Spectur is working on cameras that detect bad guys 1km away – in darkness

Security tech stock Spectur this week completed testing of solar-powered thermal surveillance cameras that can detect intruders up to 300m away in complete darkness.

But that’s just the start. Spectur (ASX:SP3) reckons its next-generation cameras will detect bad guys at a range of one kilometre or more — again in the dark of night.

The system — designed to protect perimeters of large areas — costs much less than traditional solutions because the devices don’t require connections to mains power, communications networks or light sources.

The tests were carried out by a logistics and freight company. Other applications include military and high value crops.

Spectur hopes to start selling the thermal camera system mid-year.

Spectur listed in August after raising $4.5 million selling shares at 20c each. The stock hit a high of 53c last year and is now trading at 33c.

The shares rose 16 per cent on Wednesday’s news.

Spectur reckons the thermal imaging market could be worth $US10 billion by 2021.

“Sales of our thermal camera detection systems in Australia and in overseas markets have the potential to be a significant driver of the company’s revenue and growth into the future as thermal technology achieves higher value sales than traditional systems,” managing director Peter Holton said.

Spectur booked $1.1 million revenue in the December half from sales of its existing camera systems — and a loss of $1.7 million.

It had $5.5 million left in the bank at the end of December.

Unaudited sales revenue for January and February totalled $416,000 — a 149 per cent increase on the same two months last year, Spectur said.