Quick bots to spray ID dots
Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:59 am
DATADOT Technology http://www.datadotdna.com/dtl_technology_why_mc.htm is planning
to cash in on state police ministers' enthusiasm for microdotting vehicle parts to prevent theft.
It has produced a robot that can indelibly mark an entire vehicle in 40 seconds The Sydney
company, which sells its existing hand-sprayed microdot product throughout Australia, Asia,
Europe and North America, has gathered $1.5 million in federal government funding to
commercialise the robot, understood to be the only one in the world.
Sitting on a vehicle production line, the robot is capable of spraying 40 key parts of a vehicle
in 40 seconds, compared with an average of seven minutes for spraying by hand.
That would make it practical for standard vehicles, rather than focusing on high-performance
and luxury cars.
"Seven minutes is too long for a production line," DatatDot chief executive Ian Allen said.
"Until now we have been hand-spraying cars when they come into the country."
DataDot already has 10 brands on board in Australia, including Holden Special Vehicles, Audi,
Lexus and Subaru, and sprays 105,000 cars a year by hand. The company also works for three
insurance companies and Harley Davidson importer/distributer Morgan & Wacker , and even
sprays tools and equipment for Telstra.
The spray contains microscopic dots etched with a vehicle identification number. Police use a
special reader to spot the dots, and then check the number on the motor vehicle database.
"People tell us they've got immobilisers and GPS, but nothing else tracks the wheels or the
drive shaft. You can't get it off, and it drives the crims mad."
to cash in on state police ministers' enthusiasm for microdotting vehicle parts to prevent theft.
It has produced a robot that can indelibly mark an entire vehicle in 40 seconds The Sydney
company, which sells its existing hand-sprayed microdot product throughout Australia, Asia,
Europe and North America, has gathered $1.5 million in federal government funding to
commercialise the robot, understood to be the only one in the world.
Sitting on a vehicle production line, the robot is capable of spraying 40 key parts of a vehicle
in 40 seconds, compared with an average of seven minutes for spraying by hand.
That would make it practical for standard vehicles, rather than focusing on high-performance
and luxury cars.
"Seven minutes is too long for a production line," DatatDot chief executive Ian Allen said.
"Until now we have been hand-spraying cars when they come into the country."
DataDot already has 10 brands on board in Australia, including Holden Special Vehicles, Audi,
Lexus and Subaru, and sprays 105,000 cars a year by hand. The company also works for three
insurance companies and Harley Davidson importer/distributer Morgan & Wacker , and even
sprays tools and equipment for Telstra.
The spray contains microscopic dots etched with a vehicle identification number. Police use a
special reader to spot the dots, and then check the number on the motor vehicle database.
"People tell us they've got immobilisers and GPS, but nothing else tracks the wheels or the
drive shaft. You can't get it off, and it drives the crims mad."