Interview with product manager Arva Axio

1) Hi Pierre and thank you for answering my questions. Can you introduce us to theArva Axio?

TheAXIO is today our most technologically advanced device in the range, it is positioned at the top of the range ahead of EVO4 and NEO2. This device brings a real plus in the search phase thanks to its unique concept of a 3rd antenna that can be deployed to obtain similar performances on each of the 3 antennas, what we call "SPHERIC SEARCH TECHNOLOGY" in relation to the way the device scans the avalanche. This new device is the result of 3 years of research and development at ARVA around the problem of improving the performance of the Z antenna. Beyond this concept specific to theAXIO, this device will offer all the essential functionalities of a top-of-the-range device, such as the possibility of switching to "analog mode", the return to transmission in the event of an over avalanche by detection via "motion sensor", the management of "interference" or the "scroll mode" allowing the selection of the victim sought.

2) Tell us about the technological innovations of the product?

It is difficult to summarize 3 years of development in a few words, but I will try to bring you more information on the main innovation of the product... As you can imagine, the development of a DVA is subject to multiple constraints mainly related to its use and manufacture. The main challenge in the development of a DVA is that of compactness, to put it simply, the integration of the antennas and the electronic board is particularly complex considering the external dimensions of the hull. These dimensions must of course be as small as possible in order to obtain a compact and therefore easy to use device. This pushes us to constantly innovate in order to find the best possible compromise between compactness and performance. Thanks to this concept of a 3rd antenna that can be deployed, we have managed to develop the first device on the market with 3 antennas of similar size, but above all with equivalent performance in search mode. Concretely in the field, when you are 60 meters away from a device in transmit mode pointing in your direction, theAXIO will be able to detect a signal on each of the 3 antennas.

3) At the end of last season I tested theArva Axio and I really appreciated its ease of use and the precision of the device. Is the search for victims more efficient and easier with this DVA?

Having 3 antennas with similar performance greatly increases the device's ability to detect all signals regardless of the orientation of the victim's device. This new technology puts an end to the search sequence "main antenna in signal search, secondary antenna in coarse search and third antenna in fine search", the 3 antennas work from the start of the search for increased performance in complex multi-victim situations.

4) Who is it mainly intended for?

The multiple functionalities of theAXIO make this device a product intended for a public ranging from regular practitioners to expert users. Its ease of use makes it a product accessible to a wide public. In concrete terms, we are targeting this device at rescue professionals and regular ski mountaineers/hikers with a good level of knowledge in the use of an avalanche transceiver.