objects. The SOS as part of the system are installed once and maintained in a functional state with the help of repair and routine measures. The guard post is located in one permanent place, where information about the SOS and SOS status, on the one hand, as well as power supply and control, on the other, are received via wired communication cables. A stationary perimeter SOS is linear, its detection zone is formed along the security boundary (up to 1 km). Important characteristics include: the length of the blocked boundary, vulnerability to overcoming by a trained intruder, linear cost, maintainability. When installing SOS along the perimeter of an object (engineering preparation of the area is required), adjustments are made to ensure the best performance characteristics. Most types of stationary means are visualized and detected by radiation in the air.
Rapidly deployable security systems are mainly designed for temporary (up to 3 months) protection of objects, blocking individual boundaries and approaches to them, after which the components of the complex are usually folded up and deployed in another place. The guard post, where the main control and indication console (CIS) is located, can be stationary or mobile. The security systems that are not subject to maintenance or repair during operation can change their location, for example, depending on the operational situation. Information is transmitted to the CIS mainly via a radio channel, including using repeaters. In this case, the SOS can be equipped with several portable CIS, providing tactical flexibility of use on the ground. The operability of the CIS is determined indirectly by the radio channel response to periodic self-monitoring. Most rapidly deployable security systems are point (circular), their detection zone extends around the installation site, monitoring an area (up to a hectare). Important characteristics include: installation time, detection range, information transmission range, weight and dimensions, and continuous service life. Such means are usually camouflaged or low-visibility.
It is believed that the main performance characteristics of stationary security systems significantly exceed the characteristics of rapidly deployable ones [3, 6]. Without going into a discussion of this thesis, we note that this is true to a greater extent in relation to the development of a false alarm, and to a lesser extent (if not vice versa) — to the probability of detection, especially for a trained intruder. Despite this, rapidly deployable security systems are consistently competitive in the protection of:
- temporary military bases, parking lots and checkpoints of military units in poorly controlled territory, in conditions of armed resistance;
- temporary storage sites of material assets;
- cable routes, overpasses, oil pipelines, etc. when it is impossible or inexpedient to install stationary security systems;
- places of probable overcoming of the object's boundary to increase the reliability of the stationary security system;
- directions of probable enemy movement (roads, paths, ravines, etc.) in areas of armed conflict, during special operations.
The significant advantages of rapidly deployable SOS and SO are:
- shorter deployment time, weight, dimensions, energy consumption;
- mobility, rapid regrouping of assets depending on changes in the situation, achieving maximum security efficiency;
- the possibility of multiple installations on unprepared terrain;
- low visibility or camouflage;
- long range of information transmission via radio channel;
- availability of portable information display panels, providing flexibility of system control;
- absence or minimum maintenance during operation.
Rapidly deployable SOS and SO essentially solve two different global problems:
- carry out a low-visibility temporary signal blocking of a section of the perimeter of an object, detecting violators crossing the line;
- conduct covert engineering and technical reconnaissance in a controlled area in places where violators are likely to appear, signaling their appearance, number, direction of movement, and type.
Therefore, according to their purpose, they can be divided into two groups — respectively linear signaling and reconnaissance and signaling, although in some cases the SOS can be used in two ways. There are several security systems abroad with extended security functions that solve both problems, but they can rather be classified as integrated security systems with greater capabilities (satellite communications, GSM, positioning on the ground, etc.). The summary characteristics of rapidly deployable SOS and SOS are presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Performance characteristics of rapidly deployable security systems and detection equipment
The most important difference between the two groups is that the main performance characteristics of the boundary SOS exceed the characteristics of the reconnaissance ones due to “softer” requirements for weight and dimensions, energy consumption, deployment time, adjustment, etc. Therefore, in the reconnaissance and signaling SOS, the decision to identify the detection event (intruder/interference) is usually made by the operator who is at the main or portable PUI. In the boundary signaling system, the alarm can be initiated automatically.
Rapidly deployable detection equipment is divided into active (used mainly in boundary-alarm SOS) and passive. In the first, the intruder is detected by its interaction with a specially formed electromagnetic field; as a result, there is no radio camouflage, increased power is consumed, but they have generally higher basic performance characteristics. The second detect the intruder by the changes it makes to the existing physical field, have radio and, as a rule, visual camouflage (installation in the ground). The objects of detection of rapidly deployable SO are mainly armed people, transport, military equipment.
Due to the spread of “useful” properties of detected targets, natural signal reduction with distance and interference effects of the physical environment of their propagation, each type of means has limitations on signal reliability, has its own advantages and, accordingly, disadvantages. For example, due to the instability of useful features, wire-breaking COs have the lowest signal reliability. Despite this, due to their simple design and low cost, they have become the most widespread in our country, while they are practically not used abroad.
The main sources of false alarms for rapidly deployable SOS are animals, strong winds combined with nearby vegetation, lightning during thunderstorms, precipitation. All means, with the exception of IR (heavy fog), are all-weather, but there are restrictions on their use in conditions of high snow cover, grass, bushes and trees.
Table 2 shows the achievable performance characteristics of modern rapidly deployable reconnaissance and signaling SOS, and Table 3 shows the performance characteristics of boundary and signaling SOS. The characteristics of domestic analogues, as a rule, are inferior to foreign ones, especially in terms of weight and dimensions, communication interface.
Table 2. Performance characteristics of rapidly deployable reconnaissance and signaling systems
Table 3. Performance characteristics of rapidly deployable boundary signaling systems
As a comment to Table 2, it should be noted that the probability of correct classification of targets is no more than 0.8…0.85, while the probability of correct determination of the direction of movement reaches 0.95. IR passive SO determines the direction using two sectors of the field of view, magnetometric SO determines the direction using the principle of monotonic rotation of the vector of the induced magnetic field, implemented with the help of two mutually orthogonal vector converters of the magnetic field [5].
The relatively high power consumption of boundary alarm systems determines their use both with traditional autonomous power sources (batteries, accumulators), and with wired centralized power supply (galvanic isolation is necessary) and by means of solar panels. Such mass-produced batteries (for example, Siemens), recharging the mandatory battery, provide 20 — 30 W of power, which is quite sufficient for the operation of any alarm system. Naturally, such a technical solution to the power supply problem is not universal due to climatic restrictions.
Most of the rapidly deployable self-powered SOSs do not meet the requirements for operability at low temperatures (down to -500 C), mainly due to the power sources used. This is due to a decrease in battery capacity with decreasing temperature, as well as the fact that most of the predicted places of potential SOS use are located in countries with a moderate and warm climate (Asia, Middle East, Africa). Almost the only battery that can operate at high negative temperatures is a lithium battery based on sulfur dioxide (for example, manufactured by SAFT, France), but it is relatively expensive. At the same time, the use of commercial AA or Krona batteries makes SOSs more functionally flexible, despite the capacity drop: for alkaline batteries — below -100 C and inoperability at -300 C; for nickel-cadmium batteries — a 5-fold drop at a temperature of -300 C. In the table. 4 shows some types of batteries that are used in foreign SO.
Table 4 Power batteries for rapidly deployable SO
SOS have different purposes and, accordingly, applications. Intelligence and alarm security systems can be divided into two groups — «military» or «civil». The main task of the former is covert engineering and technical reconnaissance in uncontrolled territory (including during military operations), in the probable movement of the enemy (paths, roads, hollows). Such SOS are designed mainly for the unnoticeable detection, counting, classification and determination of the direction of movement of manpower and self-propelled equipment, transmission via radio channel of data to the PUI, which can be removed for tens of kilometers. Detection means and repeaters can be equipped with self-destruction devices, triggered, for example, when trying to dismantle or discharge the power source. Installation of SO in some systems can be carried out from the air (helicopters) or with the help of artillery. Modern products are classified, in the so-called third countries, products of 20 years ago are available (for example, REMBASS).
The main tasks solved by “civilian” systems are covert detection of intruders in places where a stationary SOS is not installed for some reason, or strengthening perimeter security in certain areas. They detect intrusion of people and vehicles, transmit and display an alarm signal at a distance of up to 1 km. The systems are deployed manually. Commercially available.
Different purposes and applications determine differences in the structure, composition, performance characteristics and cost of “military” and “civilian” systems and SOS, although their “cross” use is not excluded.
There is no need to divide rapidly deployable boundary-alarm SOS into “military” or “civilian”. Almost all foreign products are available on the market, with the exception of some of the latest “know-how”. The main task of both security and SOS systems is temporary and rapid organization of protection of the boundaries of objects, locations of people and valuables, signaling the intrusion of violators — saboteurs, thieves, etc. The protected boundaries (mainly closed) can be in areas with complex, unprepared landscape. Information transmission from the SOS to the PUI (distance up to 2 km) can be carried out via a radio channel or a wire line, respectively, the power supply of the SOS can be autonomous or centralized. The means can be built into stationary security systems, using their own or PUI relay output. As a rule, there are no repeaters in such systems, target classification is not required. The SO is a device that is connected either to the radio channel unit of the transmitter or via a wired communication line — directly to the PUI.
Thus, the considered classification features of rapidly deployable security systems and detection means allow us to single out this promising segment of the technical security means market, which in our country, apparently, is expecting qualitative growth.
Literature
1. Vvedensky B.S. Perimeter security equipment. Moscow: “World of Security”, 2002, 112 p.
2. Ivanov I.V. Perimeter security-2. Moscow: “Parity Graf”, 2000, 196 p.
3. Zvezhinsky S.S. The problem of choosing perimeter detection means. BDI.-2002, No. 4, 5.
4. Larin A.I. Rapidly deployable security systems//Special equipment.2000. No. 4. With. 10 – 15.
5. LeBlanc E.A. Remotely monitored, multichannel magnetic and IR intrusion sensors//Proceedings Carnahan conference on security technology.- Lexington.-1982.-UKU BU127.-P. 43-52.
6. System Description: Project Manager REMBASS, ATTN:AMCPM-RBS-T, Ft. Monmouth, NJ, 07703.