360 Vision Technology’s Predator HD PTZ camera featured in the Security Journal UK publication

360 Vision Technology’s Predator HD PTZ camera was recently selected to appear in the Security Journal UK publication.

A highly regarded specialist electronic security industry publication, in the article, Tony Holloway, Business Development Manager for 360 Vision’s Predator range, explains why the product is perfect for Drone Detection.

• What are the applications for drone detection?

Airborne drone technology or UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) technology has changed the world from 'big kids' toys', aerial light shows for entertainment and commercial aerial surveying, to detect and remote ordnance delivery. The applications are endless and the demand to detect the presence of airborne devices is growing.

The highest-level threats lead to the need to deploy counter measures, from the highly sophisticated physical capture/takedown solutions to the lesser physically invasive RF jamming solutions.

Detection solutions fall into three main technologies

Detection solutions fall into three main technologies of Radio Frequency, Radar, and Optical/Visual/Thermal

Detection solutions fall into three main technologies of Radio Frequency, Radar, and Optical/Visual/Thermal. The latter is always a pre-requisite in providing positive identification of the UAV, supported by a video analytical engine, so an informed decision on the next course of action/counter measure can be taken.

High-end defence solutions naturally use all these technologies to provide rapid detection and response capabilities.

• What other drone applications need tracking solutions?

The commercial application for autonomised delivery of urgent packages from medicine to time critical logistics is a new market. UK airspace is controlled by strict CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) legislation. The need to be ‘eyes on’ for any airborne craft presents a challenge to the autonomous drone solution.

However, the potential applications demand an intuitive solution. It requires airspace monitoring around the UAV plus the wider space for the detection of other UAVs to ensure safe passage and eyes always on piloting. Even for the fully autonomised solution, the ability to monitor the known UAV plus identify other potential threats/incursions from third-party UAVs into the local airspace is a pre-requisite.

• What technology is used and/or being developed?

Cost-effective commercially available multi-technology sensing solutions are required and need to be equipped with more than a single PTZ head, or short range panoramic fixed field of view solution.

Video Analytical Engines can be used to determine the nature of unknown aerial targets (birds, airplanes, UAVs etc.) automatically acquiring a target from a ‘spot’ on the horizon and utilising extensive optical zoom capabilities to zoom in several kilometres to classify the nature of the target.

Deploying multiple camera heads

When deploying multiple camera heads, reducing the volume of infrastructure is desired

When deploying multiple camera heads, reducing the volume of infrastructure is desired, however multi heads in the same location can obstruct one another’s field of view.

Although this can be minimised through careful planning, this doesn’t solve the need to provide uninterrupted eyes on monitoring through 360 degrees.

• What is 360 Vision Technology bringing to this sector?

Twenty years of positioning system design and manufacturing experience in the United Kingdom (UK), combined with a flexibility to adapt their positioning technology solutions, enabled a form factor to be created to provide the required 360 degree continuous unobstructed tracking capability.

Combining their high-performance optics, efficient video encoding and precise positioning devices with their partners’ analytical technologies delivers an extremely cost effective solution. Not to mention the super low power requirement, Attack Detect positioning technology, local service centre and 5 star customer support service.

• So why is the form factor for the camera head so important?

The double head principle from 360 Vision Technology provides a form factor that eliminates this blocking issue by stacking the cameras, utilising the side mount configuration for the lower cameras.

The format enables both cameras to have 360 degrees uninterrupted surveying capability

The format enables both cameras to have 360 degrees uninterrupted surveying capability, including the full vertical tilt range, also aiding effective window wiper functionality.

The continual tracking of a remotely operated drone, plus monitoring of the local airspace provides an effective solution to the hybrid surveillance opportunities that could be deployed, utilising both ground mounted and airborne facility surveillance.

• Automated Hybrid Site Surveillance Solutions for and in the air space - is this a reality or prediction?

The need to provide cost-effective, low environmentally impactful solutions, whilst increasing the capability of remote site surveillance is with us now.

Quick drone response to security needs for site surveillance is a very compelling argument. 360 Vision Technology’s uniquely crafted Predator PTZ hardware, along with their partners’ technology, now makes this a reality.