World Security Report June 2014

INDUSTRY NEWS
INDUSTRY NEWS
Real-Time HD Video Stabiliser: Taming a harsh visual environment
Real-time video stabilisers
are critical for applications
such as UAV guidance and
surveillance, where camera
shake from an unsteady
platform would otherwise
render the video unusable.
The traditional mechanical
approach of stabilising
video, by physically moving
the optics or the sensor, is
expensive and bulky with
performance deteriorating
as image magnification
increases. In contrast,
digital electronic stabilisers
are much smaller, lighter,
considerably more power
efficient and operate
robustly, irrespective of
magnification.
Saab signs contract to provide maintenance support for the electronic security
system for the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre
Defence and security
company Saab has
received a contract to
provide the planned and
corrective maintenance
and capital expenditure
works for the electronic
security system for
the 300 bed Southern
Truly high performance,
high-definition (HD) realtime
video stabilisation
has been an elusive
technology because, until
recently, it has required
the processing power of
a small super computer
to implement. The
market needs a single chip
solution that can operate
robustly in extremely harsh
environments using only a
few watts of power.
RFEL has created a
solution in the form of an
electronic video stabiliser
that continuously processes
over a billion bits of
information every second
and tracks the movements
of several hundred
independent image
regions every video frame.
This software also includes
intelligent processing to
Queensland Correctional
Centre. The contract has
a total value of MSEK
166.
Located near Gatton
in the Lockyer Valley
and opened in January
2012, the 300-bed
counter poor illumination,
bland scene content and
extraneous movements,
such as the swaying
of trees, which would
otherwise compromise
robustness.
This state-of-the-art,
real-time, HD video
stabiliser IP is suitable for
compact, lightweight,
and low power hardware
platforms. The solution
is capable of adapting
to its environment and
can be optimised to
the application, while
supporting a diverse range
of cameras. It can be
implemented into a range
of low power hardware
platforms, including RFEL
products, which have
been proven in a range
Southern Queensland
Correctional Centre is
the State’s newest prison.
The electronic security
system was originally
installed by Saab in the
centre and has been
under comprehensive
maintenance since the
of demanding real world
applications.
This Video Processing
Solution can be combined
with other IP and run on
RFEL’s HALO platform,
which can combine
several key functions that
add value to the user,
including, video scaling,
image stabilisation, fusion,
contrast enhancement,
Picture in Picture overlay
and correction of lens
distortion.
One core functionality,
providing image fusion
between two sensors is
completely different from
simple image blending.
RFEL’s state-of-the-art
fusion algorithm processes
the images captured by
two sensors, generally
from different wavelengths,
and is able to maintain
the best attributes from
both input images for the
resulting output. This, in
combination with image
stabilisation, provides the
user with the best view
possible for informed
decisions.
facility opened. The
system provides an
integrated surveillance
picture and total control
of security sensors and
locks within the prison
environment.
Operation Henry to be rolled out across 9 regions of England
Operation Henry is a
campaign to crack down
on the supply of illicit
tobacco in nine regions in
England.
In a partnership between
the Trading Standards
Institute (TSI) HM Revenue
and Customs (HMRC local
council authorities and
Wagtail UK, a substantial
amount genuine tobacco
and cigarettes, counterfeit
tobacco and cigarettes and
Shisha tobacco.
Operation Henry, runs from
April through September
2014, and aims to crack
down on the supply of
illicit tobacco across nine
regions in England. Each
region receives eight days
of dog detection provided
by Wagtail UK and funded
by the Department of
Health. The Operation is
managed TSI.
This partnership allows
The new HoverMast-100 from Sky Sapience, in Israel, could prove a real
winner with border guards, CIP and security personnel the world over.
The HoverMast-100 is
a tethered Unmanned
Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
which means it
combines all the obvious
advantages of a UAV
without the associated
problems, such as civil
certification, launch,
recovery and training.
It is simply launched at
the press of a button,
deploys to a height of 50
meters and is recovered
in the same way.
It can be installed
and launched from
trading standards officers
to identify illicit tobacco
‘hot spots’ by combining
intelligence from HMRC
and trading standards.
Leon Livermore, chief
executive of TSI, said: “This
partnership is one more
example of how trading
standards works with the
private and public sector
to protect consumers and
support legal business
practices. Through this
partnership, trading
standards has a unique
opportunity to share
information and develop
intelligence with the aim of
taking illicit tobacco off the
streets.”
‘HMRC works closely
with other enforcement
agencies to crack down
on illicit tobacco in
the UK,’ said Richard
Las, deputy director of
Criminal Investigation
for the HMRC. ‘Seizing
illicit product is only one
most small service
vehicles, such as
pick-up trucks, UGVs,
even boats. The
HoverMast is ideal
for border patrol,
homeland security
and civilian security
missions.
The system is
comprised of an
aerial platform, base
unit, and external
power source, all of
which are compact
and lightweight. The
aerodynamic platform
is produced from
of the tools used; the
focus is on using a range
of interventions, from
penalties to prosecutions,
to encourage compliance
and maximise deterrent.
Partnership working with
Trading Standards is vital in
order to share intelligence
and collaborate on
joint exercises such as
Operation Henry to
target those areas with
the highest levels of illicit
tobacco activity.’
“Those involved in dealing
in illegal tobacco may
be encouraging people,
including children to smoke
by providing a cheap
source. The detection
dogs can find tobacco
and cigarettes even if
hidden in the most unlikely
places. Offenders need
to know that they will
face consequences if they
choose to deal in these
illegal products.”
advanced composite
materials impregnable
to water and dust.
In fact, the entire
system complies with
international standard
IP65. It hovers 50 meters
above the host vehicle
with the help of two main
rotors that give it its main
thrust and four smaller
side rotors, used for
guidance and additional
thrust.
Its stability in winds of
up to 25 kn is achieved
by the use of separate
subsystems working >>
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