Introduction
In a Tech. Brief post in August 2010 – Niche Sensors and Their Applications – we discussed several types of niche surveillance sensors. It is not just important to have a range of surveillance sensors, to cover different types of surveillance requirements and surveillance situations; it is just as important to mate these sensors to delivery platforms that allow a user to extract the biggest quantum of useful surveillance information.This post addresses the subject of surveillance sensor delivery platforms. A Quick Listing of Surveillance Sensors The tables below summarises various mobile sensors that can be used in a surveillance operation:
| SENSOR | APPLICATION |
|---|---|
| Optical Camera | Visible-light surveillance |
| Optical Camera with IR-Illuminator | Low-light/No-light surveillance |
| Thermal Imagers | Covert no-light surveillance |
| Radar/Sonar/SAR | Long-range non-visual surveillance |
| SCADA | Industrial surveillance |
| Mass Spectrometry | Trace detector for contraband |
| Gas Chromatography | Trace detector for contraband |
| X-Ray, Millimeter Wave | Baggage/body screening |
| Audio | Audio surveillance |
| Microwave, Infrared, Electrical-field | Short-range non-visual surveillance |
Delivery Platforms
The traditional delivery platform for most sensors is an enclosure that is fixed at a location, and transmits data captured within its range-of-surveillance. While this arrangement works fine for fixed surveillance requirements, where there is a defined surveillance area, and where potential objects of interest are known too; in the case of surveillance requirements where the conditions in an area of surveillance are in a state of constant flux, or where operational considerations require more detailed surveillance information at short notice, users need an option of delivery platforms in order to deliver the required surveillance information.To start with, the popular sensor delivery platforms that allow a greater level of flexibility than fixed platforms, can be categorised as manned and unmanned. In addition, unmanned platforms can further be categorised as tele-operated and autonomous. Here’s a quick and short summary of some non-traditional sensor delivery platforms.
Manned:
Manned sensor delivery platforms include head/body-mounted cameras, vehicle-based surveillance systems (either ground, airborne, or waterborne). There are several head/body-mounted camera solutions in the market.
With reference to vehicle-based surveillance systems, these platforms typically feature a range of surveillance cameras (wired and wireless, fixed/PTZ) and other surveillance sensors that can be deployed at short notice, and in double-quick time. The equipment can be mounted on the vehicle, roof-mounted or mast-deployed, or mounted in the vicinity of the vehicle.
Unmanned:
As mentioned, unmanned delivery platforms can be further categorised as tele-operated and autonomous. Since autonomous delivery platforms are still work-in-progress, in terms of capabilities and robustness, the focus here will be on tele-operated platforms. Tele-operated platforms can be sub-categorised into near-remote and remote solutions, with the difference being the distance between the operator and the delivery platform.
UAVs:
Unmanned Airborne Vehicles (UAVs) are pretty high-profile these days, given their widespread use, for surveillance and for search & destroy missions, in the on-going NATO war campaign in Afghanistan. Surveillance UAVs for homeland security can range from radio-controlled model aircraft with a surveillance sensor payload, to more sophisticated systems such as DRDO Nishant. These platforms are used for surveillance operations spanning large areas, and use surveillance sensors ranging from cameras (optical/thermal) to radars (SAR). A UAV delivery platform can also be tethered system such as a surveillance balloon, useful for continuously monitoring a fixed area from a bird’s-eye view perspective.
UGVs:
Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) carry a surveillance sensor payload into areas that a human being cannot safely venture into, on terra firma. These platforms are mainly used in tactical offensive operations and for reconnaissance in unfamiliar territory. There are various designs for such vehicles, from the minimalist to traditional looking ground vehicles.
USVs:
Unmanned Submersible Vehicles (USVs) are the aqua equivalent of UAVs and UGVs, and can be used for surveillance in harbours, ports, and in the littoral zone. These platforms can be fitted with cameras and specialised sensors to record and identify unidentified underwater objects.
Conclusion
Users looking for flexibility in terms of the deployment of surveillance sensors could do well to combine traditional surveillance sensors with some of the above-mentioned sensor delivery platforms, so that surveillance is customised to the demands of the situation, rather than ending up being of little use when a crisis arises. Mistral Solutions recently launched its Mobile Command & Control Centre System (MC2S), allowing users to deploy surveillance infrastructure close to problem spots or for high-security events, at short notice. In addition, Mistral can integrate specialised sensors on to some of the delivery platforms described above, to provide customers a higher level of surveillance reach and detail.
