HD Video

I am currently studying Aerospace Engineering at the University of Manchester, England,UK. One of my final year projects is to implement and integrate the communication systems onboard a rotary wing UAV (tumbleweed if you want to google it) (2kg payload on a 18kg structure). My main requirement is to send HD video with a minimum bit rate of 20Mbit/s as well as other information for flying the vehicle and information from other sensors e.g. IR imagery. Would this mean that the connection would have to operate for this 20Mbit/s, because that leaves 802.11. or is there a better method for sending HD Video? What other communications do i need to consider? And what are the other main components that are generic to each UAV? i am at the beginning of the project so any information would be great.

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  • Dear Sir,

    Hello , I have to ask you about the price of IP922-OEM, how much is it ?

    Best Regards,
    Amir .
  • Thanks for all the advice, as it would be difficult to transmit for the required distance(2km), I had to go back to the customer and change the requirements slightly.
    -20kg with 2kg payload, of which we need a HD camera, IR camera, and other instruments aswell as autopilot
    -instead of streaming full HD can send reduced framerate e.g. 5 fps of HD video

    -i have decided upon
    -Three communication systems onboard
    TR423-1 – 250mW Wireless Digital Link
    400MHz
    giving 5.4Km line of sight
    For Telemetry and control
    Would require relay drone

    35MHz FM transmitter
    To kill UAV in emergency
    42x27.1x13.4mm
    13g

    IP922-OEM 100mW-1000mW – 1.9Mbit/s
    902 - 928 MHz
    For HD video communication
    Reduce the number of frames limited by bandwidth
    Giving a required bandwidth of 1.8Mbit/s.
    126.5mm x 88.9mm x 22.1mm
    142g

    would these be ok and would they integrate? i have a PDR on thursday and feel under prepared so any help would be great.
  • There is a version of the camera with with the extension board (http://wiki.elphel.com/index.php?title=10369) that allows to connect external SATA HDD (or SDD that is more appropriate to UAV) . With compass/GPS attached (http://www3.elphel.com/nc353_369_geo) each video frame has the Exif geo-code data
  • The elphel camera is open source, cheaper than the Axis stuff, has several compression schemes, can stream via WiFi to an open web client they provide, and is capable of capturing 30fps at 1920x1088. Up to 8 SD cards can be used for offline storage too. If you use this, just be sure to post your results back - since I am interested in using this system too : )
    Still working on my flight assembly before I focus on video
    One of the Lunar X prize teams is using it as their video platform
    The linuxdevices articles and wiki are really good for understanding the system
    Since you're working in academia and doing this as a project, it can be really helpful to have access to the underlying source too
    ian
  • There are also stand alone encoders available from AXIS (M7001) which start at around $350 (without camera).
    This encoder is can deliver two simultaneous video streams; one in M.264 and the other in Motion JPEG, at full frame rate and in all resolutions up to 720x480 NTSC. It is also extremely small & lightweight (1.5" x 1.2" x 4" at 82g) with BNC connector at one end so you can attach your own camera. Can also be ordered as a Surveillance Kit which includes a mini camera.

    Check out: http://www.axis.com/products/cam_m7001/index.htm

    Marc
  • I've not been able to locate an HD transmitter that would be sufficient for our uses yet. Professional sportscasts use wireless HD but these run in the $6,000 range and that's just the 150' transmitter! Its also

    Belkin has is $500 gadget that's far too large.

    The Axis Camera looks interesting as it is already in H264 and on IP. I've used SD Axis products fro years and while the quality if good, there might be too much latency for use in a UAV. At $1600 its probably the closest.

    Post if you find anything that does fit the bill (by which I mean capable, lightweight and cheap!) . In the meantime do what I've done and Michael recommends - record onboard in HD and transmit the the downlink in SD.

    Paul
  • i dont think any modem will be able to suite your needs. you would need to compress the video onboard.....etc. use a HD digital camcorder with a video out, and send a lower quality video to the ground by wireless video. you will have the HD video recorded on the camera when you land.
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