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PRESS RELEASES
TORONTO, May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Active Control Technology Inc.
(TSX-V:ACT) announced today a major enhancement of ActiveMine(TM), the premier
wireless communications and locating system for mines, that represents a
breakthrough in underground mining communications.
The new feature, called "Starfish(TM)," for the first time makes it
possible for miners who become isolated due to an accident, explosion or other
event to stay linked, even when they are distant from one another and cut off
from the outside world.
"We know of no other communication system marketed to the mining community
which has this capability," said Steve Barrett, President and CEO, Active
Control. "Starfish demonstrates our commitment to ensuring ActiveMine remains
the benchmark for wireless mine communications and locating systems."
Starfish technology has operated successfully for over a month in the
underground coal mine in West Virginia referenced in ACT's press release of
May 1, 2008. This installation marked the first commercial sale of the
ActiveMine system.
How Starfish Works
Starfish operates on top of ActiveMine's 100 percent wireless Wi-Fi MESH
network, which is formed by a series of nodes placed at strategic locations in
the mine. The ActiveMine network has multiple wireless paths that will
maintain communication links in the event any node fails or is damaged.
With Starfish, even if a node or series of nodes becomes isolated from the
main network, voice communications will automatically be re-established within
the isolated area. The analogy in nature is that of a starfish: If a
starfish's arm is severed, a complete new starfish is naturally regenerated by
the severed section.
This capability is currently not possible with analog walkie-talkie radios
used in leaky feeder systems. When these radios lose their network connection
(for example, because of a damaged leaky feeder cable), they provide
line-of-sight communications to other radios within a few hundred feet.
Consequently, miners located across a larger area or isolated behind pillars
would likely be unable to communicate with one another should a leaky feeder
network fail.
Additional Starfish Benefits
Starfish provides several benefits and added capabilities:
- By making it possible for miners to find one another and provide
mutual assistance, Starfish is particularly valuable for search and
rescue operations.
- As soon as an ActiveMine node in an isolated area "sees" signal from
the main network, communications to the surface will automatically
resume.
- With the advent of Starfish, ActiveMine wireless mesh networks can
now be set up for communications without a "Head End," where
communications system controls are typically located. All that is
required are nodes. This is cost-effective for small mines that track
underground personnel "by administration" only and do not require
electronic tracking.
- This capability also enables the deployment of temporary local
networks that are ideal for shorter-term activities requiring high
quality communication links.
- Starfish-enabled local networks can be connected to satellite phones,
making it possible for isolated locations such as prospecting camps
to have a fully digital communications and data network linked to
"the outside world".
About ActiveMine
ActiveMine's communications, data and tracking system enables monitoring
of production, personnel and equipment in all types of surface and underground
mining environments, including coal and base metal mines. The system is
designed to:
- Operate on a 100 percent wireless Wi-Fi network backbone.
- Be less susceptible to water and mechanical damage of all sorts,
including rock fall.
- Use open-standards technology.
- Meet federal MINER Act requirements for wireless systems as
established in MSHA policies.
- Provide four-day intrinsically safe battery back-up and power supply.
- Provide a wireless communications and data network above-ground,
linked seamlessly to underground networks.
About Active Control Technology
ACT designs and markets wireless network control and communication systems
for buildings and extreme environments. Located in Burlington, Ontario,
Canada, the company trades publicly on the TSX Venture Exchange under the
symbol ACT. For more information, visit the company's website at
www.activecontrol.com.
We make wireless work.(TM)
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release
contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties,
which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made.
When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "will",
"intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such
statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are
subject to such risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual
results to differ materially from the statements made, including those factors
discussed in filings made by us with the Canadian securities regulatory
authorities. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties, such as
changes in demand for and prices for the products of the Company or the
materials required to produce those products, labour relations problems,
currency and interest rate fluctuations, increased competition and general
economic and market factors, occur or should assumptions underlying the
forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially
from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, or expected. We
do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking
statements. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements.
SOURCE Active Control Technology Inc.
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