Next Generation Imagery Special Section
By Jeff Campbell, SOTECH Editor When “incoming” is exclaimed, that’s usually not a sign of good things to come. When it’s said authoritatively, as in “incoming video feed,” the wheels are in motion for analysts to sort through various assets with a processing, exploitation and dissemination (PED) suite en route to delivering actionable intelligence to team leaders on the ground. Oftentimes, it all starts with that video feed, and cameras that are rugged, mountable and wearable are getting the operator’s viewpoint even closer to the action. Point-ofview technology developer V.I.O. closed out 2013 by introducing Stream, an HD camera that is WiFi enabled, has IP67 waterproof, dustproof and shockproof durability, and provides real-time streaming protocol. The camera is named for its ability to stream video in any environment, and its developers say it excels in extreme ones. “V.I.O. pioneered the point-of-view category more than a decade ago,” said Craig Mattson, chief technology officer. “Video quality, durability and innovation are hallmarks of our brand. Stream allows integrators and developers to craft unique user experiences, and the open API brings limitless possibilities to what it can do.” 6 | SOTECH 12.1
One of the major focus areas for the V.I.O. technical products division was designing a camera that would work with a number of existing platforms. Team member Ryan Anthony noted that V.I.O. steered in that direction based on suggestions from private security companies and government organizations they’ve worked with over the last decade. “A lot of the feedback that we’ve received from our customers is they wanted a really small, compact, lightweight, high-definition video camera that could transmit video,” Anthony said. “That is what we developed in the Stream.” Stream’s versatility goes on; one of its key features is the camera’s ability to stream video from the camera and record locally at the same time. “Our previous models were mainly used for incident capture and after-action reporting,” Anthony said. “We have that functionality with this camera as well through the local record on to the SD card.” A built-in WiFi chip enables the camera’s ability to stream video to an external system, like a PED system. “In order to get the stream from the camera to a remote location or up to a server, it needs a device like a cellphone, a tablet or a soldier radio system.”
With its rugged qualities, Stream can be mounted many places, from a weapon to an operator’s shoulder. “This camera is a great wearable solution, but it’s also a product that can be integrated into armored vehicles, into drones and a variety of other pieces of equipment,” Anthony said. “It’s kind of a marriage between a wearable and integratable camera.” Motion stabilization has come a long way in the last few years, in an effort to confront “jelly vision,” which creates a kind of wobbly effect that makes the viewer a bit nauseated if watching for an extended period of time. Image stabilization software could be connected if used on a UAV or mounted on a vehicle, but when it’s body-worn, battery life is a concern. The stabilization software uses a great deal of processing power that will quickly drain battery life. The Stream requires an external power source, and V.I.O. designed the current version to be USB-only. “Just think of a soldier in the field—he’s got a soldier radio, he’s probably got a battery pack on him somewhere, so he’s probably not going to be carrying around another battery specifically for this camera,” Anthony said. www.SOTECH-kmi.com