Sky Eyes Are Using High Definition
Innovative computer technology is being used to assist law enforcement by bringing high-definition images to light with the development of devices such as helinet choppers, which produce high quality images. The images are so sharp they can read license plate numbers on vehicles 7,000 feet in the air.
The helicopter also contains a gyroscope-based antenna system, located outside the aircraft that locks onto a ground station so images are received, and a portable computer inside the aircraft that controls the compression and transmission of the high-definition images, which are 300-megabit streams that decrease to 19.3 megabits. These features can be used by military and law enforcement agencies to monitor ground activities.
Alan Purwin, owner of Helinet Aviation, which leases the helicopters and Cinelfex, which develops the systems that capture and transmit video, used the helinet choppers to show images of Hurricane Katrina flood damage to news stations around the country.
Ron Magocsi, Helinet Aviations engineering director, is hopeful the advanced technology can be used to help law enforcement, but says the limited microwave spectrum signal available may make it difficult.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Washington Times (11/15/05) P. C10; Kellner, Mark .
