25 Jun Benefits of Vorbeck’s HD4 harness in the law enforcement industry

Vorbeck’s HD4 harness is powered by Rajant’s InstaMesh technology, and automatically forms a secure, self-healing network with other HD4 harnesses and Drop Nodes. This helps with situation transparency between SWAT, bomb squad and crowd control operations, as it keeps them all connected with the ability to share data.

The InstaMesh technology allows both harnesses and nodes to connect on an ad-hoc basis, in challenging environments that usually have no RF signal, such as tunnels, skyscrapers and basements. Workforces in the law enforcement industry often find themselves in locations where signal is sparse, it’s essential for them to maintain communication to ensure the safety of the team.

The built-in mesh radio can stream real-time, high-quality video, audio and data from the situation to Command. The vest has built-in Wi-Fi, which allows any team member with a mobile device to access another team member’s video stream, creating the highest level of situational awareness. The network is secure, meaning it’s only accessible to those who have been authorised to do so.

Vorbeck’s drop nodes are also powered by InstaMesh and can be deployed as a low profile package to confined spaces and tunnels. These drop nodes can be used to extend the range of the mesh network and contain a high definition Pan/Tilt/Zoom camera that can be remotely controlled by smartphones and computers. This allows the camera to act as a watchman that can be left at a station to observe a hallway or area of interest, without the need for man power,  and prevents officers being exposed to unnecessary danger.

The audio system built into the vest has two modes: push-to-talk and open-mic. These two modes can be switched over with a quick double tap of the button and back again with a single touch.

Both the harness and the Drop Nodes use rechargeable Li ion batteries that provide 8-10 hours of continuous power, which allows these systems highly mobile and flexible in a number of environmental situations. The used batteries can be swapped for fresh batteries by deployed users when necessary.