Good Thinking

Barbercan robotic revolving doors isolate threats

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The LRD Portal system
The LRD Portal system
The LRD Portal system showing a pedestrian momentarily sealed in the corridor

The recent tragic shootings at Newtown, Connecticut underlines the importance of proper security and how a lapse can have horrific results. Part of the problem is that not only are many security doors inadequate, but they act as bottlenecks for traffic. Now Barbecan Security Systems have patented the Barbecan LRD Portal – a security door system that acts like a combination of turnstile, revolving door and airlock. Its purpose is to provide sensitive areas with a secure entry that cannot be forced or circumvented, yet keeps traffic flowing smoothly.

Named after a medieval fortified gate, the Barbecan LRD Portal is made of Kevlar or poly-carbonate panels and designed like a logic puzzle that allows pedestrians to walk through, yet never presents an open door. It consists of a corridor with two centrally pivoted doors mounted on slides. When a pedestrian approaches, the first door is sealed in front of him and as it slides ahead a second door slides behind, swings shut and slides forward as the first door swings open. The pedestrian emerges and the doors slide backward to repeat the cycle. At no time is there an opening where someone could rush through or pass a weapon.

The LRD Portal system showing a pedestrian momentarily sealed in the corridor

There are two clever bits to this arrangement. First, the doors are fitted with visual, sonic, IR, RF, or floor pressure sensors to gauge the walking pace of pedestrians and match it, so traffic keeps flowing. The second is that the portal is equipped with weapon-detecting sensors as well. If a gun or explosives are detected, the portal reverses direction and throws the gunman out or seals itself at both ends until security arrives.

According to Barbecan, the system is designed for flexibility. One or more portals can be installed at a location and they can be programmed to change traffic direction as needed or to open completely in the event of an emergency evacuation. However, in normal operation, the company says that the system won’t let two people through at a time.

A companion Robotic Baggage Portal design is also available.

The animation below shows how the Barbecan LRD Portal works.

Source: Barbecan Security Systems via TheEpochTimes

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18 comments
Leanne Franson
" However, in normal operation, the company says that the system won’t let two people through at a time." As a parent, or school teacher, do you know how crazy this is for a school? You would have to let small children out the door alone, with no way to grab them, see where they are going through the door etc. It is a nightmare. Good perhaps for 10 yr olds, but even then... with a whole class of kids, and one teacher, the teacher cannot stand at the door and see the kids inside and out. One of my nightmares as a mother is people who would let my child in or out of a door and block me, the parent... It may block the chance in a million of an armed gunman, but also block school professionals or parents from stopping a child from running out of the school and getting hit by a car for instance. Multiply by 18 for a class of kindergarten students....
Bob Ehresman
It seems ridiculously complicated and wasteful of space compared to a row of turnstiles. I also imagine these would prove to be a maintenance nightmare after a year or two of operation as well.
Steven Wilson
This is a great idea. It will cost a lot of money (both fixed and running costs), continually punish those who never had any intention of committing a crime, waste countless man years in delays and almost certainly enrich the friend and/or associate of the congressman who approves the project. Just think of all the jobs it'll create!
PrometheusGoneWild.com
I love the idea, but there are to many moving parts. They need to simplify it. With the way they are showing it the moving panels would have to be anchored to the floor or ceiling. The ceiling would be the better way to go since this would leave the walking area clear of track. They need to make the doors thin enough that they can drop the whole "extending out to close the gap" when they other door is passing. Just one more thing to go wrong. Make them thin enough so a person cannot get by and then just add replaceable, flexible rubber spacers. As for the issue of schools, I could see using this for the visitors entrance. Obviously you cannot run a hundred kids in through the front door with this system.
MasterG
more security is not the answer. This cattle control is not freedom. What is freedom?
Tom Arr
And a little more liberty is innovated away....
Michael Mantion
Overly complex injury machine. no insurance company in the world will touch this. I can see SOOOO many points of failure and dangerous intersects..
The cost and maintenance of this would be absurd not to mention the floor space needed would be extremely prohibited. A simple revolving tube like the use for dark rooms would work so much better and cost so much less. .
Gadgeteer
I don't see what this could do that a couple of much simpler, cheaper, more reliable armored revolving doors couldn't.
Fahrenheit 451
Although conceptual this is a very savvy idea. Using lightweight yet strong materials I can see this coming to fruition. An escalator can run 24/7 and I see this concept along the same lines. If anything it is a deterrent that combined with facial recognition and other technologies should work quite well.
William Blackburn
In relation to schools, this is pure idiocy. In relation to a small number of military or other high-security facilities, I'm sure there's a need out there somewhere.