KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 – A team of researchers and officers from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), together with airside officers from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), conducted a verification process for the registration of fixed assets related to the Foreign Object Debris Detection System (FODDS) at Runway 2, KLIA. These assets are part of the FODDS, a generous donation from Hitachi Kokusai Electric (HiKE), Japan, valued at over USD 5 millions. The complete system was gifted to UTM and Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn. Bhd. (MA(S)), marking the completion of the FODDS field trial. This project is part of an ongoing collaboration between UTM, MA(S), and HiKE, aimed at advancing technological innovations in aviation safety.
The field trial project was funded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan (MIC Japan), representing a significant step in UTM’s research collaboration with multinational industries. The project is the result of international collaboration between UTM and MA(S) with Japanese partners, not only HiKE but also with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), the Electronic Navigation Research Institute (ENRI), and Waseda University. It fosters industry-academia-government collaboration, advancing aviation safety technologies and facilitating knowledge exchange in the field of linear-cell radar systems. The HiKE-UTM-MA(S) memorandum of collaboration was officially signed on January 10, 2018, at KLIA, marking a formal commitment to research and development.
The FODDS is designed to enhance runway safety by detecting foreign objects that could pose hazards to aircraft operations. The system utilizes millimeter wave radar and integrates with high-resolution cameras that automatically focus on detected objects, capturing images and generating real-time alerts for airport personnel. Operating at a 90-100GHz frequency, it ensures minimal interference with airport communication and navigation systems. The system can detect foreign objects on the runway as small as 2.5cm bolts from 500 meters away and identify 1cm pebbles at 200 meters. Each detection is recorded with latitude and longitude coordinates, photographic evidence, and time-stamped logs, ensuring a quick response and effective debris removal. Now, the UTM community should be proud that the university’s assets, specifically the FODDS radar, can be observed along Runway 2 at KLIA during landing or departure.
The site visit and verification were conducted smoothly with assistance from the KLIA airside department unit. We sincerely thank all parties involved for their cooperation and hospitality throughout the visit. The UTM delegation for the site visit included Prof. Ir. Dr. Sevia Mahdaliza Idrus, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Ir. Dr. Azura Hamzah, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Ir. Dr. Sumiaty Ambran, along with Mohd Afiq Anuar, Zaidi Abd Rani, and Ismail Mohd Sharif from the UTM Bursary. UTM extends its gratitude to all stakeholders for their support in this project.