VIDAR uses telecommunication fibre-optic cables to detect vibrations.
VIDAR is capable of capturing and analysing the tiny vibrations of nearby objects – such as cars, drills or even pedestrians – across large geographical grids using fibre-optic cables. The vibration readings are then analysed and categorised on FiberSense’s digital platform SuperSoniQ, which it provides to clients as a subscription cloud-based service.
Just like your ears, SuperSoniQ is able to use vibrations to detect and recognise objects and events in real time over wide areas, but it can not see faces or things. It also cannot hear voices.
Vidar is the brainchild of FiberSense founder and CEO Mark Englund.
Dr Mark Englund said that the technology will transform the way critical infrastructure assets such as power grids, telecommunication cables and sewerage pipes are managed, as well as be used to help enable autonomous vehicles.
“If you can access the fibre in the city’s grids … think of it like a street map … we could detect and then classify what we’re seeing across the whole footprint of the CBD in real time,” he told The Australian Financial Review.
Unlike internet of things businesses offering a similar service, no specialised equipment such as sensors is needed.
Customers use the SuperSoniQ platform to gain real-time intelligence on any event that could damage their assets.
Entrepreneur Bevan Slattery is calling the technology ‘bigger than 5G’.
I genuinely don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say this is simply the most exciting technology to ever come out of Australia… in fact, I’m starting to wonder if this could become as big as cloud.”
Sources:
Rich Lister’s latest tech play could be ‘bigger than 5G’ https://www.afr.com/technology/rich-lister-s-latest-tech-play-could-be-bigger-than-5g-20200827-p55pz8
VIDAR: A new technology that could be ‘bigger than 5G’ https://datacenternews.us/story/vidar-a-new-technology-that-could-be-bigger-than-5g