Blog
Visible and Thermal Imaging Surveillance Cameras Bring Justice to Boston
by Eirik Solberg
on Apr 22 2013
The importance of surveillance and thermal imaging devices are ever more apparent with recent events. Thermal-imaging devices have been used to seek out pot-growing operations, map Martian geology — but now has aided in the capturing of the second suspect in this week’s Boston Marathon bombings as he was cornered in his last hiding place. Local and federal law enforcement were able to attain information from the public through sharing surveillance photos amongst social networks while thermal imaging cameras were able to locate and safely bring the suspect into custody.
Authorities reported utilizing a helicopter equipped with a thermal imager which spotted the heat signature of a person inside a tarp-covered boat, located in a backyard in Watertown, Mass. Police used the sensor after an area resident reported seeing a trail of blood leading to the boat, and catching a glimpse of a person inside. The thermal readings confirmed that there was indeed someone under the tarp, and that the person was still alive.
This kind of technology is what we specialize in here at RHP International. We are proud to serve as a leading resource to many local, state and federal agencies as well as large and small businesses that utilize these tools of surveillance to protect and serve our communities. We invite you to contact us to help you incorporate a quality surveillance system into your asset protection plan. From this tragic event, we have learned that high quality imaging can mean the difference between making an arrest and a cold investigation.
Top 5 Ways to Integrate an OEM Camera
by Eirik Solberg
on May 04 2011
OEM Cameras have so many uses these days. Due to their small size, they can be mounted virtually anywhere. Here are just 5 ways in which OEM Cameras are currently being used.
1. UAV/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Aside from being used for damage assessment (ie: during the Haiti disaster), domestic surveillance, and traffic monitoring, UAV’s with onboard cameras are being used by amateur hobbyists all over.
Check out how this one RC/Camera Hobbyist wearing a heads-up display hooked up a board camera to an RC airplane with a tracking rig to provide a solid video download.
2. Robotics Mimic the Human Eye
Remember Johnny 5? It’s just like Hollywod to imagine the future of technology. It turns out they were spot on when it came to robotics.
The relationship between board cameras and robots has grown a lot over time. The cameras are not just used to record. They help the robot to discern colors, patterns, and recognize its surroundings, in order to better interact with its environment and make decisions.
This superfast robot’s movements are remote-controlled and can mimic the exact movements of the human eye.
3. Extreme Sports Pole Camera
I don’t think anyone can disagree that helmet cams are great! — Especially when it comes to extreme sports. Cameras are so inexpensive and easy to set up these days that it’s easy for an adrenaline junkie to strap a camera on his helmet as he’s skydiving or tearing up some killer slopes in the rockies.
This skater made a make-shift pole cam and recorded himself riding down a steep road.
4. Law Enforcement/Military Bomb Squad
Cameras have always played an integral part in law enforcement and the military. Everything from domestic surveillance, military drones, street light cameras, police dash-cams, and so on.
This is a robot used for dismantling potential explosives. It has 4 cameras built and a control system with monitors and controls for the operator to remote control the robot.
5. Automotive: Google’s Self-Driving Car
Cameras are slowly making their way into cars. Currently, many cars have the reverse camera to give you a rear view as you back up.
More interesting, however, is unmanned cars. Google, among other companies, have produced unmanned vehicles that have logged thousands of miles without human assistance. The vehicles use cameras and sensors to interact with the software and make decisions based upon what it sees through the lenses.
At the TED 2011 conference in Long Beach, Google gave rare demos of its auto-driving car.