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Low cost HD wireless video link / HD compression board for DIY / education

Airborne Innovations now offers a low cost video compression board option, which is primarily designed for DIY use.

Please see the product page at: Low cost DIY wireless HD video link

While not as fully featured, highly integrated, or flexible as the MicroraptorHD, it can do the following:
H.264 video compression, 1080i / 720p / 480i

When paired in one of the below development kits with a high power Wifi radio, it can transmit wireless HD/SD video.

High definition analog component video compression of 720p / 1080i video
or, with an add-on video interface module, standard definition analog video compression (composite or S-Video supported).

With the radio package we have a complete solution capable of medium range wireless HD transmission.

Or you can purchase the compression board alone to use with your own wired/wireless system.

Versions of the kit are available with component HD input, composite SD input, or with a small 1080p capable CMOS board camera.

Specifications:
Board dimensions: 3.1″x2.6″
Weight: 50g
Power input: Compression board: 5V @ 2W
Radio: 12V @ 6W, 2.4 GHz Wifi compatible, 1W output
Radio weight: 25 grams

Groundstation radio: 15-24V @ 6W, 1W RF output

The radio kits include antennas.

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MicroraptorHD, the World’s Smallest Multi-Camera High Definition Video + Command and Control Link

MicroraptorHD, the World’s Smallest Multi-Camera High Definition Video + Command and Control Link

Very compact multiple camera 1080p video link and bidirectional datalink for micro unmanned vehicles.

The system weighs as little as 50 grams including a high performance radio.

Airborne Innovations’ MicroraptorHD is a very compact high definition video link designed for the smallest

unmanned vehicles. It combines a dual camera interface, a bidirectional digitial video and command and control

link which can be used as a primary or backup vehicle datalink, and high performance H.264 video compression up

to a full 1920×1080 resolution at 30 frames per second.

MicroraptorHD is an enabling technology for high definition video transmission from some of the smallest micro

air vehicles.  Larger vehicles can benefit from the minimal size, weight, and power requirements.

The multiple camera interface allows systems such as daytime+infrared camera combinations to be connected.

Multiple combinations of imager interfaces are supported, from micro HD camera modules as small as 10mmx10mm, to

analog HD/SD and camera specific digital video interfaces.

Communications interfaces include ethernet, serial, and CAN bus. Camera gimbals can be directly connected to the

system for SD+HD video transmission as well as command and control of the gimbal.

A microSD storage card enables high quality video and metadata recording on board. The COFDM radio RF power

output is 1 Watt, with 1-6 GHz radio options available. Dimensions are 116x45x20mm (4.56×1.77×0.78″) with enclosure,

114x43x15mm (4.48×1.69×0.59″) bare board with radio, or 114x43x5mm  for the bare board.

The weight is 50 grams unhoused, or 23 grams for the bare board.

See the system at AUVSI 2012 Las Vegas, August 6-9, booth #4136.

Airborne Innovations

13701 W Jewell Ave Suite 206

Lakewood CO 80228

720-515-3720

http://www.airborneinnovations.com

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RaptorEye support for Cloud Cap Viewpoint format and 14-Bit FLIR IR data

We now have RaptorEye / RaptorEye II support for multichannel video recording directly to the Cloud Cap Viewpoint data format, and for capturing high dynamic range infrared data from the FLIR Tau 640 infrared camera.

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RaptorEye II 512GB SSD Storage Option

We now offer fast SATA solid state drive storage options integrated with the RaptorEye II, currently available in 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB variants (a 1 Terabyte option is coming soon).
In this configuration write speeds are up to 150 megabytes / second.
This configuration adds about 11mm to the case thickness, with a total weight of 420g or less.

Contact us for more information.

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RaptorEye Support for Resonon Hyperspectral Cameras

The RaptorEye / RaptorEye II systems now support acquisition from Resonon Hyperspectral cameras.
We now also offer systems with large and fast solid state drives (SSD’s), currently up to 512GB in size. This adds about 11mm thickness to the RaptorEye II case for a total system weight of about 420 grams or less.

As a standalone metadata source one ready to go option is the Microbotics MIDG II GPS/INS.

Please contact us for more information.

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Airborne Innovations Introduces the RaptorEye II Compact Aerial Imaging Payload and General Purpose Payload Computer

Airborne Innovations’ RaptorEye II Ultra Compact Aerial Imaging Payload

Enables Digital Imaging for Small UAVs

Hood River, OR, August 6, 2009 – Airborne Innovations LLC will introduce the RaptorEye II Ultra Compact Aerial Imaging Payload at the AUVSI 2009 show in Washington DC, August 10-13, Booth#573.

The system integrates a high performance / low power Intel Atom processor, high speed Expresscard interface for large capacity storage (currently available up to 128GB), and an optional one watt broadband radio link for image and metadata transmission, in a very small form factor. It provides small UAVs and manned aircraft with a compact rapid imaging solution supporting multiple digital cameras.

“The new RaptorEye II will allow smaller classes of unmanned aircraft to carry high performance large format cameras up to 16 megapixels,” said Jon Becker, President of Airborne Innovations. “Multiple digital and analog cameras can be connected to a single RaptorEye II for rapid imaging applications, with imagery transmitted over an integrated broadband datalink or via satcomm systems like Iridium. This is the first compact and powerful solution available which can for example support multiple digital imagers in a gimbaled day/night camera system.”

RaptorEye II is an aerial imaging system designed for high performance, small size, and low power consumption, with configurations as small as 1.2”x3.1”x5.9” (30x79x150mm). It is designed to accept multiple digital and analog cameras, and can store large amounts of image data and transmit it via the onboard or external datalinks.

The system is also suitable as a general purpose high performance small form factor x86 based payload computer for high performance processing and image transmission, for applications such as multispectral imaging, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and other uses.

In addition it contains multiple interfaces for payload integration, including dual Gigabit Ethernet,dual analog video inputs, RS232 x 2, USB2 x 4, CAN Bus, GPIO, and 12V regulated power output for payloads, along with internal SATA expansion for more high speed large capacity storage. Interfacing Firewire and Cameralink based sensors is also possible.

Airborne Innovations, founded in 2004, is a provider of advanced aerial imaging systems and other UAV payloads and software services. Jon Becker, the founder, has 17 years of experience in UAV hardware and software systems. Customer successes include Idaho National Laboratory’s Rapid Airfield Damage Assessment System implemented for the Air Force Research Laboratory using the RaptorEye in 2008, and over the horizon imaging missions with the Aerosonde UAV in 2006.

For more information, stop by AUVSI 2009 Booth #573, and visit the RaptorEye II Product page at www.airborneinnovations.com

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RaptorEye now available with internal broadband radio option

The RaptorEye system is now available with an internal 2.4 GHz, 1 Watt, 30+ megabit radio link.  900 MHz and 5.8 Ghz versions are also possible.  This provides a very compact lightweight solution for high bandwidth imagery transmission.  Very long range transmission can be achieved by combining this system with a steerable antenna on the ground.  Contact us for more details.

Onboard internal storage of 64+ GB is also an option.

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Idaho National Laboratory Completes RaptorEye RADAS demo

August 2008

Idaho National Laboratory Completes Rapid Airfield Damage Assessment System demonstration with RaptorEye

INL used Airborne Innovations’ RaptorEye imaging system combined with a state of the art Prosilica 16 Megapixel GigE camera and the Arcturus T15 aircraft to perform a rapid acquisition and transmission demonstration for the Air Force Research Laboratory.

16 megapixel images were acquired every few seconds, automatically triggered based on aircraft flight plan location, and transmitted via broadband datalink to the ground for mosaicing.

Download INL RADAS Brochure (6MB download)

RADAS Logo

courtesy INL

Case study of INL RADAS RaptorEye configuration

See also the Sample Imagery

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New High Performance Imaging System with integrated broadband datalink released!

August 2007
New High Performance Imaging System with integrated broadband datalink released!

We are proud to release RaptorEye, our newest UAV imaging system payload!
It combines extremely high computing performance, a high speed integrated UHF megabit datalink (or optional external broadband datalink such as the Microhard VIP-2400/VIP-5800 links), and support for Lumenera and many other multi-megapixel digital cameras.
The system has a Core 2 Duo processor (various performance / power consumption options) 4 USB 2.0 ports, gigabit ethernet, 2 RS232/RS422 ports, optional firewire or analog video capture, and more.
The system provides realtime downlink of high resolution imagery, and can support downlink of imagery from multi-megapixel digital cameras mounted in the Cloud Cap TASE family of gimbals.
The system can also fill the role of Open Aerial Imaging Platform for general purpose high performance aerial computing, imaging and video processing.

Product brochure is available at:
Download Brochure

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Aerosonde successfully deploys Airborne Innovations’ Satcam imaging system for Coastwatch Australia trial

Aerosonde successfully deploys Airborne Innovations’ Satcam imaging system for Coastwatch Australia trial
September 2005

Aerosonde Ocean photo

Australian UAV company Aerosonde was awarded a $600,000 contract to undertake UAV surveillance and detection trials for Coastwatch in the Torres Strait in 2005-06.

Airborne Innovations supplied Aerosonde with Satcam systems to allow near-realtime satellite transmission and archiving of daylight, low light, and large format digital still images.

The Satcam system is an enabling technology for beyond line of sight imaging for small long-endurance UAV’s such as the 15 kg, 3 meter wingspan Aerosonde.


Aerosonde press release

Case study of satcomm imaging configuration with current generation RaptorEye system

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UAV MegaCam and Satcam Now Support Automatic Georeferencing and Image Mosaicing

UAV MegaCam and Satcam Now Support Automatic Georeferencing and Image Mosaicing

Airborne Innovations imaging systems now feature automatic georeferencing, image mosaicing, orthocorrection, and realtime map mosaic display!

The system obtains aircraft data from a Piccolo UAV avionics or standard NMEA source via a secondary serial port.  Aircraft metadata including GPS data and attitude are attached to the image, and the ground-based imagery application georeferences the images and displays and mosaics the georeferenced images on a map display as they arrive in realtime.  The system outputs georeferenced images, aircraft metadata, and raw images for a high degree of flexibility.

An aircraft-view image simulator is also provided to test the system on the ground.


Automatic image mosaicing and georeferencing from an autonomous scanning flight plan with a Piccolo avionics.
(Click thumbnail for higher resolution)

Realtime image mosaic zooming capability:
Shockwave Demo

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MegaCam


UAV MegaCam RT

The MegaCam system is a multi-megapixel imaging payload for UAVs, optimized for low bandwidth datalinks.  MegaCam enables realtime extremely high resolution image transmission over standard UAV datalinks.

New image compression technology smashes the idea that you need megabit datalinks to send multi-megapixel images.

*The system can also send multi-megapixel images over ultra low bandwidth satellite links such as Iridium or Globalstar.  A continuous mapping mosaic can be created in near realtime over satcomm, with excellent quality multi-megapixel images transmitted over satcomm in as little as 25 seconds.  It is a stunning, practical capability which did not exist before.*

This system is compatible with the Cloud Cap Technology Piccolo avionics, and allows multi-megapixel images to be transmitted over the Piccolo’s standard datalink.

The system can also be operated standalone with a transparent datalink.

Power consumption: 3W avg
Weight: 110 grams (not including cables)

Download MegaCam Brochure