Thermal cameras are of use in large tracked and wheeled vehicles, to recognise people and objects in time and avoid accidents. In that application, thermal imaging cameras are normally used as simple handheld models. However, these cannot be fixed and do not have ECE approval. On the other hand, ultra-sensitive and hence expensive products from the military field cannot be financed for most civilian uses.
A newly developed thermal camera from Ried System Electronic GmbH now provides an alternative, says the manufacturers: The ControLaser Robot is described as the world’s smallest ECE-approved thermal imaging camera which can be controlled using RS-485. It is classified in accordance with IP 69K protection class, has a 2–8x zoom function and can switch between 15 colour palettes. It can also be combined with a specifically developed video overlay module, which makes it possible to continuously blend a daylight CCD camera with the thermal image. There is no need to switch between the two camera channels when only one monitor is fitted in the vehicle, the makers say.
Christian Ried, managing director of Ried System Electronic GmbH, pictured, says: “We developed the ControLaser Robot thermal camera for use in vehicles in the fire brigade and defence sectors. For this reason, the camera has a particularly compact design, with dimensions of 75 x 75 x 88 mm, and has been specifically ECE-approved by the German Federal Office for Motor Vehicles. It is made of a high-quality, uncooled FLIR core module and a special control circuit board, which was developed by Ried System Electronic. The Robot also has an RS485 interface and can be controlled using this 2-wire connection – for example with the optional ControLaser WTX-900 control panel – or remotely.”
High-definition images
In addition, the image data can be transferred to the vehicle’s power circuit using a CAN-bus protocol, meaning they can be incorporated effortlessly into the vehicle technology. The casing conforms to IP 69K meaning the Robot is steam jet-resistant and salt-resistant and can be used under even the toughest of conditions – for example when tunnelling. The camera has an operating voltage of 10 to 36 V, making it suitable for all types of vehicle. Ried says: “The Robot can also be used on a mobile basis on tripods and turntable ladders. Your data can even be wirelessly transmitted to any control centre via 4F using an Xtralis video server.”
Depending on its use, the thermal imaging camera can be equipped with a 7, 9, 13 or 19 mm lens. The viewing angle for the 7 mm lens is 63 degrees x 50 degrees, while it is 24 degrees x 18 degrees for the 19 mm lens. The model is available in two designs: With a resolution of 324 x 256 pixels and with 640 x 512 pixels, which produces particularly high-definition images. The integrated zoom function makes it possible to enlarge the image content by 2 to 8x. With an extremely wide angle of 7 degrees, the camera can also be used as a telephoto lens.
Ried says: “The Robot becomes a pan-tilt camera using the WTX-900, as the zoomed image section can be electronically displaced, i.e. swivelled or tilted. Using the control, it is also possible to switch between 15 colour palettes.” The heat signals can be visualised in false colours or greyscales. The new ControLaser model also has an integrated temperature recording function, whose result can be shown as a digital, bar or combined display.
Additional module
To make even more efficient use of the vehicle’s thermal camera, Ried System Electronic has developed a video overlay module especially for the Robot. Through the Robot Video Overlay Type 800, the image of a daylight CCD camera can be continuously overlaid with that of the thermal imaging camera. This combination offers a number of advantages, Ried says: “In general, it is practical to use both types of camera in many situations. An airport fire engine, for example, which is only equipped with a daylight camera, would have to drive up to the burning vehicle blindly in bad weather.”
Injured people on the runway could be overlooked. On the other hand, if there is only a thermal imaging camera, then only the individual thermal spots are visible. In the case of a house fire, only the windows might be visible in the image. However, it is difficult to locate these thermal signals with accuracy as the contours of the building are not shown. A daylight camera, which has a high night-time light sensitivity and can recognise contours in a black-and-white image, is the perfect complement to this view. But so far, in practice two separate monitors had to be monitored in the vehicle. If the cameras are on a pan-tilt head on a turntable ladder, there are even some cases when you would have to switch back and forth between two images because there is normally only one monitor on a turntable ladder control unit.
With the video overlay module, the thermal image can be completely superimposed over the daylight camera image and can be displayed in various intensities depending on the setting, from slightly shaded to intensively coloured. Ried says: “Through the combination of the two camera images, it is possible to immediately detect people behind window panes. You cannot see behind the glass using thermal imaging cameras, meaning the body contours that can be seen using the daylight camera are crucial.”
Versatile system
The robust camera with the video overlay additional module is the manufacturer says suited for fixed installation on a tunnel fire engine and on fire service engines – for example on turntable ladders and rescue platforms – and provides a better overview of events there. This also applies for installation on police and security force service vehicles. In this way, the ControLaser solution can be used together with a downstream evaluation system, which makes it possible to detect and report items actively. Ried adds: “Airport vehicles have already been equipped with the Robot in order to make manoeuvring at night or in fog easier and to avoid collisions with parked vehicles.” Other fields of use include oil refineries, landfill sites and ski pistes: Drivers of snowcats can recognise skiers more easily in snow flurries with the thermal imaging camera.
