Introduction [ VATS CCTV Set-Up and Operation Manual ]

The conventional fixed CCTV cameras have the following contains:

1. Fixed direction

2. Narrow view angel (usually from 70° ~ 80°)

3. Big and wide blind spot

4. No zooming capabilities

Due to these constraints, it is difficult to have a complete coverage of the surveillance area. As a result, more cameras are needed in order to decreased and covered the blind spots. The increase in the number of cameras will also result in the increase of cost and display monitors in the control room. This also makes it difficult for the security personnel to manage and track.

The fixed cameras are not designed to trace or zoom into a moving object. To cater for this particular need, the industry had later invented the pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) camera, which allows the operator to have a full control of the PTZ camera.

However, this camera resolved the fixed direction, zooming, and the narrow view angle issues to a certain extend, but it still has the following constrains.

1. Although it allows the pan, tilt, and zoom of the camera, the view angle of the camera at any one time is only 70° ~ 80°, and areas outside the view angle are blind spots.

2. Due to its limited view angle, the operator is unable to monitor the area around the camera simultaneously.

3. It is difficult to track a moving object with the joystick.

Solution? - OmniCam and 360 Degrees Visual Aided Tracking CCTV System

OmniCam - The World First 360° Degrees Camera

Unlike the conventional fix camera which is fixed in one direction with limitation in view angle (70° to 80°), by installing it at the centre of the surveillance area, the OmniCam is able to capture images of the whole surveillance area (360°) simultaneously without any mechanical movement. OmniCam had resolved the blind spot constraint faced by conventional cameras.

The picture below illustrates how OmniCam works

The scene around the camera is captured by the OmniCam as a round image though the OmniScene lens (shown above) by optical reflection technology. The OmniScene software will de-warp the round image to produce a panoramic image which is easier to be understood by human eyes.

Video DEMO [ Download DEMO Video ]

VATS User Interface in a Control Room

Although the OmniCam had resolved the blind spot constraint faced by the conventional camera, what it still lacks is the capability to point and zoom into one particular object when required. BiE Technology had anhanced the power of OmniCam by combining it with a Speed Dome Camera. We called it Visual Aided Tracking System (VATS) - the world first 360° degrees intelligent surveillance CCTV system.

VATS consist of 3 major componets:

1. 1 X OmniCam (360° Degrees Camera)

2. 1 X Speed Dome Camera (Tracking and Enlarge Camera)

3. 1 X VATS Video Server

The user interface of VATS, when connected to a monitor, looks like the graphic below.

At the bottom of the user interface (A) is a de-warped panoramic image captured by the OmniCam which is installed at the centre point of the surveillance area. The top left corner (B) is the image captured by the Speed Dome Camera, which is installed side by side with the OmniCam. And at the top right corner is the navigation tool bar (C) that provides communication and control to both the Speed Dome and OmniCam. This whole operation and communication of VATS is just by using a MOUSE.

Where You Click is Where You See

Once the image captured by OmniCam and de-warped, the panoramic image does not only provide an overall view of the whole surveillance area, it also acts as a digital map. With this map, the operator can direct the speed dome camera to focus on to any point of the surveillance area by just click the mouse on the desired spot on the map. This is what we call "Where You Click is Where You See" function.

The advantages of this function are:

1. Quick response time: Operator can point the Speed Dome Camera and zoom in to any desired spot by just a click of mouse.

2. Easy to use and user friendly: When it comes to tracking a moving object, VATS is easy to use since the operator has an overview of the entire surveillance area and he/she can direct the Speed Dome Camera to point to the moving object with a mouse click. Unlike VATS, a conventional Speed Dome Camera is controlled by a joystick which is difficult to use. To track a moving object is even more difficult especially when the operator is not familiar with the surveillance area. The operator may over / under steer the joystick which will cause him/her to lose track of the moving object.

3. Prevent the loss of important information: Equipped with the 360° digital map provided by the OmniCam, the operator can navigate the Speed Dome Camera in a more effective manner that allows him/her to point the camera to the desired based on priority.

Motion Detection and Object Tracking

The motion detection function of VATS is a feature which, when it is turned on, is able to trace a moving object within the surveillance area automatically without a operator.

The advantages of this feature are:

1. Quick response time: The operator will be notified immediately when an intrusion occurs.

2. Prevent in loss of important information: When there is an intrusion, the moving object are tracked by the Speed Dome Camera and recorded automatically.

3. Avoid error due to negligent: VATS will detect and record the suspected intrusion on the surveillance area automatically.

Important note: Complements the Conventional CCTV Surveillance System

The objective of VATS development is to resolve the constraints faced by the conventional CCTV system. It is not designed to compete with the surveillance systems that are already exist in the market. In fact, it is to complement them. Since it is designed based on the industry standard, VATS can be installed and run on any existing CCTV infrastructure with only minimum modification to the infrastructure.

VATS Applications

Apart from serving as security surveillance in Banks, Air Ports, Car Parks, Casinos, etc. VATS can be applied to many other industries.

More Applications:

HOME | PRODUCTS | DEALERS | TESTIMONIALS | ABOUT 3D | CONTACT 3D

3 Dimensional Enterprises Ltd. is a Registered / Licensed business under City of Richmond, British Columbia Provincial and Canadian Federal Government

Tel: 1-604-303-6866 Fax: 1-604-303-6869 General e-mail: sales@3dimension.com

Copyright©1996 - 2004 3 Dimensional Wireless All rights reserved.