High tech equipment for police helicopters
Automatic object recognition and image processing algorithms will support helicopter fleets during missions.
Berlin, 23 May 2008
The Free State of Thuringia police helicopter fleet is getting some of the most modern helicopter equipment in Europe. The AIMS Advanced Integrated Mission Station, a deve-lopment of ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH, is currently being integrated into the fleet stationed in Erfurt. ILA 2008 visitors can already convince themselves that this high tech solution has many advantages: ESG will exhibit an AIMS demonstration model at their stand in Hall 7 during the trade fair.
AIMS will be integrated into existing and new police helicopters. The principle: a variety of individual devices, from cameras and image processing programs to communication media, will be integrated into a joint system with a uniform user interface. This will reduce the complexity of helicopter missions and the police will receive various add-ons for effective support during missions at the same time.
AIMS includes the AUTOPOL system, ready for deployment in police helicopters for the first time. In conjunction with a thermographic camera, the development of the EADS aviation and aerospace group can detect people and mark vehicles from the air even when humans can hardly detect them. In conjunction with AUTOPOL and digital image processing, the AIMS system significantly increases operational reliability through nearly lossless data processing. When searching for a missing person where there is no direct visual contact from the helicopter due to darkness, fog or other obstacles (for example trees), this system can save lives.
To achieve this, AIMS is entirely based on digital technology. Until now, most police equipment, for example cameras, has been partly analogue. The data is digitalised via video switch and then processed further. The reason for this complicated procedure is that stringent demands are made on the individual components in these helicopters: from a rotating system, cameras have to transmit image data in realtime and even deliver sharp photos of people on the ground when the helicopter is out of earshot, i.e. several kilometres away. A type of „super zoom“ is required. The further development of HD technology finally makes suitably high definition digital cameras a reality.
In addition, ESG is currently developing a process to enable speed measurement from the air. This research project has generated great interest among police all over Europe. The problem: measurements are not made from a fixed position – as with a radar speed camera – but from a moving helicopter. This complexity has meant failure for most of the technologies developed until now: they do not provide material that can be used in court. The ESG solution should enable police to obtain more reliable, precise data in the future.
Advantages of AIMS include improved monitoring ability at major events for instance, the ability to track fugitive criminals from the air better than ever before and longterm relief for police forces on these points, which is a big plus for the security of all citizens and the continued economic development of the overall system. In deciding to use this system, the police have selected a sustainable high tech solution.
You can download some pictures from our web pages.
For further information please contact:
Tel: +49-(89) 9216-2850
Fax: +49-(89) 9216-162850
ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH
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