Skip to main content

World launch for MDL's 'super' sensor

A new series of miniature, high accuracy laser-based range and velocity measurement sensors could soon be used on police vehicles to check speeding motorists. There are many other applications for the RVMS Range and Velocity Measurement System from Measurement Devices (MDL). Evaluation models will be available soon.
July 17, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A new series of miniature, high accuracy laser-based range and velocity measurement sensors could soon be used on police vehicles to check speeding motorists.

There are many other applications for the RVMS Range and Velocity Measurement System from Measurement Devices (6221 MDL Laser Systems). Evaluation models will be available soon.

Dr Paul Rivers, MDL's commercial engineering and development manager, said that by using innovative (patented) measurement technology, objects passing through the sensing beams will deliver both range and velocity data. Object passing time can also be measured.

"Imagine a computer mouse which tracks the arrow on a monitor. Lift it off the table by tens of metres and you have a 3-D motion detector. This is the basis of our sensor," said Dr Rivers.
"Normally for distance measurement you require two lasers usually on a gantry, but with the RVMS only one laser is required for a fixed speed installation.

"If the unit is mounted in a fixed position it will measure the speed of things passing across the beam. Equally if it is mounted underside of a vehicle the true speed it moves across the surface can also be measured.

"The sensor opens up a wide range of applications, for example, in traffic flow management and production process monitoring."

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • New barriers are helping improve road safety
    June 30, 2014
    A series of new guardrail technologies and barrier developments are now coming to market - Mike Woof writes. An array of technical developments is helping improve highway safety for road users. New barrier and guardrail technologies can offer greater conspicuity so as to alert drivers, along with better restraint capabilities. Gregory Industries offers a wide range of steel and cable barrier types and has now developed an attachment system for international use. This fixes the guardrail to the post and in t
  • Precision narrows the gap between design software and GIS
    March 20, 2012
    Greater precision is helping blur the boundaries between GIS technology and design software While GIS map based technology has extended its range across an ever more universal spectrum of uses in the highways sector, it is increasingly showing weaknesses for engineering purposes. It is very often not accurate enough. This has not mattered previously because the GIS tool has been seen essentially as an automated version of paper based systems from the design department's point of view. Where engineers
  • Formwork plays a leading role in global infrastructure projects
    June 13, 2012
    New and highly regarded existing formwork systems have been used in major recent transport-related construction projects across the globe. Guy Woodford looks at some of their applications The multi-million dollar Mississippi River Bridge project in the United State is creating a vital new gateway between Illinois and Missouri. Central to the project is the realignment and reconstruction of Interstate 70 and a new landmark bridge, featuring two pylons projecting vertically from the Mississippi river bed w
  • Crash cushion design
    February 13, 2012
    There are key differences in crash cushion design and quality for the United States and European markets. Developments in barrier technologies have followed the varying demands of specific markets, resulting in manufacturers offering different solutions for US and European needs.