Founded in 1960, Instro Precision Limited is one of the leading suppliers of sensors and sensors support solutions for target acquisition and surveillance systems in the World. It has achieved this position through a constant drive for innovation and establishing an excellent reputation working with major homeland security and defence equipment prime contractors. The company, based in the UK, is a SME has a successful track record of turning new technology into products to deliver sustained business growth – averaging 10% per year over the past decade – to reach 2006 turnover of €8M with 80 people of whom 20% are actively involved in research and development.

Instro’s experience includes participation in many complex long range surveillance system development projects including the design of high performance multi-spectral sensor systems for homeland security and border protection. The most recent example is the development of a complete remote controlled thermal imaging surveillance system integrating wireless video and control with digital video recording technology.

Instro’s capabilities include electro-optical research, design, development and manufacture. Of particular relevance to this FP07 project are the company’s new range of laser diode rangefinders, which were developed entirely in house using new technology researched and patented by Instro, and which offer class leading operating range, beam divergence and measurement precision. It is this technology that has the unique potential to provide low cost, focal plane array based intruder and Automotive collision warning sensors.