The use of self-stabilized professional gimbal cameras is a common practice in the world of UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems), being one of the main tools that exchange information between the vehicle and the operator.
These cameras have advanced features such as high magnification optical zoom, pointing accuracy or the combination of visible and thermal cameras. It is also common that video processing is on board. In this way, the avionics system of the UAS will be able to make automatic decisions based on the results of the processing and with an improved image processing avoiding losses thanks to the communication link. These cameras are also characterized by a small size and weight, allowing to maximize the autonomy of any UAS in which them are incorporated.
Common benefits between self-stabilized cameras
Some of the gimbal cameras are composed of two optical sensors, a sensor for visible spectrum and another thermal sensor. Thanks to this combination, images and video transmissions can be made at any time of the day. Moreover, these gimbal cameras can incorporate a laser distance meter that grants them to acquire the distance between the objective and the UAS that integrates them.
In terms of stabilization, the gimbal cameras usually have two auto-stabilized axes for Pan and Tilt angles. What allows these two axes can be controlled in different ways: angle mode and rate mode where you can command both absolute angles and angular velocities.
Advanced capabilities of professional Gimbal Cameras
Among the advanced features of this type of gimbal cameras are three features: “Target Tracking”, “Geo-lock” and “Moving Object Detection”.
The first one gives the ability to follow an objective (a vehicle, a person or mobile element) as long as the objective has been previously fixed on the image.
The second one, the “Geo-Lock”, is a GPS-assisted functionality that provides real-time information on the position of the target and also grants you to set some coordinates of interest that the camera will fix in the center of the image during the flight of the UAS.
The third is the “Moving Object Detection”, this functionality allows detecting if there is any movement within the image captured by gimbal cameras and once detected to execute any type of associated automation, such as sending a message, the start of the recording, …
Advantages of the integration of the Gimbal cameras within the Veronte Autopilot
As a plus point, Autopilot Veronte is able to control any professional gimbal of the market. More specifically, successful integrations have already been made with the Gimbal Octopus, the Gimbal CM100, the Gimbal Colibri, and of course our Veronte Gimbal. Obtaining the maximum performance of those gimbal cameras and making the most of the increase of the capacities that contributes the Veronte Autopilot. Advanced capabilities as the described ones, “Geo-lock” functionalities, “Target Tracking” and “Moving Object Detection” that improve the versatility of the UAS that integrate the Veronte Autopilot. Capacities that are expanded with the advanced features of “Fly-By-Camera” and “Geo-Tagging”.
Veronte Autopilot has RS232 communications ports, so the commands can be configured and used with our Veronte Pipe Software as an interface with self-stabilized professional cameras. This offers the possibility of controlling the UAS and the video system simultaneously. In addition, the digital video output of gimbal cameras grants the use of a single radio link for both video and telemetry and commands, which is a considerable simplification during the operation.
In short, the advantages provided by professional gimbal cameras with their features and capabilities are enhanced by their integration in a UAS with Veronte Autopilot, allowing to include extra features of Veronte Autopilot for a much lower cost than usual.
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