Airborne
Rugged Video produces a complete line of rugged airborne video systems. Systems include both single channel systems and multiple camera solutions. Complete aircraft camera systems are available to record HD video for your specific aviation application. Rugged Video provides system for nearly every aviation application, including: Flight Testing, Pilot Training, Cockpit Recording, Airborne Firefighting, Air Medical, Search & Rescue, and Lift operations. For specific information regarding Rugged Video Specialty applications; Flight Tours, Geospatial, Airborne Law Enforcement, and Mission Recording and Debriefing, click one of the links below.
Record: Video, Audio, and GPS
Rugged Video airborne camera systems include everything you need to capture high definition video, cockpit audio, and GPS data. Video is captured in full HD 1080p from one of our HD cameras and recorded to a USB Flash Drive or SD card for later debriefing. Recorder, Cameras, and components are available separately or as a complete plug-and-play solution.
Easy Installation
Complete systems are engineered for aviation and run directly off aircraft power, utilize robust tefzel cabling, and are easy to install. With each system, Rugged Video offers a complete set of documentation to assist with even the most complex installations for those customers who need a variety of cameras and equipment for unique capture and viewing needs. Recorders are designed to mount in the cabin, cargo hold, or in the panel when ordered with the 6″ Dzus rail option.
Audio Integration
While being primarily a video recorder, systems also function as an audio recorder capturing headset communications including intra cabin and ATC. Audio input cable are available for; standard GA headsets, helicopter U-174 style headsets, or direct connection to the audio panel. In addition to headset audio; music, auxiliary, or ambient audio can be added to the system which is ideal for flight tour or adventure flight applications.
Fault Tolerant Recording
All Rugged Video recorders feature black box functionality through a fault tolerant recording feature utilizing a built-in backup battery. In the event of a power loss while recording, the system can stop the recording and safely shut down. Ideal when the system is used as a cockpit camera and flight data recorder.
Mounting Cameras
With the small size and variety of HD cameras the Rugged Video offers, cameras can be easily mounted in the cockpit, wingtip, or in the vertical stabilizer of a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft. Cable are made to length for clean installation when routing through the aircraft to remote camera locations. A variety of different camera mount options allow for mounting locations that minimize impact to airflow while maintaining the ideal shot. (Mounts) Rugged Video works with avionic installers around the world that can assist in custom installs.
Live View/WiFi/Downlink
Live viewing is also available through an HD monitor or EFIS. Recorders have the ability to loop through camera signals directly to a monitor to view live video with no latency. WiFi functionality allows for live streaming and access to the menus to check or change settings. WiFi is transmitted as a local wireless network and can be accessed with a laptop, iPad, or capable tablet. For microwave downlink systems, an Ethernet port is also available to stream live pre-compressed video.
Record Switch and Status LED’s
Recorders can be configured to start recording upon power up and stop upon power down or can be configured to start the recording upon command of a switch. Switches are available that feature an LED built into the record switch to indicate status of the unit for cases that the unit is mounted out of view. Recorders also feature easy to understand; Fault, Record, and GPS status lights that will indicate the status of all functions in real time. If the record LED in the switch and/or on the unit is flashing, you are recording. It is that simple, never miss a recording again!
Systems are designed to be easy to operate and integrate into an existing workflow. With the ability to record to an “off the shelf” SD or USB Key, users can choose a variety of options for saving the recording. Video is recorded as an avi file using h.264 compression. This is the same high profile compression as a Blu-Ray which will only use ~4GB per hour while still saving full HD quality. The videos will play in nearly any media player (windows media player, quicktime, etc) but VLC is one of the better players on the market and it can be downloaded for free here: VLC
Media
Requirements –
- Type: SD, SDHC, SDXC
- Format: FAT32, default allocation size (32KBor 64KB)
- Drive Size: No Max Size (note – windows utility cannot format drives larger than 32GB to FAT32. For larger drives, download – MiniAide FAT32 formatter here: MiniAide
- Minimum Write Speed – Measured in MB/s or Class:
- Write Speed – Video Bitrate
- 2 MB/s Class 2 – <3,000 kb/s
- 4 MB/s Class 4 – <6,000 kb/s
- 6 MB/s Class 6 – <12,000 kb/s
- 10 MB/s Class 10 – <20,000 kb/s
- 10 MB/s UHS Class 1 – <20,000 kb/s
- 30 MB/s UHS Class 3 – <60,000 kb/s
- Type: USB 2.0, USB 3.0 (Most USB 3.0 drives are compatible however, some require unique drivers and will not be recognized by the recorder)
- Format: FAT32, default allocation size (32KB or 64GB)
- Drive Size: No Max Size (note – windows utility cannot format drives larger than 32GB to FAT32. For larger drives, download – MiniAide FAT32 formatter here: MiniAide
- Minimum Write Speed – Measured in MB/s
- Write Speed – Video Bitrate
- 2 MB/s Class 2 – <3,000 kb/s
- 4 MB/s Class 4 – <6,000 kb/s
- 6 MB/s Class 6 – <12,000 kb/s
- 10 MB/s Class 10 – <20,000 kb/s
- 10 MB/s UHS Class 1 – <20,000 kb/s
- 30 MB/s UHS Class 3 – <60,000 kb/s
Status Lights
- STBY – Green
- ON – Power On
- OFF – Power Off
- REC – Green
- ON – Ready to Record
- BLINK SLOW – Recording
- BLINK FAST – Finishing File Write to Media
- OFF – Not Ready to Record
- FAULT – Red
- ON – No Video Input
- BLINKING – No Valid Media
- OFF – Normal Operation
- GPS – Blue/White
- ON – GPS Function On and Valid RS-232 Data
- BLINKING – Searching for RS-232 Data
- OFF – GPS Function Off