Question 1

What is the TASS system?

Accepted Answer

TASS (Thermal Alarm Suppression System) is an automatic fire detection and suppression system designed for industrial machinery, robotics and wind turbines. It uses cameras and AI to detect fires and thermal hazards in real time, then triggers suppression and alerts without waiting for a human to react. It's built to protect machines, people, and premises around the clock — whether someone is watching or not.

Question 2

How does the system detect a fire?

Accepted Answer

TASS uses a combination of visual and thermal cameras mounted on or near the machine. The visual camera identifies flames using AI-powered detection, while the thermal camera monitors surface temperatures for abnormal heat. When either camera detects a threat, the system responds immediately — there's no delay waiting for smoke to reach a ceiling-mounted detector.

Question 3

What happens when a fire is detected?

Accepted Answer

TASS can trigger both aerosol-based, gas-based and water-mist suppression systems. The choice depends on the type of machine and the environment it operates in. Your AITECH representative will recommend the right suppression method during the site survey.

Question 4

What types of suppression does the system support?

Accepted Answer

TASS can trigger both aerosol-based, gas-based and water-mist suppression systems. The choice depends on the type of machine and the environment it operates in. Your AITECH representative will recommend the right suppression method during the site survey.

Question 5

Does the system come with a live dashboard?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every current TASS installation includes a touchscreen dashboard mounted near the machine. It shows the live status of all connected devices, camera feeds, and thermal readings at a glance. Operators can see exactly what's happening without needing any specialist training — if a tile is green, everything is healthy. If something needs attention, it's immediately obvious and the TASS unit automatically reports any faults or incidents using automatic reporting. The system modules have heartbeats that report back to the hub every second, so any devices that go down are reported within ~6 seconds.

Question 6

Can I see video footage of past events?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When the system detects a fire or thermal event, it automatically saves video footage from the moments before, during, and after the incident. This footage can be reviewed directly from the dashboard, making it easy to understand what happened, how the system responded, and whether any further action is needed.

Question 7

Does the system work when nobody is on site?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. TASS is designed to operate 24/7 with no human supervision. It detects thermal and flame threats, triggers suppression, raises alarms, and records footage regardless of whether anyone is present. When staff arrive, the dashboard shows a full history of any events that occurred overnight or during downtime.

Question 8

Can the system be monitored remotely?

Accepted Answer

Yes. TASS supports remote access, allowing our engineers and technical team to check the live status of the system and review events for maintenance and AI self-learning. This is especially useful for multi-site operations or for monitoring machines outside of normal working hours.

Question 9

What does the thermal monitoring do?

Accepted Answer

The thermal camera continuously measures surface temperatures across the machine. If an area begins to overheat — even before there are visible flames — the system raises an early warning. This gives operators a chance to intervene and prevent a fire from developing in the first place, rather than just reacting to one.

Question 10

How long does installation take?

Accepted Answer

A typical single-machine installation can be completed within a day. The system is designed to be straightforward to fit, with minimal disruption to production. Your AITECH engineer will carry out a site survey beforehand to plan camera positions, suppression placement, and cabling routes.

Question 11

Does the system need a lot of maintenance?

Accepted Answer

No. Once installed, TASS runs continuously with very little ongoing maintenance. The dashboard makes it easy to see if anything needs attention — for example, if a camera goes offline or a device loses connection, the system flags it immediately. Periodic checks of suppression canisters and camera lenses are recommended, but day-to-day the system looks after itself.

Question 12

Will it interfere with our existing fire safety systems?

Accepted Answer

No. TASS is a machine-level protection system that works alongside your existing building fire safety infrastructure. It doesn't replace ceiling-mounted smoke detectors or sprinkler systems — it adds a faster, more targeted layer of protection directly at the source of risk.

Question 13

What happens if a camera or device loses connection?

Accepted Answer

The system monitors the health of every connected component in real time. If a camera or device stops communicating, the dashboard flags it within seconds so the issue can be investigated. The system is designed to fail visibly — it will never silently stop protecting a machine without alerting you.

Question 14

How many machines can one system cover?

Accepted Answer

Each TASS hub can manage multiple units within a machine, from a single location. The exact number depends on the layout and requirements of your site.

Question 15

Does the system need an internet connection?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but it's fully secured. TASS uses an encrypted VPN connection to safely connect to the outside world without opening any ports on your network. This allows the system to send email alerts, enable remote maintenance, and transport footage for continuous AI development — all while keeping your internal network completely isolated from outside access. The core fire detection and suppression functions will continue to operate even if the internet connection is temporarily lost, so protection is never interrupted.

Question 16

How is the system powered?

Accepted Answer

TASS devices are powered over the same network cable that carries their data, which keeps cabling simple and installation clean. For aerosol-based suppression, no additional power supply is needed — everything runs from the single network cable. If a gas-based suppression system is used, a separate mains power feed is required for the suppression controller, but the detection and alerting side still runs from the network cable alone.

Question 17

Can TASS integrate with our existing machine controls?

Accepted Answer

Yes. TASS can connect directly to your machine's PLC (programmable logic controller) to work alongside your existing automation. This means the system can trigger machine shutdowns, close valves, activate relays, or perform any other safety action your PLC supports — all automatically as part of the fire response. It also works the other way: your PLC can send signals into TASS to trigger alerts or suppression based on conditions the machine itself detects

Question 18

Is the system suitable for all types of industrial machinery?

Accepted Answer

TASS is designed to be flexible enough to protect a wide range of industrial equipment — from cardboard production machines, battery management systems to recycling plants and waste sites. Each installation is tailored during the site survey to match the specific risks, layout, and environment of the machine it's protecting. If it generates heat or handles combustible materials, TASS can be configured to protect it, for example overheating bearings, hot motors, smoldering product and/or materials.

Question 19

What information is shown on the dashboard during an event?

Accepted Answer

When an event occurs, the dashboard shows exactly what triggered the response — including a live camera view, the type of detection (flame or thermal), which suppression outputs were activated. Everything is presented clearly so that even someone unfamiliar with the system can quickly understand what happened and what action was taken.

Question 20

Can the system protect more than one zone on a single machine?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Larger or more complex machines can have multiple detection zones, each with its own cameras and suppression outputs. For example, a machine might have one zone covering the cutting area and another covering the extraction system. Each zone is monitored independently, so the system responds precisely where the threat is — without triggering suppression across the entire machine unnecessarily, if programmed to do so.

Question 21

Do operators need training to use the system?

Accepted Answer

Very little. Once the TASS has been installed, the dashboard is designed to be intuitive — operators can see the status of the system at a glance without needing technical knowledge. Green means healthy, and any issues are highlighted clearly. AITECH provides a brief walkthrough during installation, but day-to-day use is straightforward enough that most operators are comfortable with it within minutes.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions