U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION - SaferCar.gov

SINCAP MDB - 14
before the MDB contacts the vehicle and for at least 300 ms after the MBD contacts the
vehicle. The minimum resolution for these cameras must be 1024 x 1024 pixels.
The Contractor shall report the locations of Cameras 1 through 6 as well as camera
speeds and lens focal lengths for all cameras on the appropriate Data Sheet in the Final
Test Report. Camera lens locations shall be noted in reference to the impact point in the
X and Y directions. The ground shall be referenced when noting camera lens locations in
the Z direction. The coordinate system shall be aligned with the test vehicle’s struck side.
A time-zero (t(0)) mark must be registered in a frame to indicate when contact with the
MDB occurs. This may be accomplished by placing strobe lights or flash bulbs that
illuminate at t(0) in each field-of-view. The strobes are wired to contact switch plates
tapes to the test vehicle or MDB impact face.
Each video frame shall contain the camera speed and the frame number, beginning with
the time zero frame labeled as “Frame 0”. The frame numbers prior to time zero shall be
negative numbers.
The impact area must be equipped with sufficient lighting to provide the proper exposure
without producing excess glare or shadows. The vehicle interior may require auxiliary
on-board lighting to facilitate video analysis.
Post-test, the Contractor shall verify that all high-speed cameras operated at or above
1000 fps and produced video at or above the minimum resolution specification of 1024 x
1024 pixels. The Contractor shall also verify that the real-time cameras operated within
specification. If any camera view was not captured, or if a camera did not operate within
specifications, the camera number and the reason why it did not operate as intended
should be indicated on the appropriate Data Sheet.
A digital file for each camera shall be uploaded to the established FTP site in .avi, .wmv,
or .mpeg format with a standard or generally available ‘codec’. Other types of files can
be used if prior approval is granted by the COTR. The standard resolution of the digital
video files is 1024 x 1024 pixels. However, a duplicate impact video for the NHTSA
website shall also be included. This duplicate video file should have a resolution that
results in a file size of 300-400 kb and should be in .wmv format. Any other resolution
level for these test videos must be approved by the COTR.
NOTE: The test laboratory’s name or logo shall not appear in any high-speed videos.
B. REAL TIME CAMERA
The Contractor shall use two “real time” color digital video cameras that operate at 24 -
30 frames per second. They shall be used to document the views indicated below for
Cameras 10 and 11. The video footage shall be uploaded to the established FTP site as
part of the QCPackage.zip file and transferred as .avi, .mpeg, or .wmv files with a
standard or generally available ‘codec’.
NOTE: The test laboratory’s name shall only appear in the documentary real-time video
as part of the title frame.
C. CAMERA LOCATIONS
Figure 3 provides a schematic that should be referenced when determining camera
locations.