New Product: Free Flow Turnstile (dFlow)

Author: Brian Rhodes, Published on May 05, 2016

A new turnstile uses a totally different approach for access control than anything else on the market. Instead of unlocking to let people through, it slams closed on unauthorized users.

However, the developer says this approach is fundamentally better than traditional units and claims security is just as good, if not better. And it uses high-tech sensors to support those claims.

In this note, we look at Digicon's dFlow Turnstile, examine how it differs from typical units, and see if it really is the game-changer it claims to be.

* *** ********* **** * ******* ********* ******** *** ****** control **** ******** **** ** *** ******. ******* ** ********* to *** ****** *******, ** ***** ****** ** ************ *****.

*******, *** ********* **** **** ******** ** ************* ****** **** traditional ***** *** ****** ******** ** **** ** ****, ** not ******. *** ** **** ****-**** ******* ** ******* ***** claims.

** **** ****, ** **** *********'* ***** *********, ******* *** ** ******* **** ******* *****, *** *** if ** ****** ** *** ****-******* ** ****** ** **.

[***************]

The '**** ****' **********

*** **** ******* *********** ********** *** *** ***** ******* ********* is **** *** ******** *** ******** **** *** **** ***** when ** ************ ****** ******** ** **** ****:

*** ******* ***** ** **** ******** ** ******, ******* "*** vast ******** ** ***** **** ***** ****** ***********" *** ******* of ******* *** ******** ** ***** ***** ** ***** **** unlocking * *********, *** ********* ******* **** ***** ****** ** stop *** ******* ********.

**** ******** *** *** ********* **** ***** * **** ****** throughput, *** ******* ******* ** "******* ************ **** ** ** the **-** ***** *** ******, ************* ****** **** ******* ****/****** control *******" **** ******* **-** ***** *** ******.

Product ********

*** ************'* **** ***** ***** ***** *** ********* *** ******* performance ** *** ******, **** ***** ******* ********* **************** ********:

Key **********

***** ** ***** ** ** ********** **** ********** ******** **** traditional ***************** **********:

**** ******: ***** ** ********* ** ***** ***** **** *******. *** a **” **** ****, *** ******* ***** ***** ** ******* 0.4 *** *.* ***.

******** *****: ******* **** ******* ***** ** * ******** ** *** location, ***** *** ************ ** *** ************ **** ** *** gate. *** ******* ********* **** ** **:

** ** ************ **** ****** *** **** ******, *** ***** close ******. ** **** ***** *******, *** ***** ***** ******. By *** **** *****, ** **** **** ********* ******* *** gate ********, *** ***** **** **** ****** ** ****** ** they *****.

*********** ********: *** ***** *** **** ** * *********** *******, ******* the ****** ** ****** ** ***. *** ***** *** ******** with * ****** ****** ***** ****** *** ****** *****.

**** ***********: ***** **** ** ********* ***** ** ********* ** ******** access ******* *******, ***** ********** ** *******, ******, ****, ** Code *** ******. *** ********* *** ********* *** **-***, **** and ******** (***** ****), ** */* ******** *** ******* ***********.

**** ***** ********: *** **** ******** ****** *** *********** **** **** ***** systems, ** ******** *** **** **** *** **** ****** ****** emergencies.

*****

*** **** ***** ** ***** ** *** ** ****** ** $20,000. ******* ******* ** ******* ************* *** *** **** ***** a ****** **** ** ******** ** ***********. **** **** * single **** **** ****** ** * ****** *****.

Time ** ****** *****

** ***** ** ** ********** ** ******* *** ****** *** position *** ***** ** ***** ****** ******* *****, **** ******** adjacent ** **** *****, ***** **** * ***** **** ** detection ******: **** ** ******, ** ***.

**** ****** ** ******* ******** ******** ** *** *********, ** it *** ****** *** **** *********** ****** *** *********. ** asked ******* ** ********* ** **** ******** ******* ** *********** PIR ***** *******:

**** ** ******* ******* ** *** ******* ** **** **** (normally **** *****) ** ******** **** *** ******* ******** ********, point-to-point ** ******* *** *** **** *** ********* ********** ******** for ********* ******* **** ********. ** ** ******* ******* ** overhead ******* *** ******* ** * ** ******. *** ** part ** **** ****** ** *******. ***** *** ***** ******** users (********** ** ***) ****** *** ***** **** **** **** high *********.

***** *** ** *** ******* ** ***** ********** *** ** security, *** ********** *** **** ******* ** ******** *********. **** this****-********** ****** **** ***************'* ** **** ** ****** ******. ***** ******* ******** ** **** ********** ** ***** *** and ******* ********* ******** ** ***** ******/********* *******, *** ***** that *** ** * ****** ********** *** ********* ******** ********* is *******.

Company *******

********* * ********* ********* *** ********** **** ************ **** *** expanding **** ********* *******. *** *******'* ******* **** ******** ***** arm ********** (*******-********** *** *********) ** * ******* ** ******, full ****** ********** (****** *** ******) *** ********* *****. ***** dFlow ** *** ****** ********, *** ******* ******* ** ******** offering *********** ********* ********.

*** ******* ********* ***** ******* * ****** ******* ** *** users, ***** ** ** ******* ** ****** ****** ***** *******.

**************Access ******* ************

*****'* ************ ********* ******** ** **** ****** **** *** ** a *** ********** **********, **** ***** ******* **********, *** ******** used. ** ***** ** ******** ********, *** ***-****** ************ *** lightweight ******* ****** **** **** * ********** ************ **** *** simply *** **** ** ***** **** *** ******.

******, ***** *** ******** *** ******* ***** ** ****, ** high ******** ****** ***** ******* ** ********, * ************ ****-****** turnstile ** ******** **** **** ** ********.

*******, *** ***** ***** ***** *** *** *** *** **** population ** ********* ****-********* **** ****** *******, ***** ***** ***** a **** ********** ******* **********-***** *********** ** * *** **** few ***** ******** *** *******.

Comments (21)

Konstantin Avramenko

05/05/16 02:11pm

Since 1961 this type of turnstile has been used at the USSR subway stations

I posted the first video I found. This one is broken but it shows how it works.

This type of turnstiles worked well but it was dangerous and a bit scary )

Thumbnail pp 5

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Konstantin Avramenko | 05/05/16 02:28pm

Holy cow, that thing looks like it could break legs.

I am curious how/why the turnbuckles close? A bad card/token read? Motion detectors?

Konstantin Avramenko

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 05/05/16 02:44pm

It was painful but usually it closed before you reached the point when it could hit you.

It worked with coins, then tokens, then cards. You can see holes from each side these are sensors. And this retro video shows the process.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 05/05/16 09:43pm

Ask dFlow if their fancy Terahertz scanner can put a stop to such low-tech exploits such as the one at the 2 minute mark in the retro video, one that is clearly vulnerable to mixed-pair figure skaters.

Konstantin Avramenko

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 05/05/16 10:58pm

I would try it how it handles these situations:

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Konstantin Avramenko | 05/06/16 01:27am

One of the Soviet innovations that came from the Space Race no doubt.

We got Tang, they got state-of-the-art access control.

And this is technology that wouldn't be duplicated for another 50 years.

Konstantin, can you explain how this was supposed to be an improvement, at least in theory, on just opening on authentication?

With the dFlow it makes sense, since you can have multiple people going thru with little gap between them, but here since everyone has to present auth of some sort, and the gap between the "reader" and the gate is large enough and the gate closes quick enough, there seems ample time to open for each person.

Plus, the time saved from the reauth runaround process would make it even faster, no?

Sure, it might save energy, but was that the main objective?

Konstantin Avramenko

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 05/06/16 01:51am

Konstantin, can you explain how this was supposed to be an improvement, at least in theory, on just opening on authentication?

Did I say somewhere that it is an improvement? Personally I see no serious difference between them. In theory dFlow can have higher throughput but I doubt that in real life there will be significant difference.

From a user point of view I think that scheme: "stop - present credential - see gates opening - start moving" is better than "present credentials on the go - be stopped by gates -try to reach the reader through the people stacked behind you".

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Konstantin Avramenko | 05/06/16 03:49am

Did I say somewhere that it is an improvement?

Did I say somewhere you did? :)

But, I am actually wondering what the Soviets had in mind when they rolled this thing out. Was it intended to speed things up, save power, or just whack people in the crotch at random to keep 'em guessing?

Konstantin Avramenko

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 05/06/16 04:09am

It was chosen from 32 projects in 1957 and I believe this choice was based on the level of technology at that time.

Now it depends on a country and city. This photo is from the Moscow subway.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Konstantin Avramenko | 05/06/16 04:38am

Why are they closed?

Konstantin Avramenko

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 05/06/16 04:59am

Because it is a different type.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Konstantin Avramenko | 05/06/16 08:00am

Although looking vaguely Egyptian, this is yet another Russian turnstile innovation, though a bit lower-tech.

Apparently most fare jumpers are male...

Thumbnail scottpic

Scott Gerrels

IPVMU Certified | 05/05/16 05:42pm

I like this approach where life safety codes make it difficult to put in a traditional turnstile

Thumbnail image

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | 05/05/16 10:45pm

As a man, I'm not comfortable with anything flying towards my nether regions.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 05/06/16 12:51am

As a man, I'm not comfortable with anything flying towards my nether regions.

As Konstantin says above, it's only painful when it hits you.

As for the dFlow, it's an adaptive response based on real-time data from 3d sensors, so you should be fine. Anyway, if I'm not mistaken that board is sourced from the leader in the field, Johnson Controls, whose name speaks for itself.

Horace Lasell

05/06/16 12:32am

Eagerly looking forward to their Yosemite Sam trapdoor variant!

Thumbnail scottpic

Scott Gerrels

IPVMU Certified | 05/06/16 01:11am

Am I the only one who likes the potential in this approach? I have run into projects that life safety codes prohibited anything other than an optical approach rather than physical - this would probably work in that application.

Konstantin Avramenko

In reply to Scott Gerrels | 05/06/16 02:12am

Can you please clarify what difference from the point of life safety codes you see between this product and other turnstiles?

If it is Card In/Out then there has to be an emergency door (or alternative) because even dFlow wings are not closed they will close in front of a person without the right credential. If it is Card In only then again there is no difference between turnstiles because all of them will allow free egress.

Am I missing something?

Thumbnail pp 5

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Konstantin Avramenko | 05/06/16 02:17am

dFlow has a fire-alarm override contact and can be used in 'card-in' configurations only.

Thumbnail scottpic

Scott Gerrels

IPVMU Certified | 05/06/16 03:38am

The turnstiles in the dflow videos I saw look like they are meant to keep people from entering unauthorized and allow free egress - they aren't even deployed until approached without authorization- wonder if you even need to deal with an override in this setup.

Konstantin Avramenko

In reply to Scott Gerrels | 05/06/16 03:47am

If your customer does not want "physical" then you can propose them something like this

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports on Access Control

Access Control Records Maintenance Guide on Jan 16, 2019
Weeding out old entries, turning off unused credentials, and updating who carries which credentials is as important as to maintaining security as...
Access Control Cabling Tutorial on Jan 15, 2019
Access Control is only as reliable as its cables. While this aspect lacks the sexiness of other components, it remains a vital part of every...
Avigilon Favorability Results 2019 on Jan 15, 2019
Since IPVM's 2017 Avigilon favorability results, the company was acquired by Motorola and has shifted from being an aggressive startup to a more...
Wavelynx Access Control Manufacturer Profile on Jan 10, 2019
Denver-based WaveLynx is not well known as an access reader manufacturer, but OEMs for big industry brands including Amag, Isonas (Allegion),...
Combating Vaping Epidemic - Halo Smart Sensor Profile on Dec 21, 2018
Youth vaping has become an epidemic, according to the US Surgeon General, while the market leader, Juul, just received a $12.8 billion investment...
ACRE-Acquired Open Options Access Company Profile on Dec 17, 2018
Who is the company ACRE is acquiring? In this note, we examine Open Options line for best customer fit, key features, pricing, and main...
Open Options Acquired By ACRE on Dec 17, 2018
ACRE is doing deals again. A year after they sold Mercury, they are buying another access control company - Open Options. In this note, we...
2019 Access Control Book Released on Dec 12, 2018
This is the best, most comprehensive access control book in the world, based on our unprecedented research and testing has been significantly...
Multi-Factor Access Control Authentication Guide on Dec 10, 2018
Can a stranger use your credentials? One of the oldest problems facing access control is making credentials as easy to use as keys, but restricting...
Top 2019 Trend - AI Video Analytics on Dec 10, 2018
160+ Integrators answered: What do you think the top industry trend will be in 2019? Why? AI / video analytics was the run-away winner with...

Most Recent Industry Reports

The IP Camera Lock-In Trend: Meraki and Verkada on Jan 18, 2019
Open systems and interoperability have not only been big buzzwords over the past decade, but they have also become core features of video...
NYPD Refutes False SCMP Hikvision Story on Jan 18, 2019
The NYPD has refuted the SCMP Hikvision story, the Voice of America has reported. On January 11, 2018, the SCMP alleged that the NYPD was using...
Mobile Surveillance Trailers Guide on Jan 17, 2019
Putting cameras in a place for temporary surveillance where power and communications are not readily available can be complicated and expensive....
Exacq Favorability Results 2019 on Jan 17, 2019
Exacq favorability amongst integrators has declined sharply, in new IPVM statistics, compared to 2017 IPVM statistics for Exacq. Now, over 5 since...
Testing Bandwidth Vs. Low Light on Jan 16, 2019
Nighttime bandwidth spikes are a major concern in video surveillance. Many calculate bandwidth as a single 24/7 number, but bit rates vary...
Access Control Records Maintenance Guide on Jan 16, 2019
Weeding out old entries, turning off unused credentials, and updating who carries which credentials is as important as to maintaining security as...
UK Fines Security Firms For Illegal Direct Marketing on Jan 16, 2019
Two UK security firms have paid over $200,000 in fines for illegally making hundreds of thousands of calls to people registered on a government...
Access Control Cabling Tutorial on Jan 15, 2019
Access Control is only as reliable as its cables. While this aspect lacks the sexiness of other components, it remains a vital part of every...
Avigilon Favorability Results 2019 on Jan 15, 2019
Since IPVM's 2017 Avigilon favorability results, the company was acquired by Motorola and has shifted from being an aggressive startup to a more...
Gorilla Technology AI Provider, Raises $15 Million, Profiled on Jan 15, 2019
Gorilla Technology is a Taiwanese video analytics manufacturer that recently announced a $15 million investment from SBI Group, saying this...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact