» Back to Articles List

ORTOVOX S1 – The First-Ever Sensor-Controlled Avalanche Scanner

Press release from Ortovox:

Searching was yesterday. Scanning and seeing is today. The ORTOVOX avalanche scanner had been developed with the objective of highest possible operator convenience. The entirely new technology considerably aids the search of several buried persons, and uses sensors providing additional information on their positions.

In scan mode the S1 scans the avalanche area and indicates the strongest transmitter from the furthest distance. With the aid of a reticule on the display, the searcher heads for the strongest transmitter and follows the indication on the display permanently updated according to the current situation. Meanwhile the device analyzes the signals and – while approaching more and more - shows the number of buried persons as well as their position and the distance to the buried persons. In case of several transmitters the searcher can focus on one signal and the other transmitters disappear from the display.

In the close area of about 3 m to the buried person circles changing their size show whether you are approaching or moving away from the buried person. Thus pinpointing gets considerably easier. Starting from the first point of burial the searcher can indicate the position and distance to the remaining signals, head for the next transmitter and reach directly the next point of burial without having to analyze confusing signals and without having to apply complicated methods. The search of further signals follows the same procedure as the search for the first signal. For this reason multiple burial scenarios aren’t insoluble tasks any longer.

Of course the S1 works on the world-wide standardized frequency and is compatible with all beacons available on the market and working on this frequency. Beyond the sensor-controlled search capability, the S1 also offers additional functions like “electronic compass”, temperature information and measurement of inclination, all made possible as a result of specialized safety circuitry that meets the standard. Furthermore the S1 has an automatic safety “switch-back”, in which the device automatically switches back from every operating mode to transmit mode after a certain period in order to be set on transmit mode in case of a second avalanche. The S1 comes with a newly developed belt system and will be available for winter 2006/07.

Back to top | Disclaimer | Copyrights