Robotic security for Kochi airport

Movement of passengers as well as their baggage along the Cochin International Airport Limited will soon be brought under robotic surveillance.

According to officials, the airport company is all set to establish a high-end robotic security system capable of remote-handling of explosive devices and fire-fighting and hostage situations among others. The system, costing around Rs 12 crore, will be operational from the first month of September, making CIAL the first in South India to have such a facility. It comprises safety robots developed by Canada-based Pedsco Ltd. and Threat Containment Vessel (TCV) and sophisticated luggage containment vehicle — both developed by Nabco, USA.

According to officials, the main equipment of the system is a threat containment vessel (TCV) carried by robots, which is capable of containing a blast of minimum 8 kg of TNT or equivalent quantity of explosive, triggered by suspected luggage including chemicals, radioactive materials and bombs. The container is reusable as it withstands repeated detonations and size of the TCV can be adjusted with the size of the suspected baggage.

In addition to TCV, the technology also comprises a remote mobile Investigator (RMI)-9WT, which is a multipurpose six-wheel vehicle with removable tracks for step climbing capability. Using fixed arm extenders, the robot can be configured for different applications such as under car searches and second-storey window access.