SOLOtic
Published: 01 January, 2006
A long-range thermal imager from GB SOLO Ltd, the STEALTH is capable of identifying people over 500 metres away through smoke, fog, darkness or camouflage and is said to be suitable for use onboard helicopters.
“The Vision STEALTH operates at its best in the complete absence of light,” comments Marketing Manager James Brooks. “STEALTH can lead crash fire rescue teams directly to a crash site or lead marine rescuers directly to the victims. Equally important, the Vision STEALTH can help avoid accidents along the way. And, because it is completely portable and handheld, once at the scene, the Vision STEALTH can also be used for internal search and rescue.”
When used on the ground, or even in a helicopter, the Vision STEALTH can accurately identify fires and hot spots up to several miles away, making it a vital tool for forest fire prevention.
“As a company, we are probably best known for our GB Solo helmets. These are currently part of the essential equipment of fire teams at NASA, P&O, the Royal Malaysian Navy - even amongst Formula One racing teams,” comments James Brooks. “There are currently 273 helmets being built for Carnival cruise.
“The unique ergonomic design of the SOLOtic combines helmet, face mask, neck skirt, air supply and communications systems, to enable ‘hands-free’ operation - while an integrated thermal imaging camera offers Virtual Reality Viewing Optics.”
Made by Scunthorpe-based manufacturers, GB Solo Ltd, the SOLOtic is approved and in use in military, civilian and commercial applications worldwide. The entire helmet system can be donned in less than 20 seconds and its shell is available in a variety of colours for instant visibility and personal identification.
The design of this product is truly impressive: padded ear protectors provide additional insulation to enhance radio communication and absorb side impacts; an advanced helmet suspension system provides optimum comfort and is quickly adjusted with just two straps.
What about the TIC?
On the thermal imaging unit, the picture is picked up through a centrally-mounted camera. “Even in the thickest smoke and with the face visor entirely covered, the image seen by the wearer remains undiminished in quality. The thermal image is displayed to the wearer through augmented viewing lenses,” explains James Brooks.
“SOLOtic thermal imaging units enable firefighters to navigate unfamiliar territory, even see obstacles to be avoided. Smoke-filled rooms don’t have to be searched slowly by touch. Victims can be spotted in a fraction of the time. Doors, windows, escape points can all be more immediately seen,” explains.
SOLOvision is a new, fully-operational thermal imaging camera with Virtual Reality Viewing Optics. Weighing just 700g (making it the lightest on the market) it can be used as an independent unit held and viewed in the same ways as a pair of binoculars or as a unit which interfaces and seals against BA face masks, gas masks or helmet visors. SOLOvision is a waterproof, vibration-proof unit which can withstand flashover of 1,000°C for 10 seconds.
All SOLOvision shells (or ‘pods’ as they are referred to) now come with a Lifetime manufacturers warranty covering failures due to faulty workmanship. This does not cover the cameras being trampled, hit with a hammer, blown up, put under a rampaging herd of cattle, or run over by fire trucks! GB SOLO has a pictures on its website just to show the inherent strength of the camera shell. In the picture you can see the shell is empty but it holds shape even with one tonne of car on top.
“The most versatile and most rugged long-range thermal imager available today, the SOLOvision Search & Rescue unit is ideal for any situation from surveillance operations to prison security. It has the ability to identify objects over long ranges through darkness, fog, smoke, or direct bright blinding spotlights.
“The many benefits of the SOLOvision S&R allow rescue services to move efficiently no matter the conditions faced, from crash teams and marine rescuers moving quickly to crash and accident sites to security personnel identifying intruders even on the darkest nights. It is suitable for use with all known breathing apparatus and gas masks giving clear man detection up to 1km,” he reports.
“When you need total head protection, respiratory protection, two-way radio communication and integrated thermal imaging features in a completely balanced and universally comfortable range of helmets - then you need a SOLO helmet. SOLO’s technologically advanced designs, with CE Category III PPE approved safety features, bring them to the forefront as the ultimate range of protective helmets,” he concludes.
More information? Visit: www.gbsolo.co.uk
