Bringing the Dispatcher to the Scene With Panoramic Imaging and Remote Video Transmission, Final Report

• NCJ Number: 190132
• Author(s): Andrew Hohmann
• Date Published: July 2001
• Length: 30 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1999-IJ-CX-K020
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Technical)

Annotation

This report describes the activities and outcomes of a project initiated to develop a panoramic imager -- consisting of a 360-degree mirror in a clear housing with a color camera aimed at the mirror -- that can improve the current video camera systems used in patrol cars, most of which only record the activity in front of the vehicle.

Abstract

The overall objective of this Phase I effort was to demonstrate the enhanced capabilities of a 360-degree panoramic imager and evaluate how this tool can be used in the field. The Phase I work focused on the development of a prototype 360-degree panoramic imager, the integration of the imager into a police car, the development of the image-processing software, and testing of the resulting prototype. These objectives were achieved. Under field conditions, the panoramic imager demonstrated its ability to view the entire surroundings of a police vehicle simultaneously; mounting it in a vehicle proved to be easily achievable. The panoramic imager consists of four main parts: the parabolic mirror, video camera, housing, and associated software. The software for the project performs three main functions: displaying the live video feed from the camera, saving the video to a movie, and remapping the live video feed. In addition to producing knowledge about how a panoramic imager can be used in law enforcement, the project identified modifications that must be made in order to build a second, police-car-ready prototype, as well as the technologies that must mature in order to achieve a large-scale application of the 360-degree imager in law enforcement. Illustrative figures and images and appended camera specifications, software analysis, and MegaCamera specifications