News

DEVELOPMENT UPDATE 13 APRIL 2007

Highlights

Testing Update

Vehicle Occupancy Limited are pleased to announce that on 12th April 2007 we had a positive indication from our Gatehouse tests of dtect, our vehicle occupancy detection technology. This positive Gatehouse test result builds on the positive indications from a series of car park tests conducted between January and March 2007.

Figure 1 Gatehouse Test Site

Our Gatehouse test facility (Figure 1) is situated at an exit barrier of the Loughborough University Campus. Vehicles exiting the campus pass dtect as they approach the barrier. The number of vehicle occupants is recorded by a human observer and this value is compared with the automated occupancy count provided by dtect.

This result was particularly pleasing given the fact that the recently introduced second illuminator was constructed from less than optimal components. Once we have procured and integrated our preferred components we expect the dtect accuracy figure to rise above 90%.

The key conclusion from these tests is that the introduction of a second illuminator has solved the problems we were having with variations in ambient lighting conditions. These test result gives us confidence that the dtect technology has a commercial future.

A secondary conclusion drawn from these tests is that the introduction of the second illuminator will enable us to detect vehicle occupants during the hours of darkness without the need for external lighting.

Over the coming months we intend to carry out further Gatehouse, road and track tests in preparation for commencement of dtect into production.

Patent

Following advice from our patent lawyers, VOL has filed a new patent application to protect the intellectual property associated with our two illuminator technology. This patent, like the first, was filed in the name of Laser Optical Engineering with VOL being granted an exclusive licence to market products based on the patent.

dtect Re-branding

The first production version of our vehicle occupancy detection technology will be named dtect. This name change has been timed to coincide with the successful test of our two illuminator technology.

The dtect brand name will replace Cyclops which has been dropped because it is already used for other traffic related products.

Success during recent tests has left us confident that dtect will go into production. Further development and testing must be successfully completed before firm dates can be set however, our provisional plan is to produce the first production units in the last quarter of 2007. Thereafter production volumes will be increased progressively. Table 1, below, shows our current production projection.

Table 1 – Proposed dtect Production

VOL is in dialogue with a number of customers regarding the purchase and installation of the early production units. We would welcome further enquires.

VOL is pleased to announce that we will introduce dtect at Traffex 2007. Traffex is an international show dedicate to the design, management and maintenance of traffic and highway infrastructure. It will be held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham between April 17 and April 19 2007.

We invite you to visit the VOL stand and learn more about dtect.