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 ******. *** ** **** ****-**** ******* ** ******* ***** ******.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 ******* ********* ******** ** ***** ******/********* *******, *** ***** **** ToF ** * ****** ********** *** ********* ******** ********* ** growing.

Company *******

********* * ********* ********* *** ********** **** ************ **** *** ********* into ********* *******. *** *******'* ******* **** ******** ***** *** turnstiles (*******-********** *** *********) ** * ******* ** ******, **** height ********** (****** *** ******) *** ********* *****. ***** ***** is *** ****** ********, *** ******* ******* ** ******** ******** traditional ********* ********.

*** ******* ********* ***** ******* * ****** ******* ** *** 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

Axis Releases First New Access Controller In 5 Years (A1601) on Jun 15, 2018
It has been 5 years since Axis 2013 entry in the physical access control market, with the A1001 (IPVM test). Now, Axis has released its second...
Access Control - Time & Attendance, Mustering and Mantraps Guide on Jun 13, 2018
Electronic access offers features that traditional mechanical locks cannot. While these features may not be as fundamental as keeping doors secure,...
ReconaSense - The AI / Access Control / Analytics / IoT / Video Company Profile on Jun 12, 2018
One company's ISC West booth stood out for displaying a light-up tower of buzzwords. The company, ReconaSense, pledged to be 'making sense of it...
The Benefits of An Access Control Test Door on Jun 08, 2018
Security system dealers can benefit from having their own access control test door both for demonstrations and training. Inside, we explain the...
Princeton Identity Access 200 Iris Scanners Examined on Jun 05, 2018
Iris recently registered a big jump as a preferred biometric in our Favorite Biometrics survey, but access-ready options can be difficult to...
Keypads For Access Control Tutorial on May 31, 2018
Keypad readers present huge risks to even the best access systems. If deployed improperly, keypads let people through locked doors almost as if...
Ambitious Mobile Access Startup: Openpath on May 24, 2018
This team sold their last startup for hundreds of millions of dollars, now they have started Openpath to become a rare access control small...
Cybersecurity for IP Video Surveillance Guide on May 18, 2018
Keeping surveillance networks secure can be a daunting task, but there are several methods that can greatly reduce risk, especially when used in...
Forced Entry / Duress Access Tutorial on May 17, 2018
Even though access control normally keeps people safe, tragedies have revealed a significant issue. If users are forced to unlock doors for...
Worst Manufacturer Technical Support 2018 on May 16, 2018
5 manufacturers stood out as providing the worst technical support to 190+ integrators in new IPVM results. These integrators answered: In the...

Most Recent Industry Reports

IFSEC Show Report - Live From London on Jun 19, 2018
IPVM is live from London reporting on the IFSEC show. The Chinese have taken over the UK, centered on Hikvision, flanked by Dahua, Huawei and a...
Axis Guardian - Cloud VMS for Alarm Companies on Jun 19, 2018
Axis has struggled to deliver a cloud-based managed service video platform. Video service providers have utilized AVHS for over a decade, and have...
IPVM Vulnerability Scanner Released on Jun 18, 2018
IPVM is proud to announce video surveillance's first and only cybersecurity vulnerability scanner. This tool allows quickly and simply...
Hikvision Corrects False Cybersecurity Announcement on Jun 18, 2018
Hikvision has corrected a false cybersecurity announcement that claimed a British government-sponsored program endorsed the cybersecurity of...
July 2018 IP Networking Course on Jun 16, 2018
The last chance to save $50 on registration is this Thursday, June 21st. Register now and save. This is the only networking course designed...
The Dumb Ones: PSA's Bozeman On Cybersecurity on Jun 15, 2018
The smart ones are the hundred people who flew to Denver and spent $500+ on a 1.5-day conference featuring Dahua as a 'cyber responsible partner',...
Amazon Ring Launches $10 Monthly Professional Alarm Monitoring on Jun 15, 2018
Amazon's Ring has announced an alarm system with 24/7 professional alarm monitoring for $10 per month, a fraction of the $30+ per month traditional...
Axis Releases First New Access Controller In 5 Years (A1601) on Jun 15, 2018
It has been 5 years since Axis 2013 entry in the physical access control market, with the A1001 (IPVM test). Now, Axis has released its second...
Hikvision 12MP Fisheye Camera Tested (DS-2CD63C2F-IV) on Jun 14, 2018
Hikvision's DS-2CD63C2F-IV is their flagship panoramic camera, with a 12MP imager, 15m integrated IR, smart codec, and more. We tested the 63C2 in...
Four Major Outdoor Camera Install Problems on Jun 14, 2018
Over 140 integrators told us the top four camera installation mistakes that lead to unexpected problems and failures. Their comments often...

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